[WEB4LIB] Docking Ports: Was Abandon Library Computer Labs

[Dan Lester]

At 07:25 AM 3/22/99 -0800, Donald Barclay wrote:
>Does
>the Library have to spend a lot of time and/or money helping users set up
>their laptops so they can dock? Thanks for any  information on this one.

Our library doesn't have anything we call "docking stations", but we do 
have 10baseT network drops in a variety of public areas.  In fact, to me 
"docking station" means a custom device designed for a specific brand of 
laptop.  Do they still make "docking stations" of that type?  I've not seen 
one advertised in a long time.

But, back to the network drops.  We have a one page handout that we give to 
users.  If they need help beyond that, they're theoretically on their own, 
though the Library Network Team will help out as long as we don't touch 
their computer and it runs Win9x.  Actually, anyone with a net card in a 
laptop should know what to do.  But since there aren't a lot of folks 
around here with laptops with netcards, we don't have a lot of experience, 
either.  All of our net drops are on a separate set of hubs to reduce 
sniffing and other problems.  And, the library is outside of the 
university's firewall.

cheers

dan

--
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Dan Lester, 3577 East Pecan, Boise, ID 83716 USA 208-383-0165
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