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How about one of those home NAS boxes? Let it sit on your network and do automated backups. You can get RAID ones too if you're paranoid! Netgear do this that supports RAID 1, you just need to add your choice of drives. 2 x 80Gb drives won't set you back that much.

Don't know if anyone else has been playing with thinkfree office but it's looking very good. It's only in beta at the moment but I'm very impressed. The online version has 1GB of storage, you can share files and edit Word, Excel and Powerpoint docs, looks like all the document storage and publishing is handled by webdav. They are soon going to offer a server version that you can install on a local server and give fast local access to the service for your users, I think it would be great to hook into a VLE or use it for e-portfolio work.

Depending on how you're integrating you're macs you can use Workgroup Manager to apply policies to them. I've looked after couple of rooms full of Macs for 4 years now and just like Windows it doesn't just happen in a day. You need to work on the setup and it will pay off. We're running fairly new hardware, G5 Xserves, G5 iMacs, Intel MacMini's, G4 Powerbooks and intel Macbook Pro's and it all works just fine. First thing to do on a newly delivered Mac is to format and reinstall the OS, get rid of the trial software that ties the machine up. Have you implemented a local Software Update server? Having this usually applies patches before you see bugs.

Sorry, what I forgot to mention is that with a Windows XP licence this machine will also boot and run windows XP with no problems. So you have a Mac and a Windows XP laptop... I've just set up a suite here full of MacMini's that by default boot into Windows XP, it gets used every day and we've had no problems. We have a bigger suite of iMac's upstairs and when that is full teachers and pupils come down to the MacMini room and boot into OS X to carry on work they've already started.

Apple have announced the new Macbook line of laptops with the Intel CPU's inside. Eucational prices start at £599 ex VAT and for the money it seems to be a great deal. 1.83Ghz Core Duo, 512MB RAM and 60Gb Hard Drive. From the Dell website a Latitude 640m sells at £649 with a slower CPU, same memory, same HD, an older GPU, 802.11g and no Bluetooth. Plus the Macbook is loaded with iLife and a whole lot lighter.

Freakin sweet!

I think it's to do with each user that logs on to the machine, Flash sets up a printer for that user but leaves it on the computer, so as another user logs on another printer gets added. I've been using the printer script that someone here provided that helps by getting rid of all connected printers and setting the ones up that are needed on logon.

So which years budget does that come out of?

Pictures man, pictures! I need pictures! Been waiting to see if the new "Acorn Computer" notebooks were real or just wapourware!

I almost thought she was winding me up!

Sorry this is so long, but its an absolute gem! Sent: 10 January 2006 14:47 To: Fluke UK ServiceDesk (Norwich); [email protected] Subject: CableIQ Driver We have just purchased a Fluke CableIQ tester and we are running Windows XP 64bit (x64) edition. When connecting the CableIQ via the USB cable Windows can't find any drivers that support Windows XP x64 edition, do you have any available or do you plan to? Regards On 10/1/06 20:15, "Dolman, Kelly" wrote: Hello, Thank you for contacting Fluke Networks Technical Assistance Center. There is a Knowledge Based article that explains how you can install these drivers through XP, it is titled PC Software Cable IQ, click the following link. http://kb.flukenetworks.com/link.asp?sid=5&rid=7643 Please let me know if you have have any further questions. Kind regards, Kelly Dolman Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 2:55 PM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: Re: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Thanks for the reply, unfortunately this is not what I am looking for. We are running Windows XP x64 edition, which uses 64bit drivers completely different to the 32bit drivers the normal Windows XP uses. Most of the big vendors have been rewriting drivers to make them compatible with XP x64, would it be possible to forward my request to your software development team? Perhaps they have some beta drivers we could help test? Many thanks Sent: 10 January 2006 22:58 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 What exactly are you connecting your CableIQ for? Are you updating the software? ~ Kelly Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 12:37 AM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 No, I need to get the test results from the CableIQ to put into a report. From: Dolman, Kelly [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 11 January 2006 15:15 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Hi, Here is a link to the CableIQ reporter software, you need to use this software with your CableIQ tester. http://www.flukenetworks.com/us/LAN/Handheld+Testers/CableIQ/_software.htm Let me know if this helps. ~ Kelly Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 7:32 AM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Hi, this is not what I’m looking for, I already have the CableIQ Reporter software. What I am after are USB drivers for Windows XP x64, they control how the CableIQ device talks to the computer and are not the same as Windows XP drivers. Could you forward my request to your software development team or put me in touch with someone else? Regards From: Dolman, Kelly [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 11 January 2006 15:46 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 These install automatically with XP, I just went through the process on my computer. When you get the install wizard what are you selecting? If the drivers are not on your local PC you will need to go to Microsoft.com and check for updates. ~ Kelly Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 2:50 AM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Hi Kelly, did you get any further with my request for x64 drivers? Regards From: Dolman, Kelly [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 16 January 2006 15:23 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 See the email I sent you on Jan 11th. Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 7:31 AM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Yes, I got that email and replied to you the same day. Did you get that email or shall I forward it onto you again? From: Dolman, Kelly [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 16 January 2006 15:43 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 We do not have the drivers, they are in XP. Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 7:47 AM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Kelly, could I have the email address of another support technician or someone in your software development team? I am aware that the drivers for Windows XP are built into the OS, but this is not what I need. I am after drivers for “Windows XP x64” not “Windows XP”, they are completely different. From: Dolman, Kelly [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 16 January 2006 16:00 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 I re-read the email and now understand your question. Since most of our users are on Windows XP 32-bit I will have to talk to the upper level support for information on these drivers. The person I need to talk to should be in soon. Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 8:13 AM To: Dolman, Kelly Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Thanks Kelly, I did say that I needed 64-bit drivers in the first email I sent to you. Hope to hear from you soon! From: Dolman, Kelly [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 17 January 2006 17:59 Subject: RE: Cable IQ-Support for XP x64 edition - Incident 1956593 Thank you for your patience on this. I have heard back from the developers and they agree that it does not work with the XP 64-bit system. We do not have drivers at this time and are not sure when we will. It would be my recommendation that if it does not work that you use an XP 32-bit system. I am sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you. Kind regards, Kelly

Arr, I wasn't going to mention it was them we got the licences through Not John or Viv was it?

The e-mail might go to the reseller that you bought the licences through i'm afraid. We had that problems with a supplier we used to use!

If all your server hardware is supported go with 64bit on the server, this way you can access over 4GB of RAM if you ever need to. I'd stick with 32bit clients for now, you won't run into any of the x64 problems we've encountered. I'm going to check that the USB smartboards do actually work with x64, i've learnt that not many people actually understand the differences between 32bit windows and x64. It took 12 e-mails (and i'll post them here for comedy value) for Fluke to understand that I needed 64bit drivers for my CableIQ tester. They just kept saying download the drivers off our website which or course were just for 32bit.

We have a 32bit print server, but it still needs to hand out 64bit drivers to the 64bit clients connecting to it!

What i've done in the past with Quicktime .mov files is save them in a bitrate broadband can handle such as 100KB/s or 50KB/s then just put them on a webserver, create some HTML to show the video embedded in a page and the video will stream (over http which isnt perfect). You have to get the bitrate right or the video will jump as it's buffered, also some people still don't have broadband so having a 5KB/s version is an option too. What we use now is Quicktime Streaming Server on an Xserve, it streams using the RTSP protocol which is much better with network latency and traffic problems. Im pretty sure you can get Darwin streaming server (which is what QTSS is based on) for free off tinternet somewhere!

Yes printer's are still a sore issue for me. HP decided they weren't going to support out 5500 Colour Laser which was less than 12 months old until I wrote a nice letter to somebody senior. Again we had to work with them to get x64 drivers written. To be fair we were very early adopters of x64, we've had it since last June, software problems that we did have are now sorted. I've not seen any of the DCOM problems and the machines do generally feel fast, they're loaded with software and haven't been reinstalled since last June!

My boss keeps asking me if *insert software here* will work in XP on the macs, I don't think he grasps that it's just Apple hardware and not pixies working magic inside the box. Or is it pixies working magic...

Are there 64bit drivers for the Smartboards? Remember everything that needs a driver needs to be 64bit compatable. x64 will also not run 16bit code, be sure every piece of software you have works. We've got 2 rooms of x64 machines, the only thing I can't get working is the USB towers for the Robolab stuff. Lego say they won't be supporting x64. We managed to work with Keep IT easy for the FlowGo drivers. Other things like Adobe Acrobat Pro wont fully work as it's printer driver isnt 64bit, Flash Paper drivers don't work either, i'm sure there's lots more too! To be perfectly honest I'd go with 32bit, I only went 64 because I couldnt get RIS to work on our new (at the time) Dell 370 Workstations, the SATA controller in them is weird and no matter what I tried I couldn't slipstream the drivers into the install image.

I've not got an iMac to hand but I am sat in front of an Intel MacMini and yes it will boot CD's such as DBAN, and Linux Live CD's. I've attached a quick video of a mini booting DBAN, you'll have to change the extension to .3gp Can we get some video formats on the allowed list of uploads please admin? 09052006.txt

I overhauled our network infrastructure last year and got Dell PowerConnect 5324's and a 6024. The list price of the 5324's is 600 but I got them down to around £350, have a talk to Dell and see what they'll give you them for. I've had no problems with any of the switches, not the quietest, but config is easy to do, it's all CLI based on IOS commands (or web for even easier config).

Hope you're not forgetting the new Apple iMacs! Remember they'll dual boot Windows XP and for education the 20" version comes in at just under a grand!

I have just set up 8 Mac Mini's with 23" HD Monitors dual booting to XP. And in a matter of hours wowed the 3 teachers who had used the room. They were amazed at having the Mac functionality and XP on one box. Yes it's slightly more expensive but for most users, Garage Band, iMovie and iDVD are all you need to get great media work from kids.

How about a 50" Plasma and a wireless Smart Airliner? We we're going to put a HD projector and Smart Board in a new Mac suite until I realised the Plasma option was so much cheaper!

You beat me to it, i left it as 127.0.0.1 and it had me for ages, setting it to 0.0.0.0 solved it!