WELS: [Welstech] Wireless lab

[S. J. Fager]

Just from a technical and cost perspective, I would not personally recommend laptops and wireless; however, that also reflects my personal perferences for service. I would rather fix and/or upgrade a desktop than a laptop. Once the original expense is laid out, the desktop can be upgraded significantly by replacing the motherboard and processor (of course you also have to upgrade memory periodically...and then there are also the optical drives). Ok. So I'm not sure if there is a savings but can definitely be spaced over time. Also, wireless offers many more problems (security, speed, expansion) and is more expensive ...in my opinion. It really doesn't cost that much to run conduit to switches and wiring closets and the computers come with NICs. 

Ease of installation in the beginning might be easier, but if I had to maintain the computers and network, I would go with desktops and cables.

Sue


----- Original Message ----
From: Eunice Washburn <ewashburn at hotmail.com>
To: Michael Plocher <mplocher1 at hotmail.com>; Justin Ninmann <jninmann at new.rr.com>; welstech at messenger.wels.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:19:03 PM
Subject: Re: WELS: [Welstech] Wireless lab

Justin and all,
 
The program through ShopWELS for HP Computers is good.  We have purchased laptops for the Seminary and for David Star through it.  DVI, the firm providing HP Computers, is run by a former KML Grad like yourself, Mark Robinson. 

Barry Washburn
Technology Director, WLS





From: mplocher1 at hotmail.com
To: jninmann at new.rr.com; welstech at messenger.wels.net
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:42:22 -0600
Subject: Re: WELS: [Welstech] Wireless lab

Justin, 

In February 2007 we purchased 26 notebooks from HP through the WELS purchasing program.  These were mid-level notebooks running around $700 each as I recall.  We also ordered a Bretford 24 unit mobile charging cart for about $1200 including shipping from Buy.com  We opted NOT to get a timer on the cart as it was another $300 and instead rewired the wall outlet the cart was going to be plugged into, with each plug in the outlet now on two separate circuits to comply with the electric code.

We then went with thick access points to keep the cost down in that area, installing 6 due to the configuration of our building.  They were bought from Provantage.com for about $50 each.  We did go 802.11g with the APs instead of 802.11n.  We continue to look at thin access points for easier wLAN management, but they are still a bit out of our reach for us price wise.  There is one thin access point solution we did come across that was within our price range, D-Link DWL-3140 AP with PoE, but it has yet to be released by D-Link - 8 months and counting.  When I contact him, the regional sales manager for D-Link always seems to have another reason why they aren't being released yet.  If it does ever get released it looks to run about $80+ per AP and about $400 for the switch to control it.


Michael Plocher
Director of Technology
St. Paul's Lutheran School
New Ulm, MN

www.splnewulm.org





From: jninmann at new.rr.com
To: welstech at messenger.wels.net
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:30:50 -0600
Subject: WELS: [Welstech] Wireless lab


Hey everyone,
 
We are looking to upgrade a few computers at our school and we realized with the class sizes coming up and our lab space, we might be better off looking into a mobile wireless lab set up with laptops instead of desktops. Has anyone done that recently or have any information about companies, or pricing? I am just looking for a place to start.
 
Thanks for your time!
 
Justin Ninmann
Technology Coordinator
St. Peter Lutheran School
Appleton, WI 54913
920.739.2009
jninmann at new.rr.com



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