Organization C Concepts in Information

Organization C

Concepts in Information Technology

Organization C: Library proposal

An overview of the needs of two types of computers (desktop and laptop) for a fictional organization, with a final recommendation to opt for an inexpensive desktop.

These are trying times for local government organizations, and the budget of Organization C, a library with well over 15 locations, 400 employees, approximately 50,000 patrons and over 500,000 books, magazines, videos, and CDs is no exception. Furthermore, as many of the library's patrons have lost their jobs and are looking for work, they are coming to the library with more frequency, searching the available resources for aid in crafting resumes or to seek out employers or educational opportunities. Even families with employed parents are using the library as a source of entertainment for bored children: free books, free CDs, and free DVDs are a premium commodity. However, despite its vast informational resources, the hardware and software of the library is woefully out-of-date. The evidence suggests that, despite the initial attractions of docked or portable laptop computers, the library requires desktop computers that patrons can use to search the database of books and other media, and can also use for email, Internet, and homework use within a specified timeframe.

The first instinct, naturally, is to assume that 'cheaper is better.' And today, there are desktops that can provide all the library needs at a low cost. According to PC Magazine, the "Acer's Veriton X270-ED7400C seems tailor-made for the struggling economy" (Domingo 2009). It has 2 GB RAM, 160 GB of storage, and a Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW for patrons who wish to watch DVDs. Patrons who use library computers will not need some of the capacities sought after by home users, like flashy graphics, as most of the usage is likely to be searching the library catalogue, requesting books, and perhaps using the Internet as a resource.

Given that the computers will be anchored at kiosks, in contrast to portable and frequently fragile laptops, a budget desktop like the Acer has obvious attractions as well because of its relatively compact nature, compared to others in its price range. It is, according to PC Magazine, very rare to find a business PC that costs less than $500, but it provides a better experience in running a business than a nettop or netbook The budget price of the Acer, as low as $384 in some markets. "The Veriton uses a full-size optical drive and internal hard drive. Both are cheaper, easier to swap out, and likely to be faster than the notebook-class drives found in systems like the Apple Mac mini and HP dc7900," the magazine writes, and it is extremely easy to service if there is ever a problem: "the case is easy to get into for servicing. Two screws on the back hold the cover on, so you will need a screwdriver, but once inside you can easily add one PCIe x1 card and one PCIe X16 graphics card" or otherwise add additional, needed upgrades over time, as opposed to purchasing a new system (Domingo 2009).

A final attraction of the Acer is its energy-efficiency, comparable with that of a laptop, but lacking the need to recharge batteries, or to purchase new batteries at additional expense to the organization. PC Magazine found that the Acer uses only "39W while idle and a miserly 62W while running our CineBench benchmark test," during typical use of applications, which is "less electricity than many lightbulbs!" (Domingo 2009). The only downside is that the graphics are not particularly strong on this budget device, making playing online games less of a compelling experience than on more expensive units: however, given that the library wishes to encourage serious and concentrated use of its online resources, this could be viewed as a bonus!

A laptop may be favored by some library users who wish to have mobility as they circulate around the library. However, there are several logistical problems with using a laptop. First of all, laptops are more easily stolen, a real concern in a large library system with many patrons and a limited amount of librarians to supervise them. Laptops can also be easily damaged. While it is true that some laptops designed for commercial use have "hard-drive sensors, which protect vital data in the event of a fall or a sudden movement," or solid-state drives (SSDs) are that are even more rugged than spinning ones, they tend to be more expensive than desktops with comparable memory (Wirelessly fit, 2009, How to buy a business laptop). Having a large enough memory and a powerful enough battery on an inexpensive laptop that can support the library's database needs would be a challenge. The only laptops with the type of extended battery life that would be suitable for a library environment are like the e-Dell Latitude E4300, which has 2GB like the Acer, but with only 128 GB storage capacity -- at a price of $2,789 (Chang 2009).