--- Forwarded Message from John de Szendeffy <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 09:13:29 -0400 >From: John de Szendeffy <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >Organization: Boston University >To: Jeff Ruth <[log in to unmask]>, Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #5760 pentium/celeron; RAM; flat screen, etc... >References: <[log in to unmask]> ------------------ [A quick response to Jeff Ruth <[log in to unmask]>--I'm sure other will elaborate.] > 1. Will a Pentium III processor on each PC prove to be worth the > extra cost relative to a Celeron of about the same speed? Celeron can be considerably slower for certain operations, even given the same clock speed. Generally, the best price/performance ratio is offered by the the slowest of the current PIII offerings, that is, instead of the faster of the Celeron. (There are usually Good, Better, Best models offered at any one time by computer makers, the Good, in my opinion, offering the best p/p ratio). > 2. Is 128M of RAM likely to be adequate for a few years? > Depends entirely upon what you plan to do. 128 is minimum, but as these things get cheaper, it's usually better to have only the RAM you currently need and buy more later (unless you have limited RAM slots, in which case it might be cheaper to buy all you need now for the life of the machine rather then replace smaller chips later). > 3. How might flat screens redeem their higher cost in actual usage, > apart from their obvious more streamlined size? My reading of their performance is that they don't. Their value is in space saving and aesthetics. Otherwise, they don't perform as well and certainly don't offer a good price/performance ratio. > 4. Is there a useful website or other info source to clue us into > typical licensing procedures and costs of CDs and > other language learning software for a lab setting? My experience has been that publishers make this up as they go along, and are very often willing to negotiate a deal better than their advertised rate. For example, if their network license covers 100 machines and you only have 20, negotiate a deal between the network and lab pack prices. I have done this with several publishers. In any case, it doesn't hurt. -John __________________________________________ John de Szendeffy <[log in to unmask]> Multimedia Language Lab Center for English Language and Orientation Programs Boston University ph (617) 353-7957 fx (617) 353-6195 Lab: http://www.bu.edu/celop/MLL WebFeat: http://www.bu.edu/johndesz/