RE: Off topic: Ideal patron computers??

[Eric Rhee <erhee at chulavista dot lib dot ca dot us>]

James - What I am finding is our public expects fast Internet connectivity,
they love LCD monitors, but I would stay away from wireless anything in a
public setting due to the potential for theft. I am working with my MIS
dept. to meet the demand to connect USB devices and CD/ROMs to my public
pc's which has not been permitted due to network security concerns.
Presently we permit access only to the floppy drive which as everyone knows
is inadequate.  People went bananas when we introduced wireless Internet
access and it reduces demands for our hardware. Next we want to introduce
printing from the wireless network. Black is nice because you don't see the
smudges and dirt.  I find people are quick to complain when things don't
work properly so mice maintenance is an important part of my routine as is
regular cleaning of keyboards and monitors. I really don't think hugh hard
drives are what people use in a public setting. I might survey your present
users when they are there using the equipment to get their feedback and
compare it to the community survey you mailed out.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Mann, James H. [mailto:JMann at gcpl dot lib dot oh dot us]
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 11:21 AM
To: innopac at innopacusers dot org
Subject: Off topic: Ideal 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: jmann at gcpl dot lib dot oh dot us
 


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