[OPLINTECH] Patron computers?

[JKENZIG]

I get it a server on the desktop! ; )  A gig of memory for web browsing and
a 100 meg hard drive...sheesh. All they need is a low profile unit that
isn't riddled with spyware so it works at a decent clip. You also need to
have some sort of access for all the new memory cards, the floppy is dead,
just ask Bill Gates.    I am looking at the Dell Optiplex SX280 right
now...how come HP only has one low profile unit(which is a boat anchor at 20
pounds)?  
 
I think the perception comes when patrons want is to come to the library and
sit down in front of a computer and have it work like their home PC. In
other words they want to have full OPEN ACCESS to be able to delete things
and download and save things etc etc.  In this day and age of viruses, worms
and spyware it gets difficult for us to allow that.    I found a new product
by Altiris called protect that COULD allow you to give patrons full access.
You can pretty much delete, add, and have an open desktop and upon logoff
and logon have it reset back to original state. It is a pretty cool product,
I've added and deleted things on the desktop, in the registry, added files
etc and on reboot all my changes were gone and it was back to original. I
like it a lot over deep freeze, fortres etc as it is a very small install
and setup is simple...it is either on or off for the most part.  See
http://www.altiris.com/products/protect/
<http://www.altiris.com/products/protect/>   you can download a demo of it
from the site.  We will use this on all future systems that we purchase.  We
got quoted at $29 a copy for 200 licenses recently.
 
We have also implemented Open Office via Citrix so patrons can create
documents from any of our workstations. This has been very well received. 
 
I think we also need to look at having multiple browser choices available
with most all plugins(including language packs) for patrons now.  Both IE
and Mozilla Firefox at least.
 
Also on a final note albeit it is beta, Microsoft has released their Spyware
utility and it works very well and I would suggest everyone check out.  See

 
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57
-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&DisplayLang=en>
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-
a8bd-dbf62eda9671&DisplayLang=en
Jim Kenzig
Network Manager
Cuyahoga County Public Library
-----Original Message-----
From: Mann, James H. [
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 1:49 PM
To: oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: [OPLINTECH] Patron computers?


 
The Greene County Public Library is in the process of developing a
long-range plan and as part of the project did a snail mail survey to local
residents. A significant number of respondents said that the library did not
have "up to date" computer equipment. I took umbrage. We are a Gates Grant
library and provide patrons with fairly new Pentium IV computers connected
to the Internet via T1s. More horsepower and connectivity than I have at
home. So, I began to think about this and decided that an up-to-date
computer was:
*	Black 

*	Had a black LCD display 

*	Had a killer video card and a killer sound system 

*	Had a wireless keyboard and mouse 

*	Had front side USB or Firewire for cameras, cams or whatever. 

*	Had a gig of memory, better than a 100mb hard drive and a DVD/CDRW 
 
But, if you were to provide new computers today for your patrons what would
you provide? Is it perception....could you get away with black LCD monitors?
Or do they need something I'm not seeing?
 
Let me know what you think.
 
 
Jim Mann
Technology Coordinator
Greene County Public Library
Xenia Ohio 45385
(937) 376-2996 x210
mailto: 
 
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