Welcome to our second e-bulletin - Of the 1,800 or so on the mailing list for our January e-bulletin we received approximately 200 delivery failures, many of which were due to incorrect or extinct email addresses on our database. If you have received this email on the wrong email account or it has been forwarded to you by a colleague and want to register yourself on our e-bulletin mailing list please visit one of the following links.

Windows Vista - Hot on the heels of Microsoft's launch of their new operating system we have been asked on several occasions whether LSS will run on Windows Vista. Until this week we didn't have a solution as we were waiting for new dongle drivers. It's strange, but the early pre-release version of Windows Vista allowed LSS to run fine, but as soon as the product hit the shelves it seemed as if something had changed.

So, this is the situation. If you have a PC with Windows Vista installed, you will need to install LSS version 9.50.13 (or later) and Dongle drivers version 7.11.0.21 (or later). These are all available on our website. You could of course call us and we will post you a CD. But please be aware that the dongle drivers are pre-release ones so we cannot warrant them. We need you to contact us if you encounter any problems either at the install stage or afterwards. We will then be able to pass your comments and details onto the dongle manufacturers who, being UK-based, are able to react very quickly to any technical issues.

On another subject altogether, has anyone noticed the discrepancy between prices for Windows Vista when purchased from USA-based sites and those in the UK? It seems as if the current exchange rate of almost $2 to the £1 isn't reflected in these prices. Why should a product which sells in the USA for $154 be offered for sale in the UK for £135? And, wait for it, Windows Vista 'Ultimate' is $380 or £326. Answers on a postcard! We know that postal charges have risen, but that's ridiculous! Anyone going on holiday to the States?

Smooth Operator - We mentioned in our January e-bulletin all the fancy new things in the latest Beta version of LSS, but we never really explained what we meant by 'enhanced smoothing' of links and contours. You'll be able to read about it in the March Newsletter which should be landing on your desk in a few weeks, but here's a preview.

Previously, when a smoothed link was used to define an angular feature such as an inspection cover or the walls of a building, unless extra points were inserted close to the corner, the smoothed link would bow outwards instead of forming a sharp 90 degree angle.

Similarly, in the case of a road kerb survey, where the kerb went from a straight to a curve it was necessary to change the link feature from one which was defined as straight in the legend to one which was smoothed. This necessitated the changing of the feature code when surveying. Now, in most circumstances this will not be necessary. You should be able to use a smoothed link in all these situations as shown above. Apart from the time saved by not having to change the link feature, it should result in fewer points being required when picking up angular features using smoothed links. LSS will also continue the smoothing through a change of feature code as long as the adjacent feature is also a smooth link.

The enhanced smoothing has also been applied to contours which should now look more aesthetically pleasing. And who said software couldn't be artistic?

East Kilbride & Chesterfield training announcement - If you are interested in reserving places on any of the training courses and workshops shortly to take place in Scotland and Derbyshire, please complete the on-line booking form (link at the top of this page) or call us to place your order. We are about to close the booking sheets on the Scotland training, so you will have to be quick to reserve your place. All courses and events are subject to minimum and maximum numbers, so please get in touch as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

A day in the sun - This week, on St Valentine's day, we held yet another LSS / Leica System 1200 workshop at our offices in Birdlip. We welcomed visitors from as far afield as Belfast, Cornwall and Kent.

A full day was enjoyed by all and we hope all those attending managed to get home in time for the obligatory candle-lit dinner. Apologies to those partners who had to suffer endless talk about the latest GPS corrections and LSS reserved codes. However. everyone went away knowing what a 'Smart Pole' was, knowledge of which will always come in handy.

Many thanks once again to Leica Geosystems for their support.