How's Your Day? Archives

Hmmm. Looks like posting a new HYD right before going to sleep has its risks. Title no longer reads August .

 

I sense dangerous undercurrents in the tides here at work. Even though I'm the IT guy, one of the principals has decided to off-load the task of looking for grants for computers onto one of the teachers. She's also going against my recommendations for the operating system.

While I don't mind not having to do the work of finding funding for new computers (which most of them don't really need), I do not want the headache of having mixed OSes and the support nightmare that means.

 

What OS(es) are you running? It looks like I will be doing a migration myself over the next year or so....

 

But how are you supposed to put in 60 hour weeks if you're not supporting Macs; Windows 98, XP, Vista, and 7; and a couple flavors on Linux?

Seriously, I'm curious what OS you're recommending and what the school is going with. So many schools seem to be going with Windows just because "that's what the real world uses". I installed Ubuntu on the desktop at home and my daughter didn't miss a beat. She has no preference between Windows XP, Windows 7, and Ubuntu.

 

I'm probably just being paranoid. It's not like they want to do anything major, it's just that we're running XP pro throughout the district, and I prefer to keep it that way for a while, but they want to put in some computers with 7.

I just prefer the stability and the tried-and-true nature of XP. I have 7 at home, and it's okay, but I don't want to have to keep shifting gears from one classroom to the next. Not to mention, any instructions I write up will now have to be written twice.

 

Windows 7 isn't bad, I was hesitant to start using it here, but I've left it on a few of the teachers' machines and it's been fine. I still put XP on the student machines, due to the login screen is different, and I'd rather keep things simple, but it's going that way...might as well accept it.
As far as you're Windows 7 machine...don't forget that is Starter Edition, not a exactly a fair comparison to the Home or Professional editions (geez, MS, please just one edition, please...)
On that note, make sure, if it goes with 7, that it's Pro or Ultimate, otherwise no Domain Loggy-Inny.

Also, it doesn't make sense to at least include the IT guy's recommendations as priority...that's just asking for a kick in the Oompa-Loompas down the road.

But I do agree, I'd rather have a strictly homogenous OS structure across all machines. That's why I was willing to go through all the headaches to install XP on the ones that came with 7 for student machines...finding drivers, rebuilding the Ghost boot disc (3 stinkin' times), etc.
Besides, we use Deep Freeze here, and our version doesn't support Win7, and I'm pretty sure we won't be springing for an upgrade anytime soon.

I feel for you dude...check your PM though, might make you feel better (LOYSF)

 

On an up note, found out about this. Signing up for e-mail gets you free access to the NAXOS database of classical music--for free. That is one aitch-ee-ell-ell of a catalog of awesome quality recordings that usually runs $30 a month. I don't know how they're doing it, but I'm not complaining.

 

yeup....

 

Is it just me or is Woot! pretty much just a Dyson Vacuum store? It seems like they've got one of those things up every other day.

 

tru dat

 

Does anyone make an android smartphone without the phone part? You know, like an android equivalent to an ipod touch?

 

yes, Samsung does. It's their Galaxy phone, without the phone. 4 inch and a 5 inch model. A bit pricey, though, ~$220 and ~$260. Been interested in one for a while, just can't swing it right now

(there are some others, too, like the Archos players, but they're generally not very well reviewed)

 

BGDAAA

 

+AA

 

+AAAA *hack, cough, sputter*

 

We watched Phantom of the Opera last night. Wow, I hardly recognized Gerard Butler, and the lady who played Christine was definitely channeling Anne Hathaway. I'm going to be going through the rest of the week humming the Phantom's theme---that thing is such an earworm, and in true Weber style, he beats you over the head with the theme every time the phantom approaches the stage.

 

Indeed it is, indeed it is...but at least it's a pleasant earworm. Sophomore year of high school Phantom of the Opera was our marching band theme, it was quite good, went to state marching competition with it, but had some major mental errors at state that kept us out of the finals.
And every so often one of the pieces from the show will pop up in my head and stay there for a day or several.
(and, I still haven't watched the show, either in opera format, movie format, or otherwise, besides our marching show . In fact, I was looking for my copy of the show just last week, and haven't located it yet . It was from the area contest which we absolutely nailed)

 

My wife is a real Phantom fan. She's seen the opera and we watched the movie together. The movie was done very well and I'm told it's even better live.

 

hehe:

 

You have no idea! I loved the movie, then when Phanom came to town a few years beck, my wife and I went to it. It was my first musical and I was completely blown away by it. The only negative thing that came from it was the fact that I enjoyed the broadway so much, and was so amazed by it, that I haven't touched the movie since...in fact I think we gave it away.

If you get a chance to see it, do!