I think what you are proposing is an outstanding idea and we’d love to help you. I’ll hit you with the dollars up front and then we can get into the rest. Our service charge model has a category specifically for computer labs. We charge $500 per lab (based on unique software image that can be used across all machines) + $200 per machine annually. So for a lab of just 4 machines you’re talking $1300 per year for us to manage it. If you add or subtract from the number of machines then it goes up or down by $200 each.
For that amount you get total support for the lab. We’ll help you spec out the machines to put in there and get them ordered for you if you like. We’ll round up and install all the software you need (there are probably license fees you’ll have to pay for some things, but Windows, Matlab, and a variety of other things are site-licensed on campus.) We’ll manage the printer and handle setting up logins and all that on the lab machines. We’ll fix them if they break down or if there is a problem with the software on them. We have direct access to warranty parts from both Dell and HP so we can fix broken hardware quickly and efficiently in-house. And when they are ready to be replaced we’ll wipe them of all data to be ready for surplus and help purchase and set up the replacements.
If you would like to see some samples of our work we run similar student labs for ECE, Material Sciences and a few other departments that I could show you. If this sounds of interest to you and you think the price is do-able, let me know and we can discuss details. Jeremy Bird is the primary network admin at Civil these days so he’ll probably be your primary day-to-day contact if we do go forward with this. Fair warning, he’s very busy at the moment since we just took over up there and there are a lot of details to work out. Thanks for your interest, and good luck with your lab.
--Jim Hurst
Manager of Systems and Services
ECE Computer and Technology Services
217-244-3617
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The proposal by ECE Computer and Technology Services seems like a fair deal - but it is a lot of money we spend every year. But if this helps reduce excessive use of the printer and associated costs then this may be feasible and an interesting option for us to consider. -Eberhard.
ReplyDeleteJim definitely knows how to sell his service. It sounds so easy if we just let them do it all! That would be the way to go if we can afford it. On the other hand, maybe when we really look at it, we could do the same things on our own for much cheeper.
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