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This is basically the equivalent of a computer lab (remember those places? me neither)... but you happen to be able to take the computer with you instead of bei
by arscan 14y ago
This is basically the equivalent of a computer lab (remember those places? me neither)... but you happen to be able to take the computer with you instead of being stuck in a seat. I assume they will use whatever management tools they use in those labs.
- dfxm12 14y agoI'm not so sure. The article states that Drexel is the third school on the East Coast to use such a kiosk. Another option is that whoever provides the kiosk takes care of maintenance as well.
- arscan 14y agoRight, I imagine that the WHO is different. But the what/how (i.e. what software they use, how the machines are configured, etc) is probably pretty darn similar. Really, how is it different than a session in a computer lab, except that the person picks up (and eventually returns) the computer, instead of sitting in the lab? Why reinvent the wheel here?
- dfxm12 14y agoIt's a question of ownership & service contracts. The article is light on details. If the school owns the laptops, and whoever provides the kiosk only provides kiosk (and not the laptops) you might very well be right. However, I imagine whoever runs the kiosk is also "renting" the laptops to Drexel, and Drexel pays (via a support contract) for that company to keep the machines in working order. Plus, if it is the latter, there's no guarantee that the group that runs the computer lab even had any say in this. I The library is a separate entity from from the computer lab/help desk.
- arscan 14y agoI don't think we are disagreeing here. When asked the question "how are these maintained", I was providing a technical answer (with similar tools that labs use) and you are providing a business answer (by outsourcing). Both are valid answers, and appropriate perspectives for HN.
- dfxm12 14y agoI'm saying both are possible answers but we can't know because the article doesn't have enough details.
- akavi 14y agoMy Uni still had computer labs (at least, for people taking CS classes) and I graduated in 2012. Massive, high-resolution screens, nice keyboards, and a social atmosphere meant I actually used them quite often.