Arizona State University
Windows Networking User Group

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Meeting Notes April 3, 2003


Robin will be sending out a note regarding the PPP lines. Home users that have Code Red and other attack viruses on their machines, it sends the PPP servers to go to 100% utilization. Please make sure that virus software is installed and that weekly updates are being performed. Recommend using a personal firewall.

Dell Presentation

Lannette Dunkeson

Personal Purchase Programs
Combined the education program with the home and home office program. If you see ads on TV, etc., those are now available to the education personal purchase. Add'l 5%-10% off the price quoted for the home and home office products.
Personal purchase program is done in conjunction with the ASU bookstore Bookstore.asu.edu/computers/dell.php

Software & Peripherals
Dell also offers third party software that can be ordered and receive the educational discount. They also offer various peripherals
The web page has been completely redone to make it easier to use/navigate. Customize the page to include things specific to the campus.

Printers
Dell now offers printers. They have four different printers - All-in-One (inkjet); Personal laser ; workgroup laser; Advanced workgroup laser printer - network connectivity.

Extended Services
Lannette indicated that if you can't replace your current workstations at this time you should look at getting the extended services warranty. Workstations can be extended either 1-2 years beyond the 3 year base warranty. We have a 30 day grace period to extend the warranty after the machine goes out of warranty. If you miss the warranty date, you will need to get the machine recertified and then get the warranty. The expense may be prohibitive. Lannette can give us a report on when machines are going out of warranty. She just needs the serial number or the Dell service tag.

Chris Colby
Chris briefly explained the difference between the home computer line and the institution line. Basically home computer usage looks for faster, new technology while institutions look for stability. Sot the home computer line changes faster than the institution line. The institution line of desktop (OptiPlex) models is kept around for at least 15 months before a major change is made.

Christ briefly mentioned ImageWatch which let's you know when changes/updates are going to come up.

OpenManage - monitor desktops and servers. Agent comes will all Dell workstations.

New Workstations – There are many new options coming out with the new workstations. One significant one to be aware of is that workstations (and laptops) are no longer shipping with a floppy drive. It is now an optional feature. Also, you can now select to boot from the new USB keys. They can be configured to look like a floppy. The question came up with how do we flash the BIOS now without a floppy. Chris indicated that there are new utilities now that will allow you to flash the BIOS from an alternate location (other than the floppy drive).

The new line of OptiPlex workstations is coming with 8 USB ports. The new flat panel monitors also include 4 USB ports on them. Also, a new multimedia bar has been developed for flat panel monitors that clip on the bottom of the panel. There is a ring on the speakers that lines up with the lockdown ring on the flat panel monitor to secure it.

Latitude Laptops
D-Series family will now replace the C-Series Latitude laptops. This new series uses the new Centrino mobile processor. It doesn’t necessary run as fast as the P4, but it does provide twice the battery life. The D-Series also come configured for wireless communication.

Jim Paroline
Time was running out, so Jim briefly mentioned the server product line that Dell will be selling.

PowerEdge 350 is going to be replaced by the PowerEdge 650 - Will now have 1U P4 processor; dual onboard NIC's; under $1K

PowerEdge 1750 - will have the Xeon processor (different from the 1650) 1U; same features of 1650 except with Xeon processor

PowerEdge 3250
64-bit processor; 2U rack mount

PowerEdge 8750
8 processor capability (hot pluggable processors)



   
  Updated February 8th, 2005