From: 9207987h@levels.unisa.edu.au
Newsgroups: unisa.help
Subject: R: 3 VAX machines not working in library.
Date: 7 Sep 92 14:13:46 +0930
Organization: University of South Australia

>In article <18591.2aab55e8@levels.unisa.edu.au>, Rollo.Ross@levels.unisa.edu.au writes:

>> 	Experience shows that at least half the problems reported by 
>> first-years are not equipment failures, but are simple operational problems
>> like: it's not plugged in; someone's pressed CTRL/S; the terminal setup has 
>> been interfered with. These problems are likely to be fixed by someone with a
>> little understanding before we even hear about them. Before we rush off to
>> dismantle the terminals which happen to be idle at the time, we'd like to know 
>> that we're looking at the right terminal, and that the fault is still there. 

Gee we first years must be dumb!  Duh.....is this machine plugged in?
Why do we never actually SEE these people with a "little understanding"?
Or are you referring to 2nd. and 3rd. year students here who usually fix
a problem before the PAID "experts" have the time. ("Pass that donut,
Donahue's about to start...")

>>> Weren't you the one Mr. Ross asking students to use this newsgroup to
>>> report such terminal failures/problems? I think so. 
>> 	What I actually said (in message <17940.2a52c3c9@levels.unisa.edu.au>,
>> item 102 in unisa.help on Levels) was:
>> |	Better still, send mail to HELP (or HELP@LEVELS, if you're not on the
>> |Levels cluster). That's an alias that gets redirected to someone else when I'm 
>> |on leave.
>> |	I suggest posting to News if the answer is likely to be helpful
>> |to others, mailing to HELP if it's not going to interest other people.

Well, I would have thought that getting 3 terminals fixed was going to
be "helpful" to many students. In fact, I distinctly remember you
telling us to not give our subject headers "general" names, but more
specific names, like "3 terminals down in library......"

>> 	9207987H continues:
>>> Perhaps a little sign could be put up in each computer room - "If there are
>>> any terminal problems phone 3086 or mail CCOPR" - could be useful. 
>> 	What an excellent idea! How about a blue plate, 9cm by 5cm, glued to 
>> every single piece of computing equipment, saying "For hardware faults, 
>> phone the Computer Centre operators", and giving the phone numbers. The plate 
>> could even have the equipment number on it, so we'd know which particular 
>> piece of equipment was faulty. Then all we'd have to do is persuade people to 
>> follow the instructions. Should be a cinch!

What a great idea! And even better,instead of putting them under or
behind machines, put them somewhere where the students can see them.....
Gee, lets even ENCOURAGE students to report machine faults.

>>                                     Rollo Ross, Network Manager (CLW campuses)
>> 
>> Computer Centre,  University of South Australia, The Levels, SA 5095, Australia
>> Ph +61 8 302 3158 Fax 302 3385 DTE 505282622004  Rollo.Ross@Levels.UniSA.Edu.Au
>> --------------------------------------------
>> Student: Doctor, one of my body parts isn't working.
>> Doctor:  Which body part would that be, and what seems to be the problem?
>> Student: It's the one that's not being used, of course.
>> Doctor:  (Thinks: Shall I advise brain surgery or castration?) Mumble.

Students: Why doesn't the Levels campus get some more P.C's for student
          usage.
Systems Administrator: We can't afford it.
Students: Why don't we fill a whole room in the library with terminals
          which never get used, and then go and buy 6 spanking brand new
          Mitsubishi Magnas, to be used strictly for "academic purposes"
          of course.
Systems Administrator : Sure.
 
--

Daniel.
#! rnews 893