[OPLINTECH] Public Access Computer purchases
Chad Neeper (list)
cneeper at level9networks.com
Wed Mar 18 15:18:22 EDT 2009
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 <mailto: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
> <mailto: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 <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>
> [mailto: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 <mailto: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 <http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org>
>
>
>
> *From:* oplintech-bounces at oplin.org
> <mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org>
> [mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org
> <mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org>
> [mailto: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 <mailto: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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