Well I've got another update! And this one is (potentially) a pretty good one.

My boss's boss came down to help, yesterday and today. It's the second time I've met him, as he was down for a day last week.

Anyway, after he left my boss was telling me about a conversation they had. Apparently I've "made an impression" and this guy is going to speak to his boss on Friday about offering me a work placement year. He was discussing it today with my boss.

As I said earlier in the thread, they have got two schools in the area (about 15-25 minute drive depending on traffic). His plan is for me to be based on my own at the smaller of the two, as the network manager with my current boss supporting me (in-case anything drastic happens so he can get in the car and come over). However, although I'll be based at that site if they buy any more schools (which is likely - they've bought at least two that I know of this year, and there is talk of another) I'll be involved with upgrading those schools' IT systems, and my current boss will be network manager for both sites. I would basically going round with my current big-boss and doing site surveys, then ordering and installing kit with the guys from Du Pre.

I haven't been offered anything yet of course, as it's all got to be put past those higher up the organisation. Even if they do offer me a position, I don't know if I will take it. I'll have to look at other options first.

Still, I was really pleased when my boss told me about it. Watch this space

Well done Nick, looks like all the effort might have paid off!

What he said

The fact you want to work just for the experience and have clearly made a good impression counts very highly to your good character, so even if you don't take a job with them it still looks promissing for a good reference.

I can only assume your boss isn't on here, or he'd realise what a miserable SOB you can be

I think I must have really settled in and gotten into the swing of this IT lark...

I'm at work browsing the forums.

To be trully settled in you need a coffee as well, 3 forums open, some personal work (via logmein), bypassed the content filter & be waiting for the next installment of the BOFH

So, I finished this placement long ago but...

Today I had a phone call from the boss, who asked if I had a laptop. When I said I did, he said "oh. we were hoping you didn't so we could buy you one for uni". I was like

So it was left that I will e-mail him with something I need, and they will get it to me. It was quite a nice surprise!

Does anyone know when the Google Chrome OS is being released? I quite fancy a Chrome OS netbook, but I can't see any dates online.

You could always buy a netbook and bung Chrome OS on it afterwards.

The ASUS seashell looks really, really nice.

True, but there would be no guarantees of course.

It looks like that is what I'm going to do!