L-Space … And The Thing In Chelmsford …

WHAT a morning … !

Seriously, I’ve think I’ve had a bad one.

And one that’s partly no one’s fault, bar mine!

Did I mention, in today’s Teaser, that I’d an interview lined up?

In Chelmsford?

Yeah, THAT was the one …

You know, one of these day’s, I’m going to really have to invest in a sat-nav, or something like it. Because I managed to get myself lost …

Lost … !

I mean, it’s not as if I’m completely clueless …

§§§§§

Tim, Adrian, Don’t! I can hear the silly remarks from here!

§§§§§

But, at any rate, I’ve phoned the company concerned: and they’ve happily rearranged the interview, for this coming Monday.

Here’s hoping …

•••••

But let’s get moving on, shall we?

Yes …

The handy thing about the job I’m going for is that it’s one I managed to find in the hallowed pages of the Brentwood Gazette.

And this weeks issue … ?

Well, this week’s issue had a little announce about the fact that Essex Library service is to introduce Wi-Fi to all Essex Libraries.

To quote the Jack Nicholson version of The Joker, “It’s your Uncle BINGO!”

Well, it’s not like the Gazette keep’s up, now is it?

So what I’ve done …

Is what I usually do, when something in the Gazette catches my eye.

I sent them an email, obviously …

Oh, and told them about the previous two posts.

Well, I was kind of obliged, I think …

At any rate, here’s the text of what I sent to the Gazette.

Dear Editor …

I’ve got to admit, I read this weeks issue, with a great deal of interest.

Especially the small article about wi-fi access at all the Libraries in Essex.

Oh, boy, wi-fi access in libraries!

Now, can I admit that I’ve made something of a pest of of myself, with Essex Council’s library service, over the past couple of weeks? Mostly on the back of the fact that — as things stand — both Brentwood and Shenfield Libraries computers have are notoriously bad at dealing with USB flash memory sticks. Those little thingies that are slowly replacing blank CD’s and floppy disc as a way of storing pictures, Word documents, and other files.

You probably wouldn’t believe that amount of times I’ve needed something printed and taken it to the Library on a flash drive … only to NOT have the thing recognised by their machines.

So, I’ll happily admit that I wrote to Susan Carragher, Essex County Council’s Director of Adult Learning and Libraries, and Joanna Killian, the Chief Executive, to ask about this: and a few other things, as well …

Which is when Ms Carragher told me about the planned upgrades.

And about a planned ‘new software build’ that the council was planning.

Being as aware of the choices in software available as I am, I jumped.

I’m a Mac fan, so I of course asked if that’s what they’d be replacing the library’s ageing machines with Macs.

Apple usually offer a hefty discount for educational establishments. And if a clever purchaser can’t argue that a library is an educational establishment … ?

•••••

But if they weren’t going to be replacing the machines would they be replacing the software?

I actually went and had a look at Microsoft’s prices for a copy of Windows 7: for the professional version — paralleling the version of Windows XP Professional, currently used — it’s £219.

For a copy for one library computer.

£219 of Essex taxpayers money.

The alternative I mentioned to Ms Carragher was what’s called an open source operating system: in this case, one called Ubuntu.

One which I’m familiar with, as it’s one used by several friends of mine. One that’s user-friendly, usable for the exact same emailing, websurfing, letter writing and online gaming as any other operating system.

And added a good two to three years worth of usable life to their machines.

And what’s more, one that the makers — Canonical Ltd — make available at no cost to either businesses or home users.

A double saving, you might say, considering they won’t have to spend money on new software or hardware, for a while, yet …

•••••

Now I realise reading about this sort of thing probably isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

But with all the parties in the up-coming general election all arguing about the state of the economy, and how they’re planning on saving public money, I’d like to know what — and how — Essex County Council are doing to save money on this important upgrade.

After all, that’s taxpayers money being spent.

I’d hate to see mine being wasted, wouldn’t you?

Hmmm …

Actually, can I ask you a favour?

If that’s ok?

Here’s what I’m gonna ask.

I’ve installed Ubuntu on various friends systems.

And I’ve also met quite a few other people who’ve used it.

And quite a few Mac users, as well: one or two of whom have bought on the basis of me enthusing about the platform at them.

In either case, I’ve know a few people who’ve used various forms of open source software: whether it’s applications like NeoOffice, OpenOffice, GIMP, or whole operating systems, like Ubuntu, or NetBSD.

Which I think is sort of my point.

There’s alternatives: and not just between one type of machine running Windoze, and another, or MS Office and … MS Office.

There’s choices.

What I think I’m going to ask you — if you think it’s something you’d like to do — is either email the Brentwood Gazette, telling them what you use as your choice of machine, why you use it, and whether our libraries have provision to use them wirelessly. And what sort of operating system Essex Council’s going to be using. (Emails to editorial@gazettenews.co.uk)

Or — OR —would you rather send an email to Susan Carragher, herself, to ask about the proposed changes? (You can contact her on Susan.Carragher@essex.gov.uk)

Either way, I think I’d be happy to hear from you, about what you choose to do.

Leave me a comment, folks.

After all, that’s our money being spent!