Tech Tidbits

Contract Status in ODIE
Submitted by Nate McClenahan
Systems Engineer
ESU 10

We have recently upgraded ODIE so that lan-managers and administrators can quickly see a visual indicator of the status of their contract
purchased in August. As we are past the midpoint of our contract year, I'd recommend keeping tabs on the contract status in order to plan for
spring and summer helpdesk requests. You can view this status in
several places. You can find this status chart by looking for an icon
like this . When you hover your mouse pointer over the icon a popup image with your contract status will appear. The icon will be placed on the form for new tickets and for ticket updates as well as the school information page. Please feel free to call if you can't find it.
Remember support calls for ODIE are not charged against your contract.

FREE Online Technology Tutorials
Submitted by Graci Gillming
Technology Applications Coord.
ESU 10

Are there times when you just need a short training or a refresher on a particular technology concept? Perhaps you’re looking for training that isn’t offered at ESU 10, or you couldn’t attend a workshop on the day it was offered. Maybe you’re a self-paced learner. There are many sites on the Internet with online technology tutorials, and most of them are free. Even the ESU 10 Technology Training staff gets some of their tech training online. Check out the following sites with web-based technology tutorials.

Flavors of Windows Vista
Submitted by Brian Garey
Network Specialist
ESU 10

Looking at purchasing options for computers is almost like standing in front of the counter at ColdStone Creamery.  What ice cream flavor do you get and what toppings do you smother it with?  This article will deal with the flavor (operating system) and next month there will be a follow-up to go through the toppings (hardware options, service, and add-ons).   [Note:  the price behind each version is the amount shown currently on the Dell website to upgrade from Home Basic]

 The newest Windows operating system, Vista, comes in various editions; Home Basic, Home Premium, Business (not recommended for home use), and Ultimate all being available commercially.  Home Basic is just that….basic.  It is the bare minimum and you’ll find the upgrade to Home Premium well worth the price.  Home Premium ($29 upgrade) offers scheduled and network-based backups, file encryption, Aero “glass” visual effects and features, and multimedia software including DVD authoring, Movie Maker High Def publishing, and Media Center features.  The Ultimate version ($149 upgrade) takes the entire Premium version and adds the ability to encrypt the entire drive for security, connect to a business domain, access the machine remotely via Remote Desktop, and other business needs like a fax client, ability to create a peer-to-peer meeting place, and the shadow copy client.  This version is only needed if you will need to join a domain at your workplace or home.  Please understand, you can connect to other devices, wired and wireless networks, and ad-hoc meetings/networks with the Home versions so more than likely, Ultimate would be unnecessary.  The recommendation for almost all home purchases would be the Home Premium version.

For all schools and many small businesses, there are really only two versions to look at; Business and Ultimate.  Home is not considered a choice since you don’t have the ability to join the machine to the domain in Home.  Business ($50 less than Ultimate) lacks the DVD Authoring, High Def Publishing portion of Windows Movie Maker, and the Media Center features and extensions.  If you need these items, then Ultimate is worth the extra cost, but generally the Business version is adequate for school implementations.

There are many websites you can go to for comparison information, including the following which seems pretty easy to understand:  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

Send us a picture and a story so that you and/or your students
can be the next ESU 10 Focus! webmaster@esu10.org

Check out the Home Page Archives

For Coop information, click on the ESU Coop Logo.