Desktop Roll-out Program

Desktop Rollout FAQ | System Photos

• Who will receive a computer replacement?
• What about computers in positions for which there is no employee yet?
• What about part time staff and student workers?
• What about auxiliaries and staff whose salaries are funded by external sources?
• Does this include extended campuses?
• Why are we getting new computers?
• When will my department receive the computers?
• What kind of computer will I get?
• What if I have special needs that require a different configuration?
• I want a laptop. Will this be possible?
• Can I get a Mac instead of a PC?
• What will happen to my old computer?
• What if I just bought a new computer?
• Will I get to keep my special peripherals?
• What do I need to do to get ready?
• What about my music and other strictly personal files?
• How will my sensitive data be handled?
• What software will be installed?
• Will I be using the new Microsoft operating system (Vista)?
• Will I be using the new version of Office (2007)?
• How much downtime will be involved in the migration?

1) Who will receive a computer replacement?

Lists of full time, university funded staff members will be obtained from the Banner system. This will be verified when a team visits to evaluate/facilitate the replacement equipment.

2) What about computers in positions soon to be filled for which there is no employee yet?

Computers will not be distributed to vacant positions. If the new employee’s office has already been updated, new hires, who qualify for a staff PC under this program, will be provided PC equipment when they actually begin work. If the office has not yet had equipment updated, temporary equipment should be identified for use until the entire office is upgraded.

3) What about part time employees and student workers?

This project only covers full time, university funded staff, who use a computer to do their work.

4) What about auxiliaries and staff whose salaries are funded by external sources?

Auxiliary operations and staff members who are funded by external sources are not included in this program. However, equipment pricing and leasing agreements have been negotiated to allow those organizations to purchase and/or lease equipment at the same cost. More information is being compiled. Please check back on this site for more details within the next few weeks.

5) Does this include extended campuses?

Yes.

6) Why are we getting new computers?

This program is part of a university initiative to provide funds for renewing technology throughout the university. The staff desktop program is a follow up to the faculty laptop program implemented last academic year.

7) When will my department receive the computers?

The initial rollout will begin in the buildings which have the highest concentration of staff PC’s; first Coates and Jones, and then move on to the SSB. When these buildings are complete, we will begin working with smaller offices and academic departments. You’ll know it’s getting close when a team comes to your office to develop a deployment plan specific to your area.

8) What kind of computer will I get? | System Photos

• HP Compaq dc7700 Convertible Minitower
• Intel® Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.40/1066/4M)
• Memory - 2GB PC2-5300 (DDR2-667) 2x1GB
• 160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s (7200rpm) hard drive
• 16X DVD+/-RW Drive (LS/DL) – SATA
• Video/graphics - ATI Radeon X1600 XT (256MB) DH FH PCIe Graphics card
• HP L1906 LCD Monitor (19 inch monitor)

9) What if I have special needs that require a different configuration?

Please discuss this with your director or supervisor so they can bring this to light as a deployment plan is prepared for your office.

10) I want a laptop. Will this be possible?

Laptops with docking stations will be an available option for Directors and Assistant Directors, requests for laptops for staff in other positions must be submitted on a special form and approved through the chain of command through the VP of your unit. Please discuss this with your director or supervisor. You should be aware; laptops have not yet been ordered and will not be distributed until much later, when leasing arrangements and other logistical details have been finalized. Because of the additional cost of the laptop configuration and the limits of our funding, the standard desktop will be issued in most situations.

11) Can I get a Mac instead of a PC? /I already have a Mac and I don’t want to go to PC.

Please discuss this with your director or supervisor so they can bring this to light as a deployment plan is prepared for your office. You should be aware; Apple computers have not yet been ordered and will not be distributed until much later, when leasing arrangements and other logistical details have been finalized. Because of the additional cost of the Apple computers and the limits of our funding, the standard PC desktop will be issued in most situations. Mac’s will be distributed to staff where there is a compelling need for a Mac computer.

12) What will happen to my old computer?

With few exceptions, one existing machine will be removed for each new PC installed. If you have needs for part-time or student staff, we will be happy to help you move existing equipment and perform the setup work necessary to make it usable. Please discuss these needs with the IT staff as your deployment plan is being developed. All unused equipment will be removed as soon as the new machine has been deemed functional. This equipment will be redeployed to meet other needs or discarded.

13) What if I just bought a new computer?

See question number 12. No one will be forced to give up any equipment already in the department. However, this program is part of a three year rollout plan for the entire university. If you refuse the new workstation, a replacement won’t be available for three years. Any non-warranty repairs on an existing machine will be your responsibility.

14) Will I get to keep my special peripherals?

In short, yes. Your peripherals may not run in Windows Vista. However, most things like mice, keyboards and flash drives will. Of course we will set these up for you upon request.

15) What do I need to do to get ready?

• Get rid of any unnecessary files.
• Back up your own personal data such as music, pictures, personal video.
• Back up anything you may be concerned about to external media (DVDs/CDs/Flash Drives). We suggest you make multiple copies of these files and store each copy in a different place.
• Use your U drive. It is 1 GB of storage space designed for your work documents such as Word/Excel and other files of small to medium size.
• Locate all installation media for any specific programs or applications you have purchased and installed on your current PC. New machines will be delivered with Windows Vista, Microsoft Office 2007, Symantec Anti-Virus and other software that is either licensed for the entire university or free. Additional software will be installed at the time of delivery, when the installation CD’s and appropriate licenses are provided.
  

16) What about my music, pictures and other personal files?

Music and pictures are generally large files and take more time and resources to move and store than can be accomplished in a project of this scope. We can’t be responsible for these files, and will not back them up during the migration process. If you intend to move these files to your new computer, please do this yourself before the day of the migration. We will also announce this to each department head before we begin working in your area. If these types of files are essential to your job, please let us know when we come to your office.

17) How will my sensitive data be handled?

We suggest that very sensitive records be kept and accessed on the university’s network storage space rather than individual computers. Each department has space allocated for this purpose. It is called the N drive. If you are interested in utilizing this space, call the helpdesk at 2-3000 for more information.

18) What software will be installed?

The standard installation mainly includes the Office 2007 suite of applications with the new capability of creating PDF’s from current Office documents. Please let IT know when we come to visit you regarding the deployment if you are currently using other applications that need to be included in your build and we will make our best effort to serve you.

19) Will I be using the new Microsoft operating system (Vista)?

We are positioned to deploy and utilize the latest operating system on this project and intend to do so. An assessment of currently installed applications will be conducted. Many Windows XP programs will run under Vista or upgrades may be available. Being up-to-date on your important applications will ease the migration process.

20) Will I be using the new version of Office (2007)?

It is our hope that people will adopt this new version of Office, as it has many time saving features. It is different and does take some readjustment. However, we think after that adjustment period passes you will be as pleased with it as you have been with previous Office versions. This will also ease the sharing of documents with other offices around campus.

21) How much downtime will be involved in the migration?

We will be in contact with your department to work out a plan to work as efficiently as possible and to minimize downtime. Our goal is a quality deployment that empowers you to be productive with the new equipment.

System Photos