School networks are not always the bleeding edge so I thought it useful to post some instructions for sending messages to computers on networks that are using Windows Server 2003 and xp clients.  ICT coordinators might find this useful if they need to get messages to teachers quickly.

The NET SEND command is a tool that allows sending inline text messages over the network. NET SEND command is a very simple utility used to send short messages from one computer to another one.

By default, earlier versions of Windows do not provide any simple graphical interface (GUI) program that would allow instant messaging. In an effort to gain presence in the instant messaging software market, Microsoft offers the Windows Messenger; however, this tool is not included in all Windows packages. Unless you are running Windows XP Service Pack 2, Messenger needs to be downloaded, installed, and configured with a user account.

If you need to send a quick (or urgent) message to someone on the network without the overhead of Messenger, the NET SEND command-line tool can be an easy way to go.

How do I use NET SEND?

Microsoft aims to end update support for Vista before XP and Windows 2000.  Enough said!  What a disaster Vista has been for Microsoft.

A colleague of mine was at demonstration or conference about two months ago and he was told by a Microsoft evangelist that the MS policy was not refer to Visa by name (Vista) but as the previous operating system!!

So the end is nigh for XP and W2K but so far Windows 7 seems a good replacement.

"The company said yesterday that a Vista service pack-free OS will no longer get MS support after 13 April this year, leaving the flaky platform entirely at the mercy of hackers who might wish to exploit that code.