This week has been more about Macs than bikes for me, bit sad I guess, and a bit daft updating the blog with stuff that's non bike related, but hey, there really is nothing bikey worth talking about this week!

So, Macs. Well this week I started the long overdue revamp of the shop network, at the moment we have 2 Mac Minis and then my Macbook on top of that, and they all need to talk to each other. They do more or less but the network has been more a case of a collection of plasters than a proper bandage holding it all together. One week on it's still got a few plasters in there, but the bandage is getting bigger and soon the plasters will be gone, most likely to blockup the plug hole in the bath for a few weeks more, like all old plasters seem to do.

The final step in the network was getting the main shop Mini onto Leopard, which went smoothly enough, cept for Parallels, it just refused to work after the upgrade. Parallels! I hear you say, why on earth are you running Windows on a Mac??? (Parallels in a clever little application that enables Windows to run on a Mac in case you didn't know). Well, yes sadly we still need Windows, for one job, to complete our online finance agreements. Back Horse, our finance provider, has a special secure website for doing finance agreements online, only it's not Mac friendly, you must use Windows and IE, how crap is that! Anyway, after a few updates and yet more money spent Parallels is now happy and working again.

Al we have to do now to complete the network is drop in a few miles of cable, convince an access point to work for wireless internet and get a new coffee machine.

Coffee machine? Oh ya, the other reason for the new network is because in the next few weeks we're having a big shake up of the exisiting shop. The workshop, that has sat in the back half of the shop floor for the last 6 years is finally getting moved out to it's own location, we had to move it, we've totally run out of space in the shop. Once the work shop is relocated (don't panic, it's only into a new building out the back) the space will be turned over to some bike display space, a couple of sofas, a coffee table and coffee machine, and the play station will be making a welcome return.

It was always my plan to put a chill out zone with free wifi, a PS area and decent coffee into the shop, finally it's nearly a reality.

Gentleman, fill your mugs and start your engines :-)

Oh ya, bikes, great ain't they?