4 days in and still not PC in sight....

[MarillionFan]

You know what, forget it. All you guys are right and I am wrong.

I understand. You have no dev machine, you have been hired to do dev. You have a PC but you're struggling to look at the documentation or to draw up any architecture & design.

So there is an issue here. If you are unable to get over the dev hurdle(as faq said) it would show you are not contributing and hence cansville here you come. Been there, had it done.

You need to flag up to the agency and PM the issues and ensure delivery is documented(of what you can do) and you are nailed down on what you can't because of their incompetence.

Nothing worse than a poor manager or PM who blames the contractor for lack of work. Oh and ensure you BCC all correspondence to yourself. Hopefully the hurdle will be overcome soon.

(oh and btw. I am always right but don't let that put you off )

[Spacecadet]

Have you tried bleeding the radiators?

Should keep you busy if nothing else

[Freamon]

I'm guessing the project you are working on has nothing to do with delivering a new IT Asset Management system?

[TheFaQQer]

Why is that bizarre faq? In a lot of companies where security is key bringing your own laptop is verbotten. Insurance, Banking, MOD etc.

A smart phone is a smart phone.

The only place I've ever worked where I wasn't allowed a laptop, there was a no phones policy. Because these days, there's very little difference between the two, so the government policy was that neither was allowed. Or anything that might be used to bring in data or take it out.

If you allow people a phone with internet access, what are you hoping to achieve by not allowing them to bring in a laptop?

[MarillionFan]

The only place I've ever worked where I wasn't allowed a laptop, there was a no phones policy. Because these days, there's very little difference between the two, so the government policy was that neither was allowed. Or anything that might be used to bring in data or take it out.

If you allow people a phone with internet access, what are you hoping to achieve by not allowing them to bring in a laptop?

1) Plugging it into the network
2) Sticking a USB cable in it
3) Sticking a DVD in it

Shall we continue? They are totally different.

[TheFaQQer]

I said in my first Post that I dont have a dev PC, but I do have a PC with some basic software but it lacks what I need e.g. VISIO to do the complete documentation. I can't do the ground work because of that and not having the dev tools installed.

I can't use a laptop because the laptops they have, have inbuilt security such as security cards which are provided with a laptop. Does that now answer your question?

Not really. If you have your own laptop with the right tools, then you can at least say to the project manager "while I'm waiting for a desktop machine, I want to write some of the documentation on my own laptop". Shows that you aren't just sitting there twiddling thumbs and are then going to whinge that it's not your fault that you haven't done anything.

If you weren't allowed your own laptop in, then it's slightly different. You point out to the PM (and empathise with the situation) that if it wasn't for their security policy, then you'd be working on your own laptop while you wait for a machine to arrive.

Edited: The security card and other authentication gives you the required access to the network, which I simply cant have unless you are suggesting I attempt to hack it?

I'm not suggesting that you put your laptop on their network, as I said earlier:

Use a laptop to do the work disconnected from the network if necessary.

Most clients won't allow you to put your own equipment on their network, but that doesn't stop most contractors from being able to do work on their own equipment when they need to.

If, at the end of a week, all you can contribute to a project is nothing constructive because you haven't got Visio, then I'd be looking to dump you as soon as possible.

[TheFaQQer]

1) Plugging it into the network
2) Sticking a USB cable in it
3) Sticking a DVD in it

Shall we continue? They are totally different.

1) If the client has a wireless network, then it's no different.

2) I can stick a USB cable in my phone - not sure what your point is.

3) Not sure what your point is. If someone brings in a laptop and puts a DVD in it, what does that actually do?

If you are trying to stop something nasty getting into your system, then just stopping someone bringing in a laptop isn't enough, because there are plenty of other ways of bringing stuff in.

If you are trying to stop someone taking stuff out of your system, then just stopping someone bringing in a laptop isn't enough, because there are plenty of other ways of taking stuff out. I can plug my phone into a computer via USB and copy onto the 32GB micro SD card a lot more surreptitiously than I can plug a laptop into a computer and start copying things over.

Your experience is obviously different from mine, but there is little point in having a security policy which stops you bringing in a laptop (and then thinking everything is hunky dory) when you allow a great big gaping hole that you can bring in a pocket sized device which can do pretty much the same functionality.

[MarillionFan]

1) If the client has a wireless network, then it's no different.

2) I can stick a USB cable in my phone - not sure what your point is.

3) Not sure what your point is. If someone brings in a laptop and puts a DVD in it, what does that actually do?

If you are trying to stop something nasty getting into your system, then just stopping someone bringing in a laptop isn't enough, because there are plenty of other ways of bringing stuff in.

If you are trying to stop someone taking stuff out of your system, then just stopping someone bringing in a laptop isn't enough, because there are plenty of other ways of taking stuff out. I can plug my phone into a computer via USB and copy onto the 32GB micro SD card a lot more surreptitiously than I can plug a laptop into a computer and start copying things over.

Your experience is obviously different from mine, but there is little point in having a security policy which stops you bringing in a laptop (and then thinking everything is hunky dory) when you allow a great big gaping hole that you can bring in a pocket sized device which can do pretty much the same functionality.

I have porn on my iPhone and also on my laptop. Not sure where I'm going with this now....

[TheFaQQer]

They are totally different.

How naive - have a look at the Motorola Atrix smart phone.

But you're right - there's a big difference between what a laptop can do and what an iPhone can do.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Most clients won't allow you to put your own equipment on their network, but that doesn't stop most contractors from being able to do work on their own equipment when they need to.

If, at the end of a week, all you can contribute to a project is nothing constructive because you haven't got Visio, then I'd be looking to dump you as soon as possible.

Your making out like I am sat there twiddling my thumbs, naturally I am constantly thinking of ways to contribute and do things but if your a developer you would understand that getting a dev environment set up means you can start moving. I have thought up all kinds of plans and designs and done a fair deal but I am looking to get stuck in and move quickly to deliver.