I have a couple of issues I'm trying to address. We're running multiple flavors of Windows, Unix, Linux and Macs. The Macs have been the latest addition and I have one PowerMac G3 running OS9, a couple of iMac G5's and now about 20 IBook G4's running Jaguar.

1. I don't know of much benefit to joining these to the Active Directory other than account logon and access to shared data. Are there any others? I've had problems getting this to work and am wondering whether to go any further.

2. Wireless - the iBooks will be using the airport card on a closed network. I don't want users to be able to change the password yet if they are off campus I want them to be able to connect to other open access points.

3. Software Updates - How can I keep these systems updated when the majority of the time, users with limited accounts are logged on. I don't want to have to go the machine every day to install patches, etc. Is there any method similar to a package management tool via a BSD-style ssh session or Windows Update to do this?

4. Proxy - I've configured the iBooks to use a proxy gateway while they're on campus but when they're off campus it won't be available and should not be required.

Thanks.

First off, http://www.macwindows.com/ will be an excellant
resource for you.
1) That being said, 10.3 or 10.4 will do much better in a Win
environment, but all SHOULD work. (The OS 9 being the
exception, get Thursby Software's: DAVE)
2) Set up locations and teach your users how to switch.
3) Apple Menu>Software Update, set the System Preferance
to update weekly and check to be sure the user does it. (On
the 9 machine, 9.2.2 is the highest and it is NOT being
updated any further.
4) again, MacWindows.com