More computers available for Eaton users

Thirty-eight new Dell computers were added to Eaton Hall's ITS Computing Center over the semester break.

Located to the left of the Information Technology Services desk, each new computer has an Intel Pentium IV processor of 2.40 GHz, 512MB of memory, and Windows XP Professional.

According to IT Instructional Services Assistant Manager Miriam Lau, the new computers have more processing power, more memory, and a larger hard drive than the old machines.

New programs, including Greek and Latin language utilities, Macromedia applications, and statistics software, have been added in addition to the usual Internet access and printing capabilities.

The new computers have a smaller tower unit and a thinner monitor, which allows for more room for books and papers on the desk. "It's definitely nicer than having a clunky thing in front of you," sophomore Jennifer Vasquez said.

Other students also noticed the upgrade to flat screen monitors. "The main difference I noticed was in the flat screen," sophomore Ilya Lozovsky said. "The biggest improvement was in quality. Now it's a lot brighter and nicer to use." Lozovsky is one of several user consultants who work in the lab.

So far "no serious technical problems have emerged," Lozovsky said. "Generally, we've seen a pretty positive reaction."

Some students question the need for replacing older equipment while it is still working and functional. "They're nice, but I'm not sure they were necessary," sophomore Kevin Johannsen said. "The old ones worked just fine. There were no problems. I prefer this, but at what cost?"

The lab is updated on a regular basis, Lau said, and the computers are replaced as their warranties expire, helping to keep the Computing Center running smoothly.

The thirty-eight new computers join a mix of Pentium III Dells and iMacs that have been in the lab since before last semester, raising the total number of workstations to over 150.

Lau did not immediately reply to a follow-up e-mail concerning the cost of the upgrade.

Tisch Library also recently replaced a number of their thee-year old computers over the semester break. The cost was $60,000 to replace all of the library's public-access workstations.