The projects team completed a major upgrade to server infrastructure at client Workplace Services - a major RTO based in East Perth.

The project team also continues with its backup integrity testing - a key client service that sees us performing exhaustive methods to determine our ability to recreate client operating environments at short notice in the event of major disaster. Computing Australia are committed to manage clients IT infrastructure on a proactive - front foot approach.

The web services team have completed the transition of many clients to a new range of next generation servers in our Houston based hosting centre.

CA reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to the community by renewing a major sponsorship of ISWA - the Indian Society of Western Australia. CA sponsor a range of community and sporting organisations as part of our policy of returning benefits to the community.

Happy Birthday to Tom Passey (TP) from Technical Services who celebrated a birthday this week.

·         Tim Anderson - Egan National Valuers
·         Dr Marcus Middleton - Ellen Street Family Practice
·         Lois Blackwood - Hamilton Holiday

Congratulations to all winners.

Office Space.  The Computing Australia team works extremely hard to maintain a high level of knowledge of not just technology now but also new emerging technologies so that when you need help, we have the right knowledge to help.  This is no small task so in order to keep staff sane we now have an enclosed area whereby  staff can relax and play some darts, table tennis or simply have a coffee and a muesli bar.   Definately a positive step to maintaing our happy staff and a good team working environment.

Life as a programmer has its ups and downs like any job, but some days can be better than others.  It is always important that you keep your wits about you as sometimes things can get out of hand. 

Tim (the Sheriff) is one such programmer.  His dedication to the job sometimes extends further than than sometimes it should.  Recently Tim was so focused that after driving to get his lunch he exited the lunch bar to only walk back to work.  Upon leaving for the day he realises his car is missing and proceeds to walk back to his car in the rain.

 Sometimes focus doesn't help the situation.  A classic Tim moment!  Keep up the good work Sheriff

 Birthday wishes

James  this week also had his birthday.  This now ends James' life as a young whippersnapper teenager and brings him into the world of adults as he hits the big 20.  James now believes that it is all down hill from here.  Here's hoping for a good birthday and that the hill isn't too steep.

PB's Dream Car

Position: Computing Australia, Sales Account Manager

Aka: PB, BootN

When I am not working you will most likely find me: Out cruisin the streets with friends

My favourite sport: Baseball (Chicago Whitesox FTW!)

My favourite food: BBQ

My dream car: 1976 XB Falcon GT Coupe

Last holiday destination: Hong Kong/ Kuala Lumpur

Three discs I would take to my desert island: Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (cd), Transformers - The Movie (dvd) & Futurama - The Movie (dvd)

The websites I visit most often: http://www.carnalonline.org/

Something you may not know about Paul Brown: I help to run a car club during my spare time

With Andrew away in Mt Isa on a domain roll out the week nearly never got going for his projects buddy Chris. CK had an unfortunate accident offroad - while riding his quad bike with friends on the weekend he was hit by a kangaroo. Unfortunately the roo didn't make it and Chris survived by a whisker. He was left limping, significant repairs required to his bike and feeling bad over the roo but the whole thing happened in a split second and was unavoidable.

As discussed previously Andrew flew something like 4000 kilometres (one way!) to deliver a server and set it up at Mt Isa. He will post a blog entry on the trip shortly. Anyway he got back in one piece despite the airline strike and Qantas dropping some flights. Now he just has to make it up to Amanda for being absent on her birthday...

CA took delivery of 4 new Hyundai Getz. An unusual choice of car for some of our technicians but the choice was made purely on the grounds of fuel economy - fuel pushing $1.70 something... The trusty and rusty Holden Commodore was finally traded in and we also retired our combo which ends an era for those cars. Look out for them on the road soon with new decals and stuff...

JR out on the town

Position: Computing Australia, Technical Services Specialist

Aka: Rogers, JR

When I am not working you will most likely find me: Out on the town

My favourite sport: Football (soccer - Liverpool / Australia)

My favourite food: Chilli Mussels

My dream car: 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III

Last holiday destination: Penang - Malaysia

Three discs I would take to my desert island: Daft Punk – Homework (cd), Shawshank Redemption (DVD), Marvyn Gaye – Whats going on (audio CD)

The websites I visit most often: http://www.inthemix.com.au/

Something you may not know about James Rogers: I use to be a producer for the Morning show on Curtin FM, and now produce my own electronic music.

The giant VX2640w is ViewSonic’s latest addition to their X-series LCD line.

This 26” display features fantastic colour saturation and is capable of displaying 1080p HD resolution, making it great for work or play. The VX2640w is available for AUD699 with the following specifications:

• 26” wide colour TFT active matrix LCD
• 25.5” display area
• 1920 x 1200 native resolution
• 1000:1 (typ), 4000:1 (DCR) contrast ratio
• 400cd brightness
• 160 degrees horizontal and vertical viewing angle
• 3ms response time
• Anti-glare hard coated panel surface
• D-Sub, DVD-D and HDMI inputs

Our Development Services Drupal King, Tim "The Sheriff" Reynolds celebrated his birthday. How old you ask? We have two measures for age in IT - actual and IT age. Your IT age is derived by a formula based on your actual age plus 5 years for each year in IT. This leaves some of us pushing 150 years and Tim somewhere in his thirties. :)

Projects Manager, Andrew Taylor is packing his bags for a trip to Mt Isa , a speck on the Australian landscape in Queensland. From here in Perth we can reach our offices in India within the same time it takes to fly to Mt Isa - which may give you a sense of how far away it is. Andrew always relishes the chance to take our technology to uncharted waters and is spending a few days there doing a new server setup and paving the way for the client to link its offices in Mt Isa and Perth.

Paul Brown, our Operations Manager is transitioning to a new position at CA as our Sales Account Manager. Paul's commitment to customer service and business accumen made him the obvious choice for this newly created role.

At CA we strive for a fun working environment to counter some of the pressures that build up around IT service and support. We have  regular comps at work for dominance of the dart board and many of our clients have seen (and laughed) at our table tennis table with no corners (home advantage)...While Daniel rules the table there is an open field for the title of (un)disputed darts king. Rumour has it that Joey spends hours after work honing his skills to defeat all comers despite Daniel's best attempts to change the rules on the fly..!