What I found out from experience was: make your computers as"flexible" as possible. Only several PC's in our firm were equipped with CD drives when I began working here one year ago. I had to scramble as librarian to meet those "unforseen needs". For example, I frequently received demo products on CD with no place to install the product except the Library computer which was already heavily used. Another example would be a CD product that is only used by one attorney or secretary. It might make more sense to install such a product on their individual workstations instead of using up CD tower space.
One year later, I finally have a CD drive on my computer because I feel it is important as librarian that I have access to CD products and demos without having to bother our MIS person constantly. In addition, I have one Library computer equipped with a CD drive soon to be two Library computers similarly equipped. This "basic" setup will be a good backup and support to our CD imager. As for multi-media, there is so much available now over the Internet, that it would be a limitation not to include it with desktops. Considering recent price reductions for computer equipment, multimedia and CD capability is a small portion of the total cost of computer equipment.
Oresta Esquibel, Law Librarian
Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough
Salt Lake City, Utah
>>> "Angela M. Higgins" <ahiggins@pwvs.com> 03/17/99 09:45AM >>>
Our firm is currently looking at a proposal to replace existing (outdated)
PC's with newer versions, with the understanding that these computers will
last 3-4 years. What is being suggested is that no computer be equipped
with CD drive or multimedia components.
Does anyone have thoughts/experiences they'd like to share concerning the
wisdom of eliminating CD and multimedia from desktops across the firm? We
have a CD server, but have experienced technical difficulties with it - what
if the server goes down, and no one has a CD drive? Also, can't you
anticipate users needing multimedia at their desktops, with the increased
use of the internet (news audio clips, at the least, would then be
unavailable)?
The library goal is to have has much available as possible on our desktops
to facilitate our work. IS issues are that they will not have control
over the desktops if we do not put some type of limit on the desktop. Can
anyone help me with this issue or give me their opinion?
Angela Higgins
Polsinelli White Vardeman & Shalton
Kansas City, MO 64112
ahiggins@pwvs.com
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