From time to time the Help Desk issues recommendations regarding
departmental computer purchases.   Our current minimum recommendations
follow.  Remember, if you have questions about purchasing a computer or any
computer hardware, you can call the Help Desk at 755-4000, or see our web
page at http://www.utc.edu/helpdesk/hardware.htm.

We strongly recommend Dell as a campus standard.  You can price Dell
computers at their web page at http://www.dell.com, or by calling Jim
Barringer at 1-800-626-8286 ext. 66283.

Dell Dimension minitower
$1,468 plus shipping
************************
350 MHz Pentium II processor
64MB SDRAM
8.4GB hard drive
17" monitor
8MB graphics card
3Com 10/100 Ethernet card
32x CDROM
Integrated sound
HK-195 speakers
1.44MB floppy drive
keyboard and mouse
Windows 98
Office 97 Small Business Edition


MACINTOSH

Recent changes in the Macintosh line of computers have made purchasing a
Mac  problematic.  The new G3's (easily identified by their translucent,
"smurf-blue" enclosures) do not include a floppy drive, nor do they include
the SCSI or serial ports needed to connect existing external devices such
as printers, scanners, external hard drives, and digital cameras.  (Note:
these cautions do not necessarily apply to the G3 Powerbook laptop, which
so far has survived with its floppy drive and ports intact, or earlier G-3
Macs that may still be available for purchase.)

If you plan to purchase a Macintosh, please read the recommendations below
carefully.
Note that we do not recommend or support the iMac model because of its
limited expandability, difficulty of maintenance, and relatively poor
performance.

(1) We strongly recommend selecting the option for a SCSI port (a $44
option) on the new G3 Macs.

(2) Unless you absolutely never need to use a floppy, we recommend
selecting the "add-on" option ($149) for an external Imation Superdisk.
The Superdisk, while adding to the clutter on your desktop, will read and
write both its own 120MB diskettes and standard 1.44MB floppies.  Another
option for trading files with other machines, assuming they are similarly
equipped, is an internal Zip drive (a $99 option).

(3) Unless you plan to print only to networked printers or buy a USB inkjet
printer, you should also select the "add on" option for a Farallon EtherMac
iPrint Adapter (a $99 option).  While this will work for most Apple
printers, it will NOT work for those that use a "serial" connection.

Remember, you must visit the Apple Store for Education at
http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html, configure a
system, receive a proposal number, and print out the proposal to attach to
your Purchase Order before Apple will fulfill the order.

The suggested minimum configuration for Macintosh is listed below:

Power Macintosh G3
$2,504 with listed options, plus shipping
*************************************************
300Mhz G3 Processor
64MB SDRAM
6GB hard drive
CD-ROM drive
Apple 17" monitor
16MB graphics card
10/100 Ethernet built-in
USB keyboard and mouse
Mac OS 8.5
SCSI port
Imation Superdisk
Farallon EtherMac iPrint Adapter (if using local printer)




Rodger Ling
Manager, Microcomputer Support
Instructional & Computing Support Services
Department 4304
The Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga
[log in to unmask]
(423) 755-4000
http://www.utc.edu/helpdesk
http://www.cdc.net/~rling/home.htm