The Homewood Academic Computing (HAC) Lab in Krieger Hall recently underwent a few innovations during Intersession, most significant being the appearance of 50 Dell Optiplex GX240 computers. Generously donated by the Dell Computer Corporation, the black, fully-loaded computers are the most current, top-of-the-line Optiplex models equipped with flat screens, Pentium IVs and new drives.
'[The new computers] are a lot more versatile than the antiquated beige monstrosities that were there before," junior Mike Coderre said. The inclusions of the "DVD playback, CD burning and zip drives [provide] a more complete and practical device for students."
Other features include twice as much RAM space. "I really like the compact monitors and the fast performance," sophomore Aman Jetha said. "[But}I hope it really was worth the effort and the money that could have been spent in a more efficient manner from a cost-benefit point of view."
Technology Services Manager Graham Bouton told the JHU Gazette that the donation "is symbolic of the strategic importance of the relationship between Johns Hopkins Institutions and Dell." Since JHU had lots of business agreements with Dell, the Corporation, as a positive gesture, offered and installed 50 PCs, which were specifically targeted for students' computing usages. The older Unix computers, which had a year more in computer life, were sent to four other computer classrooms located in Krieger, Maryland and Shaffer Halls for more "hands on computer usage," according to Bouton. Moreover, all computing labs and classrooms on the Homewood campus improved printing services as well as upgraded to Windows 2000.
"The added computers in the classrooms create more supply, enabling students to have their own computer instead of sharing one with another student," Bouton said.
Funded by the students and staff members from the School of Arts and Sciences and Engineering, the computers in the HAC Lab are replaced every three to four years by rotation.
"From the funding perspective, it's more feasible to not change all 130 computers at once," Bouton said. "The computers are purchased in cycles."
For example, a third of the computers in the HAC Lab will be replaced next year by the most current technology, and by the end of two years, all the computers in the HAC Lab will have been upgraded and replaced. Bouton said that from the PC management perspective, JHU had the most advantages when sticking to Dell computers.
"We had good results with Dells," Bouton said. "There have been no problems or technical issues so far.
