IT Services
Help Desk

Workstation Replacement Schedule and Information

The college is committed to providing a robust information technology infrastructure. As part of that effort, in 2004 the college began a workstation replacement plan for staff workstations. The plan calls for a four year replacement cycle for desktop systems.

During FY04 the college was not able to fully fund the plan, but full allocations began in FY05. The plan is administered for the college by the Information Technology Department with advice and direction from the Computer Standards Committee.

During FY04 and FY05 the plan resources are focused on replacing a backlog of truly obsolete (beyond end-of-life) hardware.

October 1, 2004

The Workstation Replacement Project is up and running for 2004/2005. Receiving full funding, we will be able to replace approximately 275 computers this academic year. To that end, we have ordered the first batch of replacement Windows computers. The first batch of Macintoshes has already been received.

Last year we replaced most of the Pentium I and II computers up to and including the 300 MHz range and all beige Macintoshes. After analyzing the inventory data, our target is to replace Windows computers up to and including Pentium III 800 MHz, all G3 Macintoshes below 500MHz and G4 Macintoshes below 400 MHz.

Our target is to replace all Pentium II and III (400 and 450 MHz) Windows computers - approximately 80 machines - and all Macintosh computers in the target range - also approximately 80 machines - by winter break. During winter term we will work on replacing all Pentium III 500 and 550s - 30 machines - and work into the P III 600/650 range - 25 machines. During spring term, we will finish the P III 600 series and replace the P III 700 MHz range - 32 machines - and the P III 800s.

Reaching this goal will bring us in line with the overall goal of replacing machines every four years as the next range of machines - P III 866 systems were purchased in the summer of 2001.

Given that our workload has not declined, we will squeeze in the distribution of 275 computers while maintaining the current level of service through the Help Desk. These computers will be replaced by virtue of their age and their escalating maintenance costs, not by staff seniority. As a rule, we cannot take the extra time to shuffle computers from office to office. Departmental technicians are welcome to move computers as their division sees fit, or a Help Desk request can be placed to have the computers moved around, but it will be assigned a low priority. By the end of this academic year, no one will have a computer older than four years.

Thank you for your understanding and support. Please direct any questions or comments about the workstation replacement plan to Todd Lutz, Manager of Technology Support Services.

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