Re: Off topic: Ideal patron computers??

[Doris Munson <dmunson at mail dot ewu dot edu>]

The system sounds wonderful but I'd stay away from the wireless keyboard 
and mouse at public workstations.  I have them on my home pc and there 
are times where I have problems getting the keyboard or mouse to 
respond.  The pc either needs to be rebooted; the receiver, keyboard, 
and mouse have to be reset; or the batteries need to be changed in the 
keyboard or the mouse.  I really like them on my home pc but wouldn't 
want to deal with dozens of them in my library.  I shudder at the time 
that would be needed to troubleshoot hardware problems.  Plus, the 
batteries only last six to eight weeks.  Mine takes three AAA and two 
AA.  The cost isn't bad for one pc but multiply that by 50-100 and it 
really adds up.  Assuming 50 pcs, heavy use and a battery life of only 
six weeks, the library would be looking at buying at least 1200 AAA and 
800 AA batteries every year!  (The manufacturer recommends that you 
don't use rechargeable batteries.)

Regards,
Doris



Mann, James H. wrote:

> 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: jmann at gcpl dot lib dot oh dot us
>
>
>
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--
Doris Munson
Systems/Reference Librarian
Eastern Washington University
dmunson at ewu dot edu
(509) 359-6395