Best Minicomputer

[AJWhite1970]

Expanding on what DHicks said, that's pretty much what we do.

 

We have an AD user called notice that has it's own .vbs login script which is as follows:-

Option Explicit

Dim objNetwork, objDrives, i,WshShell

Set objNetwork = WScript.CreateObject("Wscript.Network")

Set objDrives = objNetwork.EnumNetworkDrives

set WshShell = createobject("WScript.Shell")

 

on error resume next

For i = 0 to objDrives.Count -1 Step 2

objNetwork.RemoveNetworkDrive objDrives.Item(i), true, true

Next

on error goto 0

 

set objDrives = Nothing

 

objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive "P:", "\\nebula\apps"

 

CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run ("""P:\Ready to copy\Noticeboard\noticeboard.ppsx"""), 0, True

 

set objNetwork = Nothing

 

We use AutoAdminLogin on the PC to login without any user intervention and although we use AB Tutor to reboot the PC's when needed, you can also schedule in an overnight reboot as a task to force it to reload. All the above costs £0.00p

 

Andrew

Edited October 9, 2019 by AJWhite1970

[3s-gtech]

Showpoint may be just what you're after - https://www.presentationpoint.com/software/showpoint/

 

We used a much earlier version before moving to Xibo back in 2008 (which we still use). Xibo is more powerful, but Showpoint was very handy.

[steveg]

We used showpoint on our screens too, was really easy. Set a share on the pc, and a shortcut to it on the admin computer that updates it. Save the new powerpoint in there and it starts playing it automatically. Couldn't be any simpler from an end users perspective.

 

Also all of our class desktops are now Intel NUC's from verypc, really impressed with them.

[SuperChris1980]

I can quote you the Stone Mini PC ? This is the Nuc equivalent

[edmokeski]

I hear "minicomputer" and can never help but think of one of these :-)

Perhaps it could double as the reception desk?

[mavhc]

Darn, too late to make that joke.

 

Chromecast with GSlides is easiest. Embed the GSlide in a website for nested fun. Receptionist casts a tab to the chromecast in the morning.

 

Powerpoint I'd do similar via MS Web Office, just need a computer that boots to show a website, that website being a web view of the presentation. Raspberry pi will do it fine.

 

Do it as a web version so it can be edited while being displayed

[witch]

Darn, too late to make that joke.

 

Chromecast with GSlides is easiest. Embed the GSlide in a website for nested fun. Receptionist casts a tab to the chromecast in the morning.

 

Powerpoint I'd do similar via MS Web Office, just need a computer that boots to show a website, that website being a web view of the presentation. Raspberry pi will do it fine.

 

Do it as a web version so it can be edited while being displayed

 

Nope

DH wants standard powerpoints that can be edited as normal

[mavhc]

They are standard, they're just on MS Web Office.

 

DH should accept advice about how to do things better, turns out computers have changed in the past 32 years since powerpoint was released. It's even been ported from Mac to Windows.

 

However https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/document-collaboration-and-co-authoring-ee1509b4-1f6e-401e-b04a-782d26f564a4 means you should be able to edit on the fly.

 

So are you having 1 powerpoint, or several? How are they scheduled?

[witch]

Expanding on what DHicks said, that's pretty much what we do.

 

We have an AD user called notice that has it's own .vbs login script which is as follows:-

 

 

We use AutoAdminLogin on the PC to login without any user intervention and although we use AB Tutor to reboot the PC's when needed, you can also schedule in an overnight reboot as a task to force it to reload. All the above costs £0.00p

 

Andrew

 

Thanks

If I understood one word of that I'd be a less anxious person. But I dont.

[witch]

They are standard, they're just on MS Web Office.

 

DH should accept advice about how to do things better, turns out computers have changed in the past 32 years since powerpoint was released. It's even been ported from Mac to Windows.

 

However https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/document-collaboration-and-co-authoring-ee1509b4-1f6e-401e-b04a-782d26f564a4 means you should be able to edit on the fly.

 

So are you having 1 powerpoint, or several? How are they scheduled?

 

I have absolutely no idea. As I said, we have a perfectly good ONELAN system that is being dumped in favour of, and I quote, "Powerpoints running on the screen that the teachers can edit"

That's it

No scheduling, no nothing AFAIK

Just powerpoints

[witch]

Go to the download section of that website, you can download either 32bit or 64 bit, both are MSIs. When you install it gives the option of server or viewer for installing. put server on the machine you want to control and viewer on the machines that need to take control

 

That would be on every single computer in the school then, as they might be on their laptop, in the staff workroom, in the office, the HT room, DH room or the ITSuite

 

I downloaded it and it seemed to be just the server install

[The_Techie]

That would be on every single computer in the school then, as they might be on their laptop, in the staff workroom, in the office, the HT room, DH room or the ITSuite

 

I downloaded it and it seemed to be just the server install

 

During the install it asks what items you want installing, I think after the 2nd 'next' click. as for where to install I would restrict the control section to only a few computers, maybe the reception computer and/or 1 machine in the staff workroom, that way you have more control over which machines can access the display computer and also restricts the number of staff accessing at the same time.

[witch]

So - thanks so much everyone for all the help

 

I've learnt a lot

Sadly, I wont need it as today the member of staff has said that we might as well run a cable to the reception computer and run the ppt from there. With only the receptionist, or someone sitting at that computer being able to update it.

Definitely NOT what she said yesterday

Ah well

C'est la vie

[mavhc]

This is why I don't take technical requirements from random people. Need to ask them what they want to achieve, not how, and how much they want to pay. And then keep asking in more detail what they want.

[DaveTheTech]

We have some old Lenovo ThinkCentre Q180s - easy to tuck away / tie wrap behind a tv.

 

I created a local user that auto logs on. Who has a script, well two, running at boot.

 

Checks for a newer Powepoint than the one that it is running.

If its newer it copies it, kills powerpoint and stars the new slideshow.

If the shared folder is emptied it copies across a default show.

 

Definately could be made more elegant. But works OK for us.

[LeMarchand]

Showpoint may be just what you're after - https://www.presentationpoint.com/software/showpoint/

 

This is what we use. Computer is set to autologin and tweaked a bit to make sure it stays on during the day etc. Showpoint automatically plays the most recent PP in a set folder.

[Thants]

Sorry to jump in, but I'm looking for a cheap mini PC machine to run TrilbyTV on machines around school. Has anybody experience with these - ACEPC T11?

[steveg]

DH has now decided to connect the TV to the receptionists computer and have it running the powerpoint on the screen while she works. Anyone any info on if this will work? I know there could be a GDPR issue if receptionist accidently puts stuff on the wrong screen.

 

As you know I have been trying to figure out how to get it editable by all staff, because that is what was said to me. When I pointed out that the above solution would mean the ppt was tied to that computer, DH said - "yes, only the receptionist will be editing it - NOT THE STAFF"

 

So why not use the onelan software we already have. It isnt difficult. Half an hour training and it would be done. Could even train the office staff as well and a couple of staff members just in case.

 

Nope - we are going to have naff ppts running . I give up. Really. I give up

 

I think there are lots of GDPR issues - the receptionist would never be able to lock her computer all the time the powerpoint is needed to be running.

 

If they just want powerpoints showpoint is by far the easiest way to do it, all they have to do is edit the powerpoint and save it, it does the rest. Could run it from any old computer if they are happy with a second computer sat on their desk.

[witch]

Yes - the issue with not being able to lock the computer has now been passed on the the person concerned

I dont have any other computers and there isnt room on the desk so I am going to firmly suggest a computer in the ceiling and the receptionist remoting into it.

[p858snake]

It would have to be free - they wont pay out a lot for something that wouldnt be used anywhere else. VNC viewer is only free for home use, apparently

 

Why wouldnt remote desktop work?

 

Remote desktop would work fine, depending on what you are wanting to do with the choose end system (if you had a windows version installed that licenses it).

 

I've used ShowPoint (as mentioned in this thread earlier) in the past, you don't need a full install of office either, you can use PowerPoint viewer from memory.

 

My only dislike with ShowPoint (unless they have changed it since i've last used it), it only had a mode to grab and display the latest power point from a folder (it could be a network share as well to make it easier). Where as I would have loved a feature to randomly grab any power point from a folder and had them cycle the content, so I could have many smaller power points to make it easier for different people to add extra content..

[mavhc]

VNC is open source, there's loads of clients and servers, pick one that's also open source.

 

https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/start-a-presentation-automatically-with-a-powerpoint-show-567ae717-f3cd-4476-9134-c565fb26438f

 

Can't be that hard to just play every ppt in a folder one by one, I'm betting it takes 2 or 3 lines of powershell

[witch]

VNC is open source, there's loads of clients and servers, pick one that's also open source.

 

https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/start-a-presentation-automatically-with-a-powerpoint-show-567ae717-f3cd-4476-9134-c565fb26438f

 

Can't be that hard to just play every ppt in a folder one by one, I'm betting it takes 2 or 3 lines of powershell

 

I'm sure it is for those who can do Powershell. Not easy for me, any more than playing 2 or 3 lines of French Horn music would be for you

[mavhc]

I'm sure it is for those who can do Powershell. Not easy for me, any more than playing 2 or 3 lines of French Horn music would be for you

 

Get-ChildItem -Path "\\server\share\bigtv\approved\" -Include “*.ppsx” -Recurse | ForEach-Object {
invoke-item $_
}

 

put a load of ppsx files in a folder, untick "end with black slide" in files>options>advanced in ppt on the tv computer.

 

Make desktop just show black, or a logo to something.

 

Make sure each powerpoint is set to auto advance every slide.

 

Not tested but I'd bet you can just edit and add files as you wish via network and they'll be added in loop.

 

Might want to add

| Sort

after Recurse.

[mavhc]

Forgot, need an infinite loop

while ($true) { 
Get-ChildItem -Path "somepath" -Include “*.ppsx” -Recurse | ForEach-Object {
start-process -wait $_
} }

[jakalan7]

The Intel NUC's are pretty handy, worth checking out.

 

edit - or the Compute Stick, I've used them for display screens last year and they are fantastic for just running PowerPoints.

Edited October 14, 2019 by jakalan7