yea, we're wired, too bad the computers are junk and the
network administration is a freakin joke. If all
the components ( infrastructure, hardware, software, admin) were there I
wouldn't be so sarcastic. Being "wired" is just good intended press for the UI
Well it beats having one of our FRAT houses burning
down or some drunk falling out of a window. (read: politics).
Unfortunately having a new backbone and other wiring
infrastructure does not transfer into usability and functionality for the
end-user, the students. It will eventually! Oh
but meanwhile, the president and other "functionaries" at the U
can certainly crow about "how wired we are". Of course, our esteemed Senator
Larry Craig also jumps on the bandwagon. Why, because it makes us all sound so
"cutting edge" and "progressive" We certainly are!.
BAH!
I have heard all this bragging for the last year while the
"improvements" were being implemented, what a bunch of BS. The students can
attest to what really goes on behind the scenes. So soory I am feeling so
onery today Moscow Sam, but you know as well as I that when labs such as "the
advanced technology teaching lab" (snicker) does not even have basic
Multi-media tools enabled (quickTime, WMT, ECT) there is a problem. (actually
they are there, but the average student does not realize that they have to go
in and "intialize" them). The last Arc View install was a mess with
symbols missing in action, and it took weeks and weeks for "them" to
figure out how to get MS Explorer working with their NT install (granted
its MS). And what is this faky-ass zip utility that can't even handle GZip
files? DID they save money by dumping WINZIP?
I could not begin to even try to count how many times
in the past I have packed up my stuff, fought for parking, or rode by bike to
school, only to find inoperable computers We had a
class in GeoSams course on Web Resources and Design that had an inoperative
Internet browser working. Two of us went to the computer center with our
discs and shown them that our 'MARQUEE' pages would not run in that lab.
The next day it was fixed .and /or network. Kind of hard to make
forward progress to say the least.
So, I gave up doing any serious work at school over 2 years ago.I hope you will find a way to return and continue on with you
studies. But what about those less fortunate students that don't have
the luxury of a home computer?
These examples I have shown may seem like nit-picking, but tell that to
the student trying to maintain a GPA and who is working on a deadline. And
these examples are only the tip of the iceberg. I
took my student loan money and ate rice and beans to own my own
computer.
Even with this "multi-million dollar" upgrade to the backbone, good luck
logging in the monday after a long weekend or heaven forbid during pre-mid
term and pre finals week.>>>>>>>>>>meanwhile the
frats have some serious networked Quake and Duke Nukem games going on 24/7.
I know they are jacked we're wired.
Sorry about the diatribe, but this is how it really is. We have a great
system, but they don't pay enough to retain people competent enough to make it
work properly. I do believe our computer people are
very well qualified or President Bob Hoover would have replace
them. Its like buying a Ferarri or a Lotus, but only being able to
afford to hire Gomer Pyle to work on it. But oooh, thats Ok, cuz
the fiber and Cat 5 cables are in place, so WE ARE WIRED.
whatever.>>>>> Overall, I am very pleased with the
quality of my education at the UI, and I very am grateful to have
been able to work with the people I have within my field of study. But the
computer situation has been the bane of my existence for the last 4
years.
Thanks, I feel better now. People do listen Rick take
it to President Bob Hoovers office and he will talk to you. You might be
able to be part of the solution.
Rick
Wolf
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2000 12:16 PM
Subject: GEO-CART> Fw: [Vandal] 100 Most Wired Colleges
> de GeoSam ...
>
> ----- Original Message
-----
> From: Phil Corless <philco@micron.net>
> To: <vandal@uidaho.edu>
> Sent:
Friday, April 14, 2000 11:36 AM
> Subject: [Vandal] 100 Most Wired
Colleges
>
>
> >
> > The May issue of Yahoo
Internet Life just hit my mailbox,
> > with a special report on the
100 Most Wired Colleges in
> > the country.
> >
>
> Out of 1,300 schools surveyed, the University of Idaho
> >
landed at Number 13.
> >
> > Congratulations to the
computer folks at the UI!
>