was: Re: pc's for Web browser workstations; now re: RAM and noise

[Julia Schult]

I just discovered something about this listserv.  Never send a message to
this list that starts with the word, "Get", or presumably "Put".  The
listserv decided my post was an attempt to send a command, instead of being
a real, actual message I wanted to share with you:


Get as much RAM as you can now, because new applications especially
audio/video and flash-type will need it.  I'd say 128 is a bare, skinny
minimum, won't last you long, 256 is more like it.  (More is even better.)

Our new computers are much louder than our old ones, and it annoys me
although the rest of the staff haven't complained.  Is Gateway making the
machines with high-powered processors louder so that they seem more
powerful?  (If so, grrrrr.)  I know that Athlons and Pentium IVs are
supposed to run hotter, so maybe the fan has to run louder to keep them
cooled.  Anyone heard any scuttlebutt on this?

---Julia E. Schult
Access/Electronic Services Librarian
Elmira College
Jschult at elmira.edu
----- Original Message -----
From: <Walt_Crawford at notes.rlg.org>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2001 10:41 AM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: pc's for Web browser workstations


>
> Calvin,
>
> Other than the 256mb RAM, those specs are at or below entry level for new
> PCs.
>
> I don't believe that either Dell or Gateway offers a desktop with a CPU
> slower than 900MHz at this point (there's one Celeron 900MHz CPU), and
only
> the most bare-bones will be slower than 1GHz. (Or "less absurdly fast than
> 1GHz," in real-world terms.) Similarly, 10GB is the smallest desktop hard
> disk that anyone's building, and I wouldn't be surprised if those were all
> old-stock. In other words, 700Mhz/10GB (for a Windows machine) is awfully
> lowball for a new system.
>
> I do wonder about the 256mb RAM. That seems like a lot for public
> workstations unless your local software needs that much.
>
> Right now, a typical budget system would probably use a 1.4GHz CPU (or
> maybe an Athlon-1.1GHz) and a 20GB hard disk, with 128MB RAM. Do you need
> that much speed? Almost certainly not.
>
> Only my own opinions and market-following experience.
> -walt crawford-
>
>
>

>                     "Calvin Boyer"
>                     <cboyer at longwood.l       To:     Multiple recipients
of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>
>                     wc.edu>                  cc:
>                     Sent by:                 Subject:     [WEB4LIB] pc's
for Web browser workstations
>                     web4lib at sunsite.be
>                     rkeley.edu
>
>
>                     09/21/2001 06:09
>                     AM
>                     Please respond to
>                     cboyer
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> We are beginning the process of replacing en mass the 30 assorted public
> workstations in our reference room area.
>
> These workstations are largely devoted to accessing information on the Web
> through Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer available with a full
> range of plugins already loaded before the first user sits down.  In
> addition, each station will host necessary software to make use of some
> services (e.g., SCI FINDER from ACS) and each station will have security
> software to keep users from changing settings, etc.  Each will support CD
> ROM products (obtained from the reference desk which we can not load on
the
> local net).
>
> Before we ask IT and campus administration for approval to purchase this
> equipment, I would like a second opinion that our benchmark pc capability
> is neither ludicrously low end or high end.
>
> 700mhz, 256 mb memory and a 10 gig hard drive
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Cal
>
> Calvin Boyer
> Library Director
> Longwood College
>
>