@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.

You replace monitors every 3-5 years? why?

My 4 year old 24" inch dells have a issues with colors from the top to bottom of screen. Red could be pink on top, Maroon on the bottom.

So either you have a fluke of a bad monitor (happens) or a whole bad batch where made (recall anyone?). I'm talking talking about just 1 or 2 being replaced 3-5 years.. Mike basically said all of them replaced.

If you have a piece of bad gear, you replace it regardless if it's 1 day old or 20 years old. Not part of the conversation.

Unless Mike is going to say that his experience shows that monitors have high failure rate in the 3-5 year range. This certainly hasn't been my experience.

I have two 19" displays at home from 2005. I don't use that system often enough to warrant replacing them with larger displays

When there’s a significant size increase or form factor change (3:4 to 16:9) I think it makes sense. But it depends on the employee. I work with developers, they get new gear every 2 years at least.

For general office workers I could see systems lasting 10 years that are deployed today.

Point being that I don’t think it’s unreasonable to upgrade monitors every 5 years.

There are businesses with 70’s and 80’s furniture and businesses that redo the waiting areas and offices every 8 years.

As an employee I would certainly prefer newer and bigger stuff. But no an upgrade for spec for spec equipment.

@guyinpv said in Someone help me do most basic thing ever in O365, share folder with everyone:

I must be stupid but I can't seem to share a OneDrive folder with all the users in O365.
MS clearly has an Everyone and Everyone except external users groups. I go to share a folder and share it with the Everyone group, and nothing happens. It doesn't notify users, doesn't invite them, doesn't add the folder to 'shared with me', doesn't show up in sync etc.

What am I doing wrong here? I have O365 for Business. All I want is for this "Everyone" group to work so I can share folders with all users in the O365 account.

Or are they saying I can only share folders one user at a time all the time? Is the Everyone group just fake and unusable or something?

I don’t believe everyone is a security group just a DL...

You might want to just put everyone in a new security group and assign priveldges that way to the library or folder.

@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@mike-davis said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@EddieJennings To answer your original question, it doesn't much matter when you order monitors. I like to replace them every 3-5 years. Just budget and plan for it. The only thing to consider when ordering new machines is if you'll need new video cables or if the monitor only has a VGA connection. For instance a machine ordered today might only have display port/HDMI/mini display port and your monitor may only have DVI for a digital connection. In that case you'll want to order some cables if you don't have any on hand.

You replace monitors every 3-5 years? why?

My 4 year old 24" inch dells have a issues with colors from the top to bottom of screen. Red could be pink on top, Maroon on the bottom.

But at the end of the day, a $160 Minix with Win10 Home and RDSH 2016 would be my choice any day over deploying and managing a bunch of computers.

@matteo-nunziati said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

here in Italy there is no real difference in price buying from dell of any online shop (any brand). so I usually buy monitors with pcs.

Yeah nuc are nice, but if you assembly one you also had to add the windows tax (considering standard office workflow, linux is not cosidered here) and it doesn't worth anymore.

I'm currently working with a microsoft oem. then they deploy nucs internally and it really worths it!

So you do the Intel NUCS and like them? I dont know if there is a Dell or HP equivalent system.

@tim_g said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@travisdh1 said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@eddiejennings said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

It's rare for us to purchase new workstations (generally it only happens when we have a new hire). On High has dictated that everyone have a dual-monitor setup, which is nice :smiling_face: . The last several purchases have been laptops, which just dock at locations which already have monitors. This is the first desktop purchase in years, which requires monitors; thus, I was curious how you folks approach it.

Dell Outlet is another option.

You can call and negotiate with Dell Outlet reps and have them hold inventory, too. They allow you to sort the live inventory (Cancelled orders, returns, refurbished) so you know what you are getting.

However, I can't imagine the need for Dell anymore. Onsite support is a crap shoot and with the Intel NUC-ish hardware + SSD Drive and Windows 10 restore options seems like it will be less hassle to manage yourself.

you're deploying NUCs in your office these days?

I am not deploying anything, but from my own experience with them at home I don't see any reason to use anything else.

Yeah, a NUC is more than enough for normal office work.

No don't do it. Win10 requires 2GB ram. Office also has a minimum. FF or Chrome also has a min. Keep adding software and you will quickly find that your 4gb system will be nothing but problems for the user.

4gb was fine up until a couple years ago. 6gb is min now with 8gb ram being ideal.

Maybe you get lucky and a user will be fine with only Windows and Edge... And use absolutely nothing else, ever. Then okay, but it will still be a pain for them .

We got 16gb in ours, what is the 4gb about?

@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@scottalanmiller said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@eddiejennings said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

It's rare for us to purchase new workstations (generally it only happens when we have a new hire). On High has dictated that everyone have a dual-monitor setup, which is nice :smiling_face: . The last several purchases have been laptops, which just dock at locations which already have monitors. This is the first desktop purchase in years, which requires monitors; thus, I was curious how you folks approach it.

Dell Outlet is another option.

You can call and negotiate with Dell Outlet reps and have them hold inventory, too. They allow you to sort the live inventory (Cancelled orders, returns, refurbished) so you know what you are getting.

However, I can't imagine the need for Dell anymore. Onsite support is a crap shoot and with the Intel NUC-ish hardware + SSD Drive and Windows 10 restore options seems like it will be less hassle to manage yourself.

you're deploying NUCs in your office these days?

Not a bad choice.

We starting going with the Micro computers from Dell at work. From a price point of view the NUC and Micro is pretty close.

I have used a couple of those in the past. Systems purchased from Lenovo like the M52 at my old work are still in place today. Having been upgraded through a couple Windows OS's and are faster now then they were in the beginning.

The big growth and constant upgrading from the 90's throught 2000's seems to be ever. Even Windows licensing seems to be planned for 10 year deployments.

@dashrender said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@bigbear said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@eddiejennings said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

It's rare for us to purchase new workstations (generally it only happens when we have a new hire). On High has dictated that everyone have a dual-monitor setup, which is nice :smiling_face: . The last several purchases have been laptops, which just dock at locations which already have monitors. This is the first desktop purchase in years, which requires monitors; thus, I was curious how you folks approach it.

Dell Outlet is another option.

You can call and negotiate with Dell Outlet reps and have them hold inventory, too. They allow you to sort the live inventory (Cancelled orders, returns, refurbished) so you know what you are getting.

However, I can't imagine the need for Dell anymore. Onsite support is a crap shoot and with the Intel NUC-ish hardware + SSD Drive and Windows 10 restore options seems like it will be less hassle to manage yourself.

you're deploying NUCs in your office these days?

I am not deploying anything, but from my own experience with them at home I don't see any reason to use anything else.

Are you referring to Route 53 Private DNS hosting to store the zone and reverse DNS zones? Or are you just referring to DNS resolution to resolve public internet services outside of your domain?

If the latter, and in reference to no AD clients I am assuming one issue is the slowness with which DNS can resolve on insecure clients (non AD) for internet services?

Just trying to understand the resiliency issue you are targeting by not using AD DNS...

@scottalanmiller said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@black3dynamite said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

We Utahns got some good snow today. It’s starting snowing since last night.

Decently warm in Dallas again today. Sun is out and it is in the 50s.

My wife and oldest son are in Shreveport today, not to far off from your area...

@black3dynamite said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

@eddiejennings said in Purchasing new workstations with monitors:

It's rare for us to purchase new workstations (generally it only happens when we have a new hire). On High has dictated that everyone have a dual-monitor setup, which is nice :smiling_face: . The last several purchases have been laptops, which just dock at locations which already have monitors. This is the first desktop purchase in years, which requires monitors; thus, I was curious how you folks approach it.

Dell Outlet is another option.

You can call and negotiate with Dell Outlet reps and have them hold inventory, too. They allow you to sort the live inventory (Cancelled orders, returns, refurbished) so you know what you are getting.

However, I can't imagine the need for Dell anymore. Onsite support is a crap shoot and with the Intel NUC-ish hardware + SSD Drive and Windows 10 restore options seems like it will be less hassle to manage yourself.

@dafyre said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@tim_g said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@dustinb3403 said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@tim_g said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

The only studies I've found suggesting the flu shot is safe and beneficial are sponsored by those who profit off of it... just something I've noticed, but I haven't looked too deeply into flu shots. I just know that we're (myself and family) all perfectly fine without it.

Are you an anti-vaccer?

No, I just don't do pointless shit that is potentially more harmful than beneficial. Getting the flu myself is less harmful imho.

If I were old an frail, then that may be reversed. But until then, no thanks.

I'm up-to-date on most of my important vaccines (had to get them when I got my implant a couple of years ago). That said:

I don't get the flu shot either. I haven't had the flu in years. On the rare occasion that I get the flu, it's generally not bad enough to warrant anything more than a couple of days of bed rest and a box (or three) of kleenex. For a week or two after, I keep hand sanitizer around for those who come in contact with me.

Of all the folks that I know (in real life) who get the flu shot, all of them but one usually wind up with the flu.

If it works for you, that's awesome, keep it up! If it doesn't work for you, don't get it, *shrugs*.

Having been on and off the flu shot in recent years I can say usually getting the shot means getting the flu.

Whether its less likely to happen when you actually do it routinely I couldn't say.

@stuartjordan said in Remote Control Software:

@coliver It does work well, I personally use Screen Connect though before it got brought out by ConnectWise

I ended up using my Smart Office UC meeting tool. Really glad I dont have anything to install on premise at this customer. Yikes.

Apparently the IT guy drives between offices in different states. He literally just told me "The bosses dont much like new purchases and I dont mind the mileage and travel time".

So whenever there is problem he can't solve over the phone I guess he takes off, sometimes stays overnight. He wasn't too thrilled to find the meeting tool is going to be on everyone's desk. I am really glad he wasn't a part of the sales process.

Been on the phone with the "computer person" at this new account. This place is like the Wild West of IT. They have nothing. No remote control. No remote access. Just a bunch of Free standing Windows 10 computers and Office 365. Some Windows 7 as well I am learning.

No servers. Sonicwall firewalls. Apparently this guys only job is to screw with their desktops and the Sonicwall to try to block people from not working. Ridiculous, but I am glad we are just doing the voice.

I've thought about giving them SodiumSuite, but no remote control it looks like. Is there any free remote control app out there anymore? I have been trying to setup an end user to get a Chrome Remote Desktop session going for 40 minutes.

@jaredbusch said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

@bigbear said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

@jaredbusch said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

You can click on almost any IP on any screen and it will pop it into a browser window. So if you have rules setup for that, you will be taken directly to the unit's login.

The only thing I can see suited to their described needs in the Unifi is the ability to use the web browser or mobile app to remotely look at what is going on with internet access when users start complaining about the speed slowing down.

Then the IT person can log in to UNMS and see what the overall speeds and such are. If there is a specific issue, they can log into the specific site. But this is a business and this below should not be an issue.

I have a Unifi at home and I use the mobile app to block my kids at night, and can see they are on Youtube, etc.

This is not a feature that should be used in a business. It is a business, not a fucking adult daycare.

I dont think they intend to use as such other than to figure out where the bottlenecks are while they are occuring.

Personally, I dont think there are bottlenecks, I think its the Sonicwall stuff they currently have.

@jaredbusch said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

You can click on almost any IP on any screen and it will pop it into a browser window. So if you have rules setup for that, you will be taken directly to the unit's login.

The only thing I can see suited to their described needs in the Unifi is the ability to use the web browser or mobile app to remotely look at what is going on with internet access when users start complaining about the speed slowing down.

I have a Unifi at home and I use the mobile app to block my kids at night, and can see they are on Youtube, etc.

I have always preferred the Edgemax, only bought the Unifi when I started reading here about the Unifi controller software.

@jaredbusch said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

This is what you see currently when you click on an ERL in UNMS.

Thanks @JaredBusch, can they use DPI to see who is screwing the internet with Youtube, they way they could do with a local ERX via the IP address on the lan?

@coliver said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

@bigbear said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

UNMS + Edge Routers

UNMS + Edge Routers

Is any part of this still in Beta? I remember last I was poking around a saw something to do with a beta firmware for the ER-X being required.

@eddiejennings said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Ah, the beauty of having our PBX off-premises. I have a new way of viewing office Internet outages.

Did you ever come up with a solution for the mobile app stuff?

@bnrstnr said in UNMS vs Unifi for a deployment "today":

@gjacobse Looks like he's asking if UNMS is production ready for the EdgeMax line of routers, not it's ability to manage Unifi products.

Yeah sorry, no meraki, no cross management. Just asking if bought today would you rather...

UNMS + Edge Routers

or

Unifi + Ubiquiti USG Routers

If the UNMS with Edge Routers isnt production ready I would rather send them in a direction I know will work. I will have no regrets later because I am not managing any of this...