I totally agree that the ltsp is cool, it kind of reminds me of the good old days when we were running Windows over the network (loaded via boot-prom), must have been like '94:-)
But... it's exactly the oppiste of what he wants, since he wants computer independence by running virtual terminals. It's really more like X-win, VNC or Citrix/WTS.
> over our lan to work on the NT box in my office, which is several miles away
And the distance is relevant how? Personally I often get better connection speeds with servers in the US than servers in the next house here in Stockholm. The point would be that the distance really isn't a factor, only bandwith is.
What I forgot to write, was that recreational use of company IT resources isn't really an IT problem, but rather a HR problem, it only becomes an IT problem if the use affects critical services etc.
I used to work as a manager for a corporate IT department, and we applied some restrictions blocking some incoming mail attachments and p2p applications.
In the case of the mail attachments it's pretty obvious why we did it and as for the p2p, the reasoning went something like "the company has no use for them and it *might* be illegal".
Occasionally we did usage reports and in a nice way told people that their extensive use of sites like playboy etc just *might* not be too productive in relation to their work. We did have issues with some employees not performing their work in favor of ICQ etc, but it was clearly a minor problem, and not ours to handle, but rather HR.
I think the way you describe probably is the best way to go, coupled with clear and well communicated policies on acceptable usage.
However I think that if you begin to block for example p2p-apps you should block them for all and not apply a different ruleset on select people like IT and sysadmins.
Being a sysadmin gives you lot of power, but also raises the ethical level you have too live by... at least in my opinion.
Being a BOFH sure might be fun, but it's not exactly right;-)
I don't think you really can call IBM a minor player... They're still the worlds largest IT-company with revenue over $85 billion (2001) and over 300 000 employees.
IBM is however a rather good example that a company can return in full force after a downturn, from being a hardware company they're much more into services now.
And as for MS, you don't get to be number one only by breaking laws.
I think Stanford would throw you out of the programme and possibly also take legal action if they knew about the solutions you're suggesting. Software piracy is just as much stealing as robbing a bank or robbing little old ladies, no matter what you think of the victim.
If you're not willing to pay for commercial applications, don't use them, or start a lobby group to lower prices...
Do not encourage crime as a solution.
Slashdot Mirror
I totally agree that the ltsp is cool, it kind of reminds me of the good old days when we were running Windows over the network (loaded via boot-prom), must have been like '94 :-)
But... it's exactly the oppiste of what he wants, since he wants computer independence by running virtual terminals. It's really more like X-win, VNC or Citrix/WTS.
And the distance is relevant how? Personally I often get better connection speeds with servers in the US than servers in the next house here in Stockholm.
The point would be that the distance really isn't a factor, only bandwith is.
That's just my $.2
What I forgot to write, was that recreational use of company IT resources isn't really an IT problem, but rather a HR problem, it only becomes an IT problem if the use affects critical services etc.
I used to work as a manager for a corporate IT department, and we applied some restrictions blocking some incoming mail attachments and p2p applications.
;-)
In the case of the mail attachments it's pretty obvious why we did it and as for the p2p, the reasoning went something like "the company has no use for them and it *might* be illegal".
Occasionally we did usage reports and in a nice way told people that their extensive use of sites like playboy etc just *might* not be too productive in relation to their work. We did have issues with some employees not performing their work in favor of ICQ etc, but it was clearly a minor problem, and not ours to handle, but rather HR.
I think the way you describe probably is the best way to go, coupled with clear and well communicated policies on acceptable usage.
However I think that if you begin to block for example p2p-apps you should block them for all and not apply a different ruleset on select people like IT and sysadmins.
Being a sysadmin gives you lot of power, but also raises the ethical level you have too live by... at least in my opinion.
Being a BOFH sure might be fun, but it's not exactly right
IBM is however a rather good example that a company can return in full force after a downturn, from being a hardware company they're much more into services now.
And as for MS, you don't get to be number one only by breaking laws.
I think Stanford would throw you out of the programme and possibly also take legal action if they knew about the solutions you're suggesting. Software piracy is just as much stealing as robbing a bank or robbing little old ladies, no matter what you think of the victim. If you're not willing to pay for commercial applications, don't use them, or start a lobby group to lower prices... Do not encourage crime as a solution.
A good example that nuclear stuff is dangerous would be the use of depleted uranium in bombs used by the NATO in Bosnia for instance...
http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian/du-weapon.htm
or Chernobyl...