nawbus

I wouldn't worry too much about illness. I was off work for 10 weeks with a bad back in my previous life as a manager in a major supermarket chain. I applied for the job here, fully disclosed my time off and it wasn't even mentioned in my interview. Good luck!

I believe we can use Skype here. I think I'll have a go. Can see it costing me though!

I'd agree that a phone in my office is essential, especially as the servers are in here. BUT, I know I have zero chance now until at least April when the new budget arrives. Our phones are not that advanced! What are people's thoughts on Skype?

As my office is some way away from the School's office, when someone phones up wanting to speak to me, someone has to come and get me so I can talk to them as I don't have a phone line in my office. The cordless phones don't reach down this far, so I have go back to the office to use the phone. As there is no chance of getting a phone line put in (money...... ), I'm thinking of trying a VOIP solution, but what is the best way forward? Is it Skype? What phones do people use? Thanks

Have you tried PDFCreator? http://sector7g.wurzel6.de/pdfcreator/index_en.htm I used to use it all the time before we got a full copy of Acrobat. Don't know how easy it is to package though.

This company is just up the road from us and I've never heard of them. I looked at their web site which still seems to be active. Their location suggests it is very much a small operation. I wouldn't use them!

If it wasn't blocked in Staffordshire, it would be the perfect example of 'what not to do'! I'm going to lie down now!

We have to live with what we are given!

Interesting. I must admit that in my ignorance I'd not heard of a WSUS server before. Are there any issues I should know about installing on an RM Windows 2000 server?

Our School has just bought 4 new laptops for some of the teachers. As part of setting them up, I'm running all the Windows updates. As there are 31 critical updates to install, just downloading and installing takes nearly 2 hours! Last year, MS released a Windows Security Update CD which included all the updates up to that point. Does anyone know if there is a post SP2 version? Or has some enterprising person collated a CD of all the updates?

StarOffice and OpenOffice are great, especially as both are free (SOffice to education), BUT they are not MS Office. That is the reason that management will use for not getting either of them. 'Everyone' uses MS Office don't they? Irrespective of the fact that most are illegal copies and you can get legal OO or SO for free. That's the big brick wall you are up against!

Blimey, getting your own 'company credit card', now that is impressive. I think that if I and many others out there asked for one, the sound of laughter would be deafening!!

Recently, I've been using free programmes as an alternative to having to buy software. Using programmes like Paint.net, LanView, OpenOffice, Art Rage etc. these are great applications which provide our needs. For example, when teachers wanted a programme for image manipulation, they said they wanted Photoshop on 20 PCs! After telling them they had more chance of platting fog, I had a look around and found Paint.net. Great programme and free! It covers all their needs and also was a piece of cake to install on an RM CC3 network. With many of these programmes, they are developed by people in their spare time away from their 'real' jobs. When the programme is downloaded, there is often a link asking for a donation. Fair enough. But, does anyone actually donate? The only way to donate is generally to use PayPal. As schools don't have PayPal accounts, the only way to do so would be for Technician to donate and then try to claim the money back. This is unlikely to happen (why do you want to pay for free stuff?), and then the Technician is paying for software for the school. As people don't accept County Council purchase orders, how and does anyone make donations to these people who make these great applications?

Thanks for the suggestions Tony. I know Macs don't suffer the same problems as Windows with viruses, but can anyone suggest a good, preferably free Mac Antivirus programme?

Cheers Roger, That does confirm to me that they should be easy to use! Nick

Can anyone suggest a good site or resource for a beginner to Macs? Our performing arts dept. are about to get one and apart from using a Mac in a cyber cafe about 7 years ago, I've got no experience of them. Are they as easy to use as everyone says? All suggestions greatfully received. Ta Nick

CCTV? What's that then???? We're lucky to have bolts on the doors! Luckily I've been on my hols since, but when I go back next week I'm going to have a chat with the Head about the security of the site. With my exeptionally cynical head on, it will be interesting to see what, if anything is done. It would also be interesting to see what the difference would have been if it had been a teacher that confronted the burglars and not support staff! Nick

Yesterday, a colleague and I who are both full time disturbed two burglars who were trying to get away with some of our whiteboard projectors. We were both threatened with being stabbed, so we let them get away. This made us realise quite how vulnerable we are as when we turn the alarm off to gain access to the building, the building is completely unalarmed. We are now rather concerned about our own safety as we can be in completely different parts of the building. What do other schools do regarding security during the holidays? Nick