Multi Users on OSX

[Akuma]

I work in a prepress house where we share Macs, we are running OSX 10.3.8 and some ppl have set up there own users on the macs. I personally think this is a bad idea because if the users leave files / fonts / apps open on their user then go home with the user account locked the next operator to do the job can have a lot of trouble.

I was wondering other ppls thoughts on this. and if other houses are allowing multi users on macs???

Thanks

[pcmodem]

My feelings on Multiple Users in a Prepress shop are to only have one user account, the Admin account.

Some might disagree and say prepress techs don't need Admin access. This might be true of some designers as they don't need or want access to change settings. As a prepress tech you do need access to the OS to make modifications and learn as much as you can. Just like what they do in the graphic applications.

The other thing to remember is permissions. When you have more than one user account on the machine you have to make sure all users have the same permissions. This can be a problem and it saves time to just have one user account.

These are production machines where everyone needs to be able to work on the machine in the exact same manner. If everyone had there own user account, everyone could possibly work differently. This could cause problems with the consistency of how jobs are output. And that could create BIG problems.

Brian Cupp

[beermonster]

i'm with pc modem on this one

I do everything here, admin, IT, design, repro, tea boy <yeah?good ol brits?we love our TEA!> etc etc. To me not an issue, since I hold all the passwords n stuff, but it makes more sense I think to have one user.

If I wasnt here and there was a problem, other people couldn't access the system if they needed, so thats bad. I think multiple users is ok in maybe a classroom or something?where you KNOW you DO NOT want any smartarse tampering with stuff and screwing it up.

as for file vault?ohh boy could we all be mischievous with that one?wage rise or file vault takes it all away??up the revolution!

[pmkprog]

Where I work we do use multiple users. The argument about not getting to files when someone is gone only happens in the aspect of pre-rip files. All of the main documents all stay on the server. So once in a while we have to resend a file that didi not get copied. I have worked in places where the system admin doesn't allow access to much of anything and you'd have to fight with him to be able to get anything to work on the Mac.
Where I am now every user has admin access. It works pretty well.
Ultimately, I don't think you need it except for email.

[pcmodem]

Even when it comes to email I believe there are ways you can have multiple user accounts on the email application. You would have to login to the email application but that could be done from one OSX user account.

[Kristian]

i personally dont see the point of multiple users. it just gets confusing having to set all the permissions and every time you install a new application you ahve to go through it again.

Its just a question of trust. I trust our operators not to go poking around in the system preferences so we all use the admin account.

[pcmodem]

Same thing here

[Joe]

We use multiple accounts. Every user has admin rights. Every users password is their user name and everyone knows how to get into someone elses account if the need arises. The benefit is that everyone has their own desktop, arranged to their liking, with the background of thier choice, files of their own choosing residing on their desktop, the screensaver of their choice, internet bookmarks, plus individual email accounts (yes, I know you can have multiple email accounts under one user) etc...We have not had any trouble with permissions and internal security isn't an issue. It gives the users a place to call their own and in the long run makes for more producive employees.

[almaink]

Just my 2 cents worth but you should have a least 2 users with administrative privileges just for troubleshooting if the need arises. Although I'm the only user on 3 Macs running Panther I have 2 accounts setup, one customized for work and one at the default install settings, just incase I run into problems.