computers and stuff

I often think fondly of Rowland. Everyone needs an IT guy at one time or another. Someone who speaks your language and wants to help you....

BMI is a bit like home - the computers are not too old and not too new, so compatability isnt an issue. I can download and install interesting things like scanning software or audacity (to digitise audio tapes) whenever I want. The downside is there's no rescue if things go pear shaped and no advice.

At my other workplaces, the computers are seriously networked, supported and locked down... there's no ability to install anything or to make many changes at all. At one place we have Windows 7, which I dont like, which is OK because Ive never liked any new Microsoft product until Ive got used to it. Unfortunately, the library system doesnt like it much either - much crashing. At the other, the only browser option is ancient Internet Explorer 6 (pre tabbed browsing). One place completely blocks sites like gmail and facebook and the other allows gmail but limits access to sites like Youtube to 30mins per day - which is actually fairly civilised. Sometimes theres a genuine work reason to access such sites and some people want to access them in their own time.

Neither of them will allow a simple Firefox install. Firefox never does that thing where it says "I have encountered an problem and have to close". It never does that.

In other computer news, I quite like LotusNotes with its integrated email, calendar and databases and I still dislike DB Textworks (more than ever).