Gates HUG Grant - What Computers are You Considering Linda Labriola 2007-10-02T11:39:53Z 2007-10-02T11:39:53Z

Centurion Guard does have a networked software product that we&#039;ve been using. You can disable it on all the computers from your server, allow your computer to update and then enable it. Deep Freeze has the same capabilities and I hear it may be simpler to use.<br /><br />We&#039;re discussing getting a laptop and wonder how other small libraries with PAC laptops manage them. Our library is part of a larger building and the laptop would be used in another room across the entrance hall. <br /><br />Has anyone considered Velocity Micro machines? They&#039;ve been getting good press lately.<br /><br />Linda

Linda Labriola 2007-10-02T11:39:53Z Liz George 2007-03-23T16:37:35Z 2007-03-23T16:37:35Z

Thank you for the info and link. I just purchased a Dell Inspiron E1705 laptop and ordered the Vista Premium Home Edition. The laptop has 2GB RAM, but I need to check the Video Ram. Have been concerned about how the Vista was going to perform with other applications like DreamweaverMX, PhotoshopCS2, etc. Any advice?

Liz George 2007-03-23T16:37:35Z Wendell Gragg 2006-05-19T13:20:58Z 2006-05-19T13:20:58Z

The ram is not a real problem, but the video memory is. Most of the computers on our state contract list include machines with integrated video, which shares system memory. I seriously doubt that this will qualify for premium performance. I guess I will have to factor in those 2 things when specing out the pc&#039;s.<br /><br />Although I wouldn&#039;t anticipate upgrading to Vista at first, it would be foolish of me to buy machines that could not run it very well.

Wendell Gragg 2006-05-19T13:20:58Z Dale Musselman 2006-05-19T01:06:52Z 2006-05-19T01:06:52Z

In a somewhat related news item for anyone looking to buy new or upgrade existing computers &#045; Microsoft just announced system requirements for Vista. They have two levels &#045; &#034;Vista Capable&#034; the will&#045;kinda&#045;sorta&#045;run&#045;okay level, and &#034;Vista Premium&#034; the will really run Vista like it should level.<br /><br />Premium requirements include a 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 128MB Video RAM, and 15 GB free hard drive space. I think the RAM and Video seem like the two reqs that many newer computers are least likely to have.<br /><br />Here is their Get Ready for Vista site:<br />http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/default.mspx

Dale Musselman 2006-05-19T01:06:52Z Wendell Gragg 2006-05-16T13:12:45Z 2006-05-16T13:12:45Z

Those are exactly the same computers that Gateway is offering, but at a higher price. For example, the 2600 that Gateway offers, configured the same is around $1023, rather than the $1299 that Amerikit is offering.<br /><br />What I am doing now is looking at options from our state contract list and I am trying to work with Broderbund to see what kind of bundle we can get from them. We are forgoing the Centurion Guard and PAC Security Tool in favor of thw software solutions we are currently using. That took over $200 off the price of each machine.<br /><br />Wendell

Wendell Gragg 2006-05-16T13:12:45Z Dale Musselman 2006-05-15T21:53:44Z 2006-05-15T21:53:44Z

They are a company started by former Gateway employees. They handled the shipping of peripherals and upgrades in the Gates US Library program.<br /><br />They began selling these PAC models a couple years ago &#045; they used to be modified Gateways, though i see now that there is no mention of Gateway on their site.<br /><br />I think these might the model that Wendell was talking about &#045; with the pre&#045;installed children&#039;s programs. But it is really unfortunate that they are still using the Gates PAC Security Tool. I would recommend to anyone buying one that they remove that software and replace it with the MS Shared Computer Toolkit. Both of these are free programs, so it wouldn&#039;t be a monetary loss to do so. <br /><br />My one other issue is just the prices seem a bit high, but they do include 4 year onsite warrantees, and if it means not having to pay a contractor to configure your PACs it might be worthwhile.

Dale Musselman 2006-05-15T21:53:44Z Betha Gutsche 2006-05-15T21:37:19Z 2006-05-15T21:37:19Z

Has anybody heard of [url http://www.amerikitsolutions.com/pac_configs.html ]Amerikit Technology Solutions[/url]? They claim to be selling computers configured specifically for public access computing. This just popped into my personal email in an unsolicited e&#045;newsletter from [url http://www.lyponline.com/infocus/0605/0605_infocus.htm ]Librarian&#039;s Yellow Pages[/url] &#045;&#045;whoever they are.<br /><br />Just wondering if there&#039;s any real attraction to this product.

Betha Gutsche 2006-05-15T21:37:19Z Dale Musselman 2006-05-10T16:09:05Z 2006-05-10T16:09:05Z

So, CG isn&#039;t going to be any easier to use. You still have to reboot when you unlock. In truth it is really a software system like the others. The lock is just the on/off switch &#045; it does the same thing as entering a password on other systems. They do offer a network controller for the CG, and I believe you can use that for your updates. But I think their is a lot to be said for sticking with something that is working for you.<br /><br />I totally understand about wanting things pre&#045;installed. The best sounding part about the Gateway option was the pre&#045;installed kid&#039;s software. I guess the thing to do in making this decision is just ignore the fact that they are offering the PAC Tool &#045; since you will just replace it anyway.

Dale Musselman 2006-05-10T16:09:05Z Wendell Gragg 2006-05-10T15:57:32Z 2006-05-10T15:57:32Z

Actually, we use two layers of security. We use a program from Envisionware called PC Refresh that is similar to Deep Freeze, etc. The nice thing about it is that it does not require partitioning and I have not had the problems getting Norton to update properly that I had with the MS SCT. We also use the SCT from MS, without the disk protection, to lock down what the patrons can or can&#039;t do. <br /><br /> I think my question with Centurion Guard is how would it benefit me over the software we currently use. The biggest drawback to PC Refresh is having to disable it and reboot whenever I want to install or update things. If Centurion guard is more of an unlock and move on type of thing, that would certainly be nicer. I also wonder how easy it is to get CG to allow for things like auto&#045;updates of Norton AV.<br /><br />We are one of those libraries that I am the technology manager, technology tech, etc. I don&#039;t mind building an image, but having as much as possible preinstalled would shorten the deployment time quite a bit. What I may do is contact some of the software publishers and see what kind of deal they can get me. <br /><br />My biggest concern is where to go on the security side, though.

Wendell Gragg 2006-05-10T15:57:32Z Dale Musselman 2006-05-10T15:36:31Z 2006-05-10T15:36:31Z

You know, I get so used to auto spell check in Word and email that it&#039;s hard to remember when you have to run it manually. I mean how barbaric, to have to actually hit a button to run spell check!<br /><br />I&#039;m afraid Gateway might still be using the Security Tool. The plus side with them was that they were actually will to bother with something like a PAC model, but the downside is that they really had no idea what they were doing. Last I know, they didn&#039;t even install the security software anyway.<br /><br />So, for you, what is the advantage of the Centurion Guard over just using the WDP in the Toolkit? Is it not having to deal with the drive partitioning? It sounds like you are looking for something that is as close as possible to what you need out of the box software&#045;wise, so i assume you aren&#039;t ghosting these?<br /><br />So many of these decisions just come down to scale. One of the interesting aspects of working with libraries across the country is how very different they are in terms of organization, especially around technology. You see everything from states where the State Library pretty much takes care of all the library computers in the state &#040;except for urban systems&#041;, to states where each small, independent library is pretty much completely on their own when buying or supporting technology. The strong regional systems of states like Texas seems like one of the better models for most things, but a large cash grant like this definitely favors states with more centralized control. Whereas the original Gates US Library program was really the biggest boon for the small, isolated rural library.

Dale Musselman 2006-05-10T15:36:31Z Wendell Gragg 2006-05-10T13:06:23Z 2006-05-10T13:06:23Z

Man, I have to put my fingers on a diet, or slow them down! Did I really write &#034;oulder&#034;?<br /><br />Anyway, back on topic. Right now, I am leaning toward Gateway, if they have a state contract with TX. What is really nice is that they will pre&#045;install a number of kids games without the need for media for $129 per machine. The other thing is that they come with Centurion Guard preinstalled, but I am weighing the pros and cons of that vs. our software solution. One thing that has made me question is that they are intimating that they are using the PAC security tool, but I thought that it has been pretty much EOL&#039;d due to the MS Shared Computer Tool. We&#039;ve standardized on the latter.<br /><br />I have started to look at Dell, but trying to get a decent software bundle is going to really raise the price. If anyone else has worked out anything with any vendors, I would like to be able to find out who they talked to and see if we can work out something similar.<br /><br />Wendell

Wendell Gragg 2006-05-10T13:06:23Z Dale Musselman 2006-05-09T23:11:59Z 2006-05-09T23:11:59Z

Hey Wendell&#045;<br /><br />So far, what I&#039;ve been hearing is that in most of the 18 states people are probably going with whoever the state has a buying contract through. A few states are recommending specific configurations, and I know that at least TN and WV are both buying a standard model and creating a standard drive image for everyone. TN is going with Gateway because they were the ones will to work with them on this kind of a project.<br /><br />Otherwise, Dell is, not surprisingly, the other name I&#039;ve heard mentioned most. Anyone else out there at the point yet of thinking about purchasing decisions?<br /><br />Dale

Dale Musselman 2006-05-09T23:11:59Z Wendell Gragg 2006-05-08T20:04:17Z 2006-05-08T20:04:17Z

Texas is getting the Gates HUG funds fairly soon and we are currently looking at the options for replacing our oulder Gateways. I&#039;m wondering how many libraries have received their funds and what they ordered or are considering ordering as replacements.<br /><br />Has anyone found any good deals out there? Gateway has some attractive systems right now. Has anyone gone another route?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Wendell

Wendell Gragg 2006-05-08T20:04:17Z