Friday, September 7, 2001

Computers replaced, upgraded across campus
By Jordan Blum
Staff Reporter

More than 900 computers on campus have been replaced or upgraded during the summer or will be by October, said David Edmondson, assistant provost of Information Services.

Edmondson said one-third of technology equipment in each building on campus is replaced each year. He said the focus this year was replacing outdated computers with new machines containing Windows 2000.

“One of the things that was started four years ago was the routine replacement of about one-third of our technology on campus in every building,” Edmondson said. “This year we spent a lot of money replacing all of the old machines and we’re putting new machines in with Windows 2000.”

Six hundred thirty new computers were put in place throughout campus after the budget was approved by the Board of Trustees, according to a PC/MAC replacement list for Fiscal Year 2002 provided by William Senter, technical services manager of Information Services. The new machines included 460 new IBM-compatible PC’s and 170 Macintosh computers.

More than $920,000 was spent on the 630 new computers, according to the computer replacement list.

Edmondson said approximately 300 computers that were replaced last year or the year before received memory upgrades and Windows 2000 upgrades as well.

Senter said the main reason for the computer replacements is to keep the technology on campus constantly updated.

“The university replacement program is entering its fourth year as an ‘official’ program,” Senter said. “The intent of the program is to keep our computing technology current so we don’t fall behind. Our goal is to replace networked faculty/staff and lab computers approximately every three years.”

Senter said more computers were replaced this year than in the previous three years, when about 400 computers were replaced.

Edmondson said approximately 100 laptop computers were also given to 15 departments on campus for faculty to use in classrooms.

“Each department will have a few laptops available so a faculty member can get one ready, take it to class, plug it in, use it and then take it back so someone else can use it later in the day.

“We believe the wave of the future is to use technology in learning. The faculty need to be able to use that technology in the classroom to augment the class to enhance the learning experience.”

Students said they are excited about the new, faster computers on campus.

“The new computers help a lot because they are much faster and quieter so you can get your work done much quicker,” said Jordan Benold, a junior business major.

However, Theresa Kenagy, the desktop support specialist for the M.J. Neeley School of Business, said that although the changes have been wonderful for the most part, there have been problems with the new operating system.

“Some people abhor change and when it happens people have trouble dealing with it,” Kenagy said. “Windows 2000 boots slower than (Windows) 95, but I’ve even had people complain the new machines are slower, which is unusual.”

Edmondson said the next step in computer technology on campus may be to wire the classrooms to allow students to plug in their laptops during class.

“We didn’t wire all the seats because schools like Wake Forest found it to be a waste of money,” Edmondson said. “But in a few years when more students have laptops, it may become a realistic possibility.”

Jordan Blum
jdblum@student.tcu.edu