[Winona Online Democracy]
Craig,
Perhaps you're thinking of Vega Technologies "Buddy". It allows you to hook
up several older PCs to one newer PC (actually just the keyboard, screen, &
mouse of the older PC). The older PCs then share the processing power and
software (as well as Internet connection) of the newer PC. I think it costs
about $150 per older PC. There are a few other similar products by other
companies that do the same thing.
You can find them at: http://www.vegatechnologies.com/buddy.htm if you want
more info. I know some of the people at Dakota school were looking into
this, I'm not sure if they ever went ahead with it.
-Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Brooks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 6:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Follow Up On Digital Divide
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> I read about software now available that allows an older PC to be used
> for as a web browser, email and basic pc applications. I will search
> for the name, etc. and post it when I find it. Whether it's schools
> or the "have-nots" - this shows that an older PC is not necessarily
> junk.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 1:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [Winona] Follow Up On Digital Divide
>
>
> > [Winona Online Democracy]
> >
> > At 09:37 PM 8/29/00 -0500, Craig Brooks wrote:
> > >[Winona Online Democracy]
> > >
> > >I suggest we consider seeking support from the local School Board,
> > >City Council and County Board. I am not sure how the State offices
> > >like WSU, Tech. College, DNR etc. fit in. Maybe someone at WSU
> could
> > >get help from their computer people on what the laws/rules are
> about
> > >disposition of old State computer equipment.
> > >We are tentatively planning on going to the County Board on this
> issue
> > >on Oct. 10th. Could others take the lead on going to the School
> Board
> > >and City Council?
> >
> >
> > There are perhaps two issues here from the School Board perspective
> (my
> > particular interest).
> >
> > 1) The schools could certainly always use newer computers,
> printers,
> > scanners, etc, but like the rest of you we ALSO have piles of
> outdated
> > equipment which is no longer useful to us (i.e. "junk") even while
> we are
> > still working on getting useful equipment to all of the schools and
> > teachers. Please don't view the public schools as a place to get
> rid of the
> > really old stuff. If any other public agencies have somewhat newer
> > equipment you might want to "transfer", please contact our
> information
> > systems director with a specific list of what you have available.
> If we can
> > use it, you can then contact the Superintendent's office to get put
> on the
> > agenda for a monthly meeting, and we would be more than happy to
> accept the
> > still useful instruments. If you want to e-mail me the specifics of
> what you
> > have (please look up your system specifics for processor type and
> speed,
> > RAM, etc) I will be more than happy to be the one to take this to
> our I.S.
> > people and then to the Board agenda if appropriate.
> >
> > 2) This "thread" arose from the idea of cybercafes, for which the
> schools
> > should be ideally suited: multiple buildings around the community,
> lightly
> > used evenings and weekends. Unfortunately, we have tried a number of
> times
> > to make our computer labs more available to the public, and it
> simply has
> > not worked out very well. The biggest problems seem to be staffing
> and
> > access: having a computer room open means that it must be
> supervised, and
> > that would mean volunteers (need I recount our recent staff
> layoffs?) who
> > could make long-term (e.g. academic year) committments. In most of
> the
> > schools, we would also be required to have certain licensed
> custodial staff
> > in the building at the time, for which we would obviously be paying
> > salaries. Plus, issues such as "who pays for damaged equipment"
> arise.
> > BUT: this is still a great idea, and we need to find some way to
> make it
> > work. We are always looking for ways to increase the schools'
> community
> > involvement. So, since I know we have some of the REAL experts out
> there,
> > let's ask them:
> > ISD 861 employees: what would it take to get the computer facilities
> in YOUR
> > building opened up to the public?
> >
> > Ed Thompson
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