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[Physltest] [Phys-L] Re: Concerned over costs (was Mac vs. PC )



Well SOME schools really are richer than others and can afford to 'waste' a
little money to either satisfy the whims of a professor or just to 'look
good' with state of the art stuff.

Of course we really should be looking at cost/benefit here, but as the
annual Mac/PC wars prove, the benefit is often just in the eye of the
beholder. If it were quantifiable that a more expensive unit would really
cost less in maintenance or last an extra year, that would change the value.
However, like Mike, we have an IT department that, while more flexible (I
think), also has its rules. Computer lifetime is fixed, for all units,
according to their schedule. At least they have given up on the idea that
all student computers are replaced yearly with the one-year old units being
handed down to faculty and staff!

Ultimately it usually comes down to, "here is the budget, now how should we
allocate it--hardware versus software". There may be enough there to
support any preference in machine as long as one is willing to work with
what's left for software.

Aside: You sometimes have to 'train' your IT department that you actually
know what you're doing. We are not supposed to open the cases on our
desktop computers, even if we have bought hardware for them. When I had
purchased a board for work I was doing and when our tech guy told me it
would be a few days before he could get over to install it, I simply said
'OK, I just go ahead and put it in.' 'We'll know if you've opened the case'
said he. 'I know how you'll know, and know how to reset the tell' said I.
'Oh' said he, 'then go ahead!' Since then, whenever I've had something that
needed to be done inside the machine, even if it was hardware coming from
IT, our tech guy just sends it over and says 'you do it, say I did, but call
me if you have trouble.' ;-)

Rick

*********************************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
********************************************************
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www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Edmiston, Mike" <edmiston@BLUFFTON.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 2:29 PM
Subject: Concerned over costs (was Mac vs. PC )


Rick Tarara made a nice summary, as well as some other responders. The
reason I am specifically mentioning Rick's response is because of his
wording for item #3

"3) Cost (may or may not be a concern)."

I always get a little chuckle over statements like this, and sometimes
even get upset.

When is cost not a concern? I suppose it would not be a concern if I
were independently wealthy, I had nothing better to do with my money
than spend it on myself, and I had more money than I could possibly
spend on myself before I die. This might not represent the best ethical
attitude, but it might be true.

A lot of people think cost is not a concern if you are spending someone
else's money... perhaps government money. Here the ethical thinking
becomes tougher.

We recently decided to upgrade a classroom with LCD projector, computer,
DVD, VCR, document camera, screen. We already had these components.
All I wanted was the LCD projector mounted to the ceiling, and cables
run. The total cost of all these parts was about $4000, of which the
projector was the biggest part.

When I asked the Buildings and Grounds folks to mount the projector and
run the cables, they said I had to contact the technology department.
When I contacted technology, they said I had to install a console and
wire it with a single set of controls so that non-technology-oriented
faculty could run the system. Never mind that this was a science
classroom and all science profs know how to use the technology. Anyway,
the quotation to get this all put together was $24,000 for a classroom
that seats 18 students.

I told the technology director to skip it. I would come in on Saturday
and do it myself at no cost. I was told I was forbidden to do that. I
was not allowed to install technology that didn't follow the campus
standard. I was shocked to discover that the university was spending
over $20,000 on each classroom that was getting "technology."

I assumed my classroom would therefore not get technology because it did
not make sense to spend $24,000 for a classroom that seats 18 students.
Ha! The technology folks showed up and started measuring the room and
preparing to spend the money. I questioned the director. He said he
still had some government money he needed to spend, and this was an
excellent opportunity to spend it. I said it was not ethical. He said
to shut up because it is "free money."

Free money? (1) It's my money because I am a tax payer. (2) If that
kind of money is available, and we still have some small classrooms
without technology, why not spend $4000 and upgrade 6 rooms, or even
spend $6000 to upgrade 4 rooms, rather than spend $24,000 on one room.
Isn't that the responsible thing to do with the money... get the most
bang for the buck?

Well, I was told that I just don't understand the way things work, and
this is the reason he is the director of technology instead of me.

He was right about one thing... I just don't understand.

Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH 45817
(419)-358-3270
edmiston@bluffton.edu
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