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computer rotation
12:02 PM EST 12/22/06
What is the best approach of replacement of computers? One theory I heard was that newly acquired computers should be used as circulation/staff computers and transfer the old staff computers to the patron public access area after clearing them and setting up the public security (centurion guard or deep freeze).
OR should computers not be migrated from staff to public use? Then the new technology would not be old by the time it was offered for public use.
I am really interested in the new Gateway computers that have been developed especially for public access E2600D model. Has anyone purchased these and are they a good choice?
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Re: computer rotation
12:16 PM EST 12/26/06
as a reply to Beck-Bookman Library.
My experience has been that there are many approaches to computer replacement/rotation. Most often these come down to the size and resources of the library. It does seem like in smaller libraries, it is often the staff who end up with the older computers, and the newer ones go for public access, partly because the public is more likely to be using them for things that require more speed and memory.
I didn't realize that Gateway was still selling public access models. Do you have any details about the security they are using, or a link? If they are still using the Public Access Computer Security Tool, then I would definitely stay away from them. On the other hand if they have something like the MS Shared Computer Toolkit installed with the hard drive partitioning all set up for drive protection, that might be worth paying a little extra to get.
Dale
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computer rotation
1:48 PM EST 12/27/06
as a reply to Dale Musselman.
Thanks for your reply. This is the information about the Gateway Library computers: www.gateway.com/library
The model E-2600D has these features:
- Centurion guard drive lock
PAC security software
tool: #9532649
Preset restricted user profiles
Gateway library Technology Specialist phone number: 1/800-211-4952
Beck-Bookman
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Re: computer rotation
3:00 PM EST 12/27/06
as a reply to Beck-Bookman Library.
So, yes, in that case I have to say that I would not recommend that system. They are using the free PAC Security Tool we created at the Gates Foundation three years ago, that has some small compatibility issues even with XP SP2, and will certainly not work in the future with Vista. My experience with libraries who purchased these when they Gateway first started selling them in 2004 was also that Gateway did not support the security software, they only provided the user manual that I wrote when we initially released it.
The MS Toolkit is a much better solution at this time, and they continue to develop and improve it, with a version 2 due out some time in the next few months. It also replaces not only the PAC Security Tool, but the Centurion Guard as well.
Dale
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Re: computer rotation
4:17 PM EDT 4/9/07
as a reply to Beck-Bookman Library.
We used to do a rotation scheme with the newest computers going into the computer lab and older ones rotating out to reference computers and branches but it made the rotation seem unending and numbers were always confusing every year. I finally switched over to a system where once the computer is installed it stays there for 4 years and is replaced with a new computer. I have my different years of computers mixed in all places but summer rotation runs so much faster and I know exactly what is getting replaced where all the time.
Granted I'm in a situation where I know next year all my circulation machines have to be replaced at once but I'm glad I know this plenty of time in advance to prepare.
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Re: computer rotation
2:40 PM EDT 8/16/07
as a reply to Beck-Bookman Library.
Your wasting your time if you are rotating new computers to staff first then moving them to public access.
Time to install in configure a computer for use is around 6 hours.
New computer going to it's staff spot = 6 hours
Clean computer and configure for Public access spot = 6 hours
Clean computer and configure for IPAC or HIP terminals = 6 hours.
Looking at 18 hours or so of tech time todo a trickle down rotation.
You will save time and money by buying what you need for a spot and riding it out till it doesn't do it's job anymore.
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