[WEB4LIB] Re: How to buy a PC workshop for patrons

[Walt_Crawford at notes.rlg.org]

I guess I should add a mild demurrer on Andrew Mutch's message:

PC Values is a tracking mechanism, not specifically buying advice, and the
"one good system" configurations are powerful multimedia home/small office
systems, quite possibly overkill for public library use.

I started out to offer a possible configuration here, then realized that I
don't know library public-workstations anywhere near well enough to do
that.

I would note a couple of things given the current marketplace:
-Get 256MB RAM (or more); Windows XP (and Mac OS X) both work better with
lots of RAM, and it's currently dirt-cheap.

-Although you shouldn't need this much disk space on public machines, 40GB
drives are now so cheap that they're probably the sweet spot (Dell &
Gateway both show a $20 differential between medium-speed 20GB and
high-speed 40GB drives: a buck a gigabyte is ridiculously cheap).

-This may be the time for flat-panel displays, particularly where space,
heat, or power are issues. Dell and Gateway both charge $200 or less to
upgrade from the default CRT to a 15" LCD panel; that's a fairly good deal.
And, of course, the iMac now comes with a snazzy LCD screen.

If I don't mention CPU speed and graphics cards and sound cards, it's
because most libraries don't emphasize game playing, multimedia creation,
or high-end photo-editing or video editing as public-computer uses--and
unless you're doing those things, almost any of today's PCs have enough
power.

I'd expect to pay $1,100-$1,300 for a fully-equipped system, including
three-year on-site support...but I still believe $1,500 is a good budget
point overall.

Don't quote me on any of this!
-walt crawford, still using a 3-year-old 400MHz Celeron at home-



                                                                                                                        
                    "Don Hamilton"                                                                                      
                    <dhamilto at wlu.ca>        To:     Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>         
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                    web4lib at sunsite.be       Subject:     [WEB4LIB] Re: How to buy a PC workshop for patrons            
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                    02/20/2002 10:35                                                                                    
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Hi all. I kind of like this page I came across the other day, via a
serendipitous google search...

http://www.reboot.bc.ca/homesys.htm.

don

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Andrew I. Mutch
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 12:34 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: How to buy a PC workshop for patrons


Paul,

I would check out Walt Crawford's "PC Values" to see what the "standard"
for PC's is these days:

http://cical.home.att.net/

It will help you be able to tell people what they can expect to pay for
what system and some recommendations too.

Andrew Mutch
Library Systems Technician
Waterford Township Public Library
Waterford, MI




On Wed, 20 Feb 2002, Paul Mills wrote:

>
> Hey all,
>
> I will be doing a workshop for the patrons of one of my member libraries
> on how to buy a PC.  It has been a while since I have done a workshop
> like this (about a year in fact -- since I left my previous position at
> a public library).  I know I need to update my notes, and I was
> wondering if anyone would be able to recommend any sites that would help
> me in this endeavor.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Paul Mills
> IT Coordinator
> Heritage Trail Library System
> mills at htls.lib.il.us
> 815-729-3345 x120
> 815-725-0930 fax
>
>
>