the perfect computer lab low-cost and low-maintenance: an impossible dream? in search of

The Perfect Computer Lab

Low-cost and low-maintenance: An impossible dream?

In search of

What’s it for?• Typing/Keyboarding skills• Office Applications

(Word, Excel, Powerpoint)• Internet/Email• Educational Courseware• Paint programs (KidPix, etc..)• Web Editing/development• Video Editing

Case Studies

• Colville Valley Junior Academy• Milton-Stateline School

Colville Valley Junior Academy

• Small, private, rural K-10 school• First computer lab• Have donor for funding• Lab must last for several years• Keyboard / Office Applications• Multimedia (Macromedia Director)• Wants higher end systems

Milton-Stateline School

• Small K-10 school• Existing lab• Low budget• Keyboarding• Office Applications• Courseware / Internet• Promotional Video Editing

Choosing Hardware

• Thick Clientsvs.

• Thin Clients

Thick Client

• Fast processor• Lots of storage space• State of the Art• Good for multimedia• Nice, but expensive!!

• Lots of workstation maintenance often required.

Thin client

• Usually slower processor• Often has no hard drive

• Easy management since there is little to go wrong

• Good for Internet/word processing

• Speed limited by network and server• Cheap!

The fit client

• Small hard drive (< 5 gigs)• Most commonly used

applications are installed locally• No data is stored locally• Very little management required• Utilize the workstation processor

and resources

Buy cheap, but not too cheap

• Buy good mice (Logitech/Optical)

• Buy good headphones (I like the Califone ones)

• Buy good keyboards (or replace them regularly)

• Keep your monitors in good order

• Aim for identical hardware

ColvilleMars 1000 Workstation1000mhz AMD Thunderbird Athlon Processor with 266mhz front side busThermaltake Chrome Orb DUO462-2 heat-sink fanGigabyte GA-7ZMMH KM133A Based Motherboard Motherboard includes video and Creative Labs sound onboardMicron 256mb PC-133 DIMM memoryTeac 3.5” 1.44mb floppy disk driveSeagate 20GB ATA/100 7200 RPM Hard DriveAfreey 12X IDE DVD-ROM DriveIomega Zip 100mb Internal IDE DriveKDS 15” MonitorAntec KS388 Mid-Tower case with 250W ATX power supplyAntec 80mm case fanLogitech Deluxe Access 104 key keyboard with 3 launch buttonsLogitech Optical Wheel Mouse w/Belkin premium blue mouse padLabTec Elite-820 Headphones with 9’ cordNetgear FA311 10/100 PCI Network cardMicrosoft Windows 2000 Professional w/free XP upgrade optionDeep Freeze Pro for NTFS security software Grisoft’s AVG Anti-Viral software free edition (upgrades available)

Total bid: ……………………………………………….. $899.99 + tax

Thick Clients

20 Workstations

Cost: $18,000

25 Computer Lab

25 Workstation 200 5000

1 Memory lot 200 200

25 Logitech Mice 15 375

25 Headphones 10 250

25 Monitors 35 875

25 Keyboards 10 250

Workstation Hardware Total: $6,950

Fit Client Cost checkup

Goal: Get these workstations donated. Look for college or business hand-me-downs.

Then cost is only $1,950

Running Total: $6,950

Server & Networking

• Save your $$ for the servernot the workstations

• Buy a midrange server ($1200-$2500) and build a solid network

• Consider a managed switch for your backbone if you can afford it.

• Install a good backup solution (consider NovaBackup)

www.novastor.com

http://www.novastor.com/

Fit Client Cost checkup


Server

1 Server system 1800

1 Backup system 350

1 24+5 port switch 500

1 Windows 2003 Server 150

Server Hardware Total: $2,800

Don’t forget the software

• Software should be a big piece in your overall budget

• Choose software to match your hardware

Operating Systems

• Microsoft vs. Linux?• Either way: older

hardware means use lighter software

• Open vs. School Licensing

• Consider downgrading your license

Operating Systems

•Deep Freeze (Faronics) www.deepfreezeusa.com

Secrets of the “fit” client


• CD-ROM emulator http://www.cdrom-emulator.com/


• Norton Ghost 2003 http://www.symantec.com/


• Consider NetOp or LanSchool http://www.lanschool.com/

Office Applications

• Fit to hardware• Consider Office 97

• Consider OpenOffice

• Make a uniform installation(same hardware / same software)

• Look for managed, network software even if it costs more– Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing– ClassWorks– Accelerated Reader

• Remember no data is stored on a fit client locally — avoid software that cannot store data on network drive

Courseware

• Consider classic educational products like: LOGO that are freely available and have an active community for support.

Courseware

• Consider inexpensive older product versions available online or shareware to complement your courseware.

Cost checkup


Software

25 DeepFreeze WS License 15 375

25 CD-Rom Emulator 12 300

25 Norton Ghost 15 375

25 OpenOffice FREE FREE

25 Microsoft Windows 70 1750

(Open Licenses)

Software Total: $2,800

w/donated workstations: $5,800

Summing it upThere may not be a “perfect” lab. But with the right expertise and planning it is possible to set-up a low-cost, low-maintenance computer lab. Using “fit” clients rather than high end systems saves both money and time and reduces the total cost of ownership.

the perfect computer lab low-cost and low-maintenance: an impossible dream? in search of

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