[OPLINTECH] Public Access Computer purchases

Eric Maynard emaynard at holmeslib.org
Mon Mar 23 11:13:56 EDT 2009


Ed and Chad,

Am I wrong to assume this pre-existing licensing and media is taking care of
in the fee that a Dell, etc. is charging for the downgrades?

NTS - Need to make sure vendor clarifies the downgrade path.

Eric Maynard
Head of Information Technology,
Holmes County District Public Library
Millersburg, OH  44654

Email [emaynard at holmeslib.org]
Phone [330.674.5972 x.224]
Fax   [330.674.1938]



On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 4:38 PM, Ed Liddle <eliddle at marysvillelib.org>wrote:

> It was my understanding that to be able to downgrade to XP from vista,
> you have to currently have computers running XP. When you install XP on
> a new PC with a vista business or ultimate license you can use the XP
> numbers off of one of your existing XP computers. If XP won't activate
> then you have to call microsoft and once they determine you have a valid
> vista license they will give you something to activate xp.
> The attached pdf I downloaded from
>
> http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/f/4/5f4c83d3-833e-4f11-8cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf
>  It explains the downgrade rights for vista.
>
> Also newegg has a 30 gig ssd for 103 bucks with a promo code of
> EMCLPMX37 and a $20 mail in rebate. You can find the details of the
> drive here. Just research the speed of the ssd drive, some are faster
> than others.
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL031909&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL031909-_-SolidStateDisks-_-L5C-_-20227393
>
> I bought a EeePC. Its the 1000 model with 40 gig ssd and loaded with
> linux. I really like it. The version of linux that comes on it isn't the
> best. I currently have eeebuntu http://www.eeebuntu.org/ running on it
> from an 8 gig sd card. When I get time I am going to install it on the
> internal ssd so I can free up the sd card slot on it. I don't miss a dvd
> drive on it. There is a neat application that lets you install a linux
> iso image to a thumb drive and make it bootable. Its called UNetbootin
> and can be found here http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ I used it to
> install eeebuntu on my EeePC and also for creating a usb stick with
> clonezilla on it. This is handy since all the library computers will now
> boot off of usb devices.
>
> -Ed Liddle
>
>
>
> On Wed, 2009-03-18 at 15:18 -0400, Chad Neeper (list) wrote:
> > LOL! I had to grin when I saw the cases I mentioned earlier. The cases
> > give you the option of using a standard sized 5.25" CD/DVD-ROM or a
> > slimline CD/DVD with a 3.5" floppy drive. You're right. Floppies are
> > long, long obsolete, yet people/businesses/LIBRARIES still want/need
> > them!  How frustrating!
> >
> > Jim:  Good point on the SSDs. The prices are coming down quickly
> > (YEAH!) and the power draw is much better. I'm anxiously awaiting a
> > good pricepoint/capacity to buy one for my battery-abusive laptop!
> >
> > Eric:  On the custom building front...you're right. If you build it
> > yourself you might save a few bucks on the initial tangible cost, but
> > you have to support it yourself over the long haul. Some libraries
> > might be able to do it efficiently, but probably not most. If you get
> > a custom build from a reseller, then there's a pretty good chance the
> > reseller is going to be a local company and not on par with the Dells
> > of the world. That could be good or bad, but you still have a single
> > point for support of the computers, just like buying a Dell. That
> > obviously doesn't make the decision any easier and I'm certainly not
> > advocating one over the other. (So good luck there figuring out what's
> > best for your library! :-) )
> >
> > Someone:  Resellers can still buy oem XP licenses for installation
> > ONLY on netbook-class (low-powered) computers. Not for higher-powered
> > computers, though. To get XP on a higher-powered computer, you have to
> > get Vista Ultimate or Business. You can then downgrade to XP Pro using
> > media THAT YOU SUPPLY yourself. If you need a CD key for the install,
> > you can call Microsoft's support and get one to match your media.
> > That's the theory, anyway. I only build machines for my own clients,
> > which means that I don't build lots and lots of them. I'll be testing
> > that backrev license soon though. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
> >
> >
> > Good luck....And I still like the idea of hanging the computer on the
> > back of the monitor. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a generic
> > case/display that can do that.
> >
> > Chad
> >
> >
> > -----------------------
> > Chad Neeper
> > Senior Systems Engineer
> >
> > Level 9 Networks
> > 740-548-8070 (voice)
> > 866-214-6607 (fax)
> >
> > --   Full LAN/WAN consulting services   --
> > -- Specialized in libraries and schools --
> >
> >
> > Eric Maynard wrote:
> > > Yeah, they know that people are not going to give those things up
> > > easily so why squeak a few dollars while we make the transition.
> > >
> > >
> > > Eric Maynard
> > > Head of Information Technology,
> > > Holmes County District Public Library
> > > Millersburg, OH  44654
> > >
> > > Email [emaynard at holmeslib.org]
> > > Phone [330.674.5972 x.224]
> > > Fax   [330.674.1938]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 11:56 AM, Mann, James H.
> > > <JMann at gcpl.lib.oh.us> wrote:
> > >         I love it….
> > >
> > >         And I’m still paying an extra $20 to get floppy drives
> > >         pre-installed.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         Jim Mann
> > >
> > >         Technology Coordinator
> > >
> > >         Greene County Public Library
> > >
> > >         76 E. Market St.
> > >
> > >         Xenia Ohio 45385
> > >
> > >         (937)352-4000 x1210
> > >
> > >         mailto: jmann at gcpl.lib.oh.us
> > >
> > >         "If everything seems under control, you're just not going
> > >         fast enough." - Mario Andretti.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org
> > >         [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] On Behalf Of JKENZIG
> > >         Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 9:13 AM
> > >         To: Eric Maynard; oplintech at oplin.org
> > >
> > >
> > >         Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Public Access Computer purchases
> > >
> > >
> > >         Wait a few months maybe, and Windows 7 will be out and it
> > >         runs on quite a bit more types of hardware than Vista can.
> > >          We are going to have to give up XP sooner or later.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         Most manufacturers are starting to offer the option of SSD’s
> > >         in there PC’s also and by years end  I expect they all will.
> > >         I think it was Seagate that last years CES announced a 2
> > >         TERAbyte SSD will be out this year,  other drive
> > >         manufactures have followed suit with announcements.  16 gb
> > >         ssds are generally well available.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         Jim Kenzig
> > >         Network Manager
> > >         Cuyahoga County Public Library
> > >
> > >         Administrative Offices
> > >
> > >         2111 Snow Road / Parma, OH 44134-2728
> > >
> > >         www.cuyahogalibrary.org
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org
> > >         [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] On Behalf Of Eric
> > >         Maynard
> > >         Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 9:00 AM
> > >         To: oplintech at oplin.org
> > >         Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Public Access Computer purchases
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         Jim,
> > >
> > >         Good point on the SSDs, but is there anything out there that
> > >         runs XP besides netbooks?  Also, I'd be curious if anything
> > >         like that had built in optical drive options.
> > >
> > >         I'm sure you could custom build something like this as Chad
> > >         was suggesting, but I'm not sure that is the route we want
> > >         to take in terms of long term support.
> > >
> > >         Decisions... decisions.....
> > >
> > >         Eric Maynard
> > >         Head of Information Technology,
> > >         Holmes County District Public Library
> > >         Millersburg, OH  44654
> > >
> > >         Email [emaynard at holmeslib.org]
> > >         Phone [330.674.5972 x.224]
> > >         Fax   [330.674.1938]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 8:43 AM, JKENZIG
> > >         <JKENZIG at cuyahogalibrary.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >         Remember that Solid State drives(SSD) are also starting to
> > >         become the norm and they consume way less power.
> > >         Also if you can try and get the VPro chipset.  It has
> > >         enhanced functionality for remote wakeup and control.
> > >
> > >
> > >         Jim Kenzig
> > >         Network Manager
> > >         Cuyahoga County Public Library
> > >
> > >
> > >         Administrative Offices
> > >         2111 Snow Road / Parma, OH 44134-2728
> > >         www.cuyahogalibrary.org
> > >
> > >
> > >         -----Original Message-----
> > >         From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org
> > >         [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chad
> > >         Neeper
> > >         Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:46 PM
> > >         To: oplintech at oplin.org
> > >
> > >
> > >         Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Public Access Computer purchases
> > >
> > >         I don't think that's going to be so true in the very near
> > >         future. A week or so ago I was looking into the Mini-ITX
> > >         form factor (6.7 x 6.7 inch) motherboards from Intel for a
> > >         client that wanted to buy some new computers. Intel has a
> > >         few Mini-ITX boards that supports standard desktop
> > >         processors. One I'm glancing at now supports the Core2 Quad.
> > >         While I'd like to start using the smaller form factor, I
> > >         didn't end up suggesting it yet because the selection of
> > >         Mini-ITX boards available from my distributors are still
> > >         primarily using underpowered processors...just like you
> > >         said. I only found one mini-itx board SKU supporting
> > >         standard desktop processors at one of my secondary
> > >         distributors. I haven't looked for release dates from Intel,
> > >         but I think they're probably right around the corner since
> > >         they're already being shown on Intel's website in full
> > >         detail and my distributors already have at least one SKU.
> > >
> > >         The mini-itx case I was looking at had a 120W power supply.
> > >         If the processor alone takes up to 65W, that leaves 55W for
> > >         the motherboard, 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive, and 5.25" or
> > >         slimline CD/DVD-ROM drive. That should be just enough power.
> > >         Heat could definitely be an issue, as you said, but if the
> > >         case is designed well, it could be managed well enough.
> > >         The only thing really proprietary is the motherboard itself,
> > >         with built-in video, USB, network interface, etc. But that's
> > >         really no different than full ATX or mATX style
> > >         motherboards.
> > >
> > >         This is all from a white-box perspective, though. There
> > >         probably IS more proprietary components in a Dell, Acer, or
> > >         whatever other big names are left out there in this economy!
> > >         But then, with those you also get things like being able to
> > >         hang the computer on the back of the monitor. I haven't
> > >         looked, but I think I'd probably be hard pressed to find
> > >         something like that in a whitebox config.
> > >
> > >         Just my 2 (more) cents.
> > >
> > >         Chad
> > >
> > >         -----------------------
> > >         Chad Neeper
> > >         Senior Systems Engineer
> > >
> > >         Level 9 Networks
> > >         740-548-8070 (voice)
> > >         866-214-6607 (fax)
> > >
> > >         --   Full LAN/WAN consulting services   --
> > >         -- Specialized in libraries and schools --
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >         Industry Standard Computers wrote:
> > >         > The problem with ALL micro computers except laptops are
> > >         the power
> > >         > supplies are too underrated. The computers run hotter.
> > >         >
> > >         > Seldom do micros have the newest or faster processors as
> > >         buy options.
> > >         >
> > >         > Next the micro computers are generally 95% proprietary
> > >         parts inside
> > >         > even the hard drives sometimes are proprietary designs or
> > >         interfaces.
> > >         >
> > >         > People who are rich can afford to replace computers every
> > >         3 years or
> > >         > whenever the warranty runs out, most others can not.
> > >         >
> > >         > Butch
> > >         >
> > >         >
> > >
> > >
> > >         _______________________________________________
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> > >         OPLINTECH at oplin.org
> > >         http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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