WebJunction

Just like people, Gates computers need a Long Term Care (LTC) solution.  When people get too old to maintain themselves they go to assisted living or nursing homes where a trained staff can take care of them.  If they planned well they have LTC insurance to maintain their quality of life and relieve their family of the expense.

Gates computers can benefit from a similar program.  By converting to a thin-client system that is maintained by specialists, Gates computers can live a longer productive life.  An April WebJunction article published by North Texas Regional Library System listed three strategies for sustaining Gates computers: (1) Keep the status quo; (2) Upgrade operating systems and integrate them into the library’s network; (3) Replace them.  Two of these strategies require substantial up-front expenditures of time and money and all of them leave libraries with the many maintenance problems of standard PCs.  Both of these disadvantages can be eliminated by having thin-client specialists conduct low cost conversion and long term maintenance programs.  Some of the advantages and disadvantages of a thin-client conversion program and the features that can be incorporated into it are given below.

Advantages

• The patron’s privacy is protected since everything they do on the terminal disappears when it logs out. 
• Viruses cannot infect the network because even when downloaded they only reside in a terminal’s memory until it logs out. 
• All Microsoft patches and software upgrades are automatically done on the server via remote access.
• Downtimes due to equipment or software failure will be greatly reduced because the terminals will have minimal hard drive usage and no application software installed.
• If there is a breakdown, technicians can log into the network remotely to diagnose the problem and repair the terminal.  If the problem cannot be resolved remotely, the equipment can be shipped to repair facilities and returned ready to plug in and use.
• The equipment will have an “extended life”.  Because the technology does not require constant equipment upgrades, terminals will not become obsolete like other computers.
• Budgeting will be easier because maintenance costs will be consistent for many years.
• Server maintenance on such a system is ERATE eligible.

Disadvantages

• Inability to install single user licensed programs on the terminals.
• Potentially slower server processing if non-Gates PCs are converted to networked terminals.

Features

• Check, receive and send e-mail (AOL, CompuServe, Telnet, ISP account, home office account)
• E-mail client for Eudora Pro, Pegasus, Netscape Messenger and Outlook Express
• Automatic e-mail server name determination
• Office tools to receive and send file attachments
• Automatic configuration of e-mail client, browser and office tools
• Microsoft Office
• On-line help
• Full Internet access
• Filtering software to block access to unwanted websites
• One click access to the library’s website
• Customized screen wallpaper and screen saver
• Library’s Computer and Internet Usage Policy agreement function
• Electronic feedback form for patrons
• Reset connection by single power button (no shutdown required) 
• File system protection (patrons are isolated from the library’s other servers)
• Automatic clearing of all files created by the user
• Automatic log out
• Usage time limits

For further information contact Joe Tynes: (662) 488-5320, jtynes@avsia.com

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