[WEB4LIB] PC public configuration

[Julia Schult]

> I'm wondering if there are minimum standards re: library pc's:
specifically, what's the recommended hard drive size, RAM, video RAM, bus
speed, etc. for computers designated for public use?
>

I, too have the pleasure of ordering and setting up new PCs this year.  We
are a US gov docs depository library, and so have some minimum standards
which you might find useful -- as might others on the list.  They are on the
web at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/computers/mtr.html .

The ones I'm ordering will be over the minimum, of course.  In case anyone
is interested, we're going with Pentium IIIs (933 Mhz or better) because our
IT people are not thrilled with the Pentium IV which runs hotter and uses
more electricity, and aren't being run at their most efficient yet, though
they may be better used by the fall.  I'm going with 256 MB RAM, Zip and DVD
and hopefully CD-read/writeable.  I'd say 128 MB is a minimum on RAM.

---Julia E. Schult
Access/Electronic Services Librarian
Elmira College
Jschult at elmira.edu