On Tue, 25 May 2004, Dave Howe wrote: > > Hmm.. so the company is hiring them as a "unix/cisco tech weenie" > > and then forcing them to use Windows? > *Sigh* you have given a name to my Ongoing Horror. > > I am *forced* to use MS Office - Word, Excel and Outlook - on Windows. My > job dutes are to look after the Solaris, HPUX, Compaq Tru64 and Cisco > kit - but still, my workstation is and must remain Spawn Of Microsoft. > > Yes, I know, Crossover Office on linux - but I am not permitted to use > software that isn't free (and that took a *lot* of work) *or* for which > there is a licence document and purchase order reference in the office > safe (and my boss refuses to spring for a copy) - Plus I am under orders > not to run Linux at all (for such diverse reasons as "our licence > compliance checking package [aka Evil Spyware] doesn't run on it"). > > Yes, I know OpenOffice is there too - but that has been nixed. It still > isn't 100% compatable (particularly given my boss insists on doing the > master network diagrams using Excel drawing objects) > > Still, I have cygwin and openssh on here - and vnc. that's something at > least.
One makes due in the env they are forced to play in... I've hated those times I've been given a hammer to drive a screw, and despised having to set a nut and bolt with two pairsof channel lock pliers. And sometimes all I want to do is dust the nail with a feather, rather then Whack the sucker with a sledge. The fuller the toolbox, the more flexible and accurate/precise the work/skills In the original thread, before I'd have given up the argument for a tool, I'd have mentioned the use of a secured unix server to run the ircd <do they even have an ircd for windows that can support with the same HW the same population as a simple linux/*bsd intel tossaway?>. And if I had to set further, in a windows centric env, I'd have suggested for even more security, make the only host allowed be a tech/admin only accessible *nix server. And make folks ssh to that and shell into a comandline client in the limited OS toolset one was provided. Pad up your argument with mention about how each *nix server was stripped and devoted to the service at hand, how it advances the skillset or is a walk through woods not tread in awhile... My last choice would likely never be to argue for a toolset that required mirc. Not in a security context by any means. But, that's just me, my choices and experience. Let others fight the battles how they best see fit. I just didn't see that the horse was dead yet, when it appeared all ya had to do was turn him around to get him to drink... Thanks, Ron DuFresne ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Cutting the space budget really restores my faith in humanity. It eliminates dreams, goals, and ideals and lets us get straight to the business of hate, debauchery, and self-annihilation." -- Johnny Hart ***testing, only testing, and damn good at it too!*** OK, so you're a Ph.D. Just don't touch anything. _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html