drew.burrett

Yippee!

I finally got the XP part of the mac to stop treating the projector as an extended desktop. Just in time for the arrival of the ebeam interactive whiteboard. It now works as I had intended all along.

If only its XP personality didn’t take quite so long to boot up and log on to the network……..

(Added 1/3/07 - Instructions for mirroring desktop on projector to be found in new ‘Mac PC Book Win Pro XP’ section in ‘My Work’ on the right - I should have done this before, but it was a bit like Peter Pan flying - it worked as long as I didn’t question it!)

Today’s ALBA install on my new split-personality MacPCBookProXP went swimmingly after circumventing the very fussy internal DVD drive (it seemed to want the disk to be surgically clean). Only after I’d transferred the necessary files to the network from my trusty old PC, which would happily try to read a Hob-Nob, did I get started.

The installation of each set of applications was over in a flash, and the hardware connected easily via the USB, and in the short time I had to play about it seemed to work just fine. No doubt it’ll wait until I’m taking measurements infront of a class before it throws a wobbler.

I haven’t quite sorted out the video settings to make it all work with the projector - it seems to want to be a second display - but I’m pleased that evrything else seems to be working properly. The IT technician is rightly proud of himself too! (Thanks again, Bob!)

Finally got my Mac back after an extended visit to the IT technician (thanks again Bob). It is now running both MacOS X and Windows xp (after a few wee difficulties that had to be ironed out) . It all seems very stable, and I should now be able to run all the software I need.

I’ve not had the chance to try everything I use on a day to day basis - I’ve got everything crossed for the first try at using ALBA some time next week.

The only bug-bear I have is that due to network privilege constraints for us lowly teachers (regardless of experience and ability) the PC half of my split personality Mac doesn’t allow me administrator rights. This means anything I need to install has to be done by the already stretched IT technicians. I’m more than able to do this myself, but apparently can’t be trusted……

The Mac part of my Mac, if you follow me, will happily allow me to install any bit of software, seemingly being more trusting.

Seems an odd state of affairs, but who am I to judge?

Having been in teaching a while, I’ve taught quite a few pupils over the years, and been in quite a few schools. I’ve been at Hermitage for about a year now, so thought I’d have faded completely from the memories of any former pupils.

To my great surprise, some have been in touch recently, probably having ‘googled’ me and found this blog.

Without divulging any of details, their messages have been largely unwelcome, like being spammed personally.

I’m sure this is just one minor downside of having a web presence, but its a bit annoying none the less.

So if any of my former pupils read this, please take note of the following -

I’m fine, my job is very different to where I taught you, I won’t be coming back, you are entitled to your opinions, and I too have opinions, but I do not feel the need to force mine upon you. I hope you are successful in your studies.