------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: Paul Dilley <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: University of Westminster
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 15:00:38 +0000
Subject: Re: Hardware - the future, the past and the
Reply-to: [log in to unmask]
Priority: normal
> I was interested in what Andrea Elliott had to say about using DSAs
> for upgrades on computers. Does this discussion not come back to the
> same point about what students WANT as opposed to what they NEED.
> Should we not all be recommending equipment to fulfill the need.
Of course. But we don't want to introduce additional difficulties by
being incompatible with technology in use at the University.
I don't let the fact that I'm still using a 486DX2/50 with Windows
3.11 influence my decision that the 1997 DSA student should have a
Pentium! Most Universities are 'missing out' Windows 95 and some are
introducing Windows NT in the 97/98 term. In two years time I would
expect it the majority of HE to be running NT. In the light of this
supplying a 486 would not be cost effective.
> But I like the idea of a computer graveyard. I wonder how it could
> be arranged that students "handed in" a computer at the end of their
> degree. May be this is an idea for SKILL to take up,.
We've been down this road (with SKILL and the DfEE) before. There are
two issues:
1. The equipment is usually 'out of date' by the end of a 3 year
course. (see earlier messages!)
2. The cost of administering such a scheme (along with
transportation, repairs and software upgrades) negates any savings
to be made.
Regards
Paul Dilley, Technical Manager
Computer Centre for People with Disabilities, University of Westminster
** The London & South East Regional Access Centre **
Tel: +44 171 911 5000 Fax: +44 171 911 5162 http://www.wmin.ac.uk/ccpd/
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