[Discuss] UVic's new portal now available to students, unless they use Firefox

[Adam Parkin]

So UVic has launched a new online portal service for students, the 
e-mail I received outlining the servies is given below.  BUT, Firefox is 
not one of the supported browsers, and upon going to the main USource 
page (https://usource.uvic.ca)  you are greeted with a nice "Unsupported 
browser" blurb.  So far as I can tell you can browse the site fine with 
FF, but it does seem odd to me that the fastest growing, arguably most 
secure, and most popular browser amongst the students I know is unsupported.

Why is the University so anti-OSS?  OpenOffice isn't installed in any of 
the Windows labs on campus (the only lab I know of with OO is the Linux 
lab in ELWB215, and even then it's a very old version of OO), Firefox is 
installed in the Windows labs, but it's an older version (pre 1.5) and 
even then students in early CSC courses (100 et al) are strongly 
encouraged to use IE over FF.  And that lone Linux lab runs a bizarre 
Linux distro that seems very quirky and unreliable (I've had those 
machines lock up on me much more often than the Windows 2000 machines 
across the hall).

Sorry for the mini-rant, just in a complaining kinda mood today I 
suppose.... =8-p

-- 
Adam Parkin
E-mail: pzelnip at telus.net
--------------------------
 Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies. 
	-- Friedrich Nietzsche 	



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	USource: UVic's new portal now available to students.
Date: 	Fri, 05 May 2006 09:28:31 -0700 PDT
From: 	uSource UVic <donotreply at uvic.ca>



	Use uSource and you could win an iPod!

USource is UVic's new online portal. Check your individual UVic records
and personalize your online space in one convenient place.

Important stuff:

	* Register online for classes

	* See a snapshot of your student records

	* Manage tuition fees

	* Get reminders of important academic dates

	* Check your library account


Fun stuff:

	* Watch for cool campus events

	* Set up your personal online calendar

	* Personalize RSS feeds from your favourite websites

	* Customize what you want to see and where you want to see it

	* Submit a feature photo

	*Try to win an i-pod! Log in and follow the link in
	  "Campus Announcements" to the online scavenger hunt.
	  Fill it out by May 30, 2006 and you could win.



Log into uSource now! Go to: https://usource.uvic.ca.

**