--- Forwarded Message from "Scott G. Williams" <[log in to unmask]> --- >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 09:15:20 -0500 >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >From: "Scott G. Williams" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: leasing machines ------------------ Has anyone pursued the avenue of leasing rather than purchasing computers? Our Apple rep last year and the new one this year waved that possibility under my nose. However, when I listed my needs and pressed them for an actual offer, they both blithely ignored me. This absolute refusal to respond so irritated a colleague in English that, although she prefers Macs, she actually switched their lab over to PCs when they got funding. The initial offer, in any case, was that we could get a whole new lab full of machines up front, but spread out the lease agreement payments over a couple of years making it manageable given our budget. At the end of any given year we could then actual have the respective (i.e., paid for) machines from that year for an additional dollar (one), machines which we could downstream to faculty and grad students (for whom there is absolutely no tech budget). Then if we signed an additional year lease, they would replace that portion of the machines with new ones. Has anyone actually done this with Apple or any other company? The problem we are attempting to address, whether this route or not, is simply that there is insufficient monies in my budget and no regular tech plan for the university through which to ensure timely, regular rotation of machines (every 3-4 years). As it is, we have been circling Surplus Equipment for incoming Macs that we cannibalize so that my creative staff can resuscitate the aging machines in our lab and department. any thoughts? Scott * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Scott G. Williams, Ph.D. Director Language Acquisition Center Dept. of Foreign Languages Univ. of Texas at Arlington Box 19557 Arlington, Texas 76019-0557 Tel: Office (817) 272-5650 / LAC (817) 272-5148 Fax: (817) 272-5408 email: [log in to unmask] LAC: (http://langlab.uta.edu/lac.htm) Foreign Languages:( http://langlab.uta.edu) My page: (http://langlab.uta.edu/scottweb/webpage.html) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *