Desktop 2003 under way!
On February 17 and 19, all of the computer systems in the department are being
replaced (with a break for the Blizzard of 2003!). Existing systems were leased in the Desktop2000 project and are being
returned. Their replacements include one of five models: Apple iMac or Dell desktop tower systems for faculty
and staff, Apple PowerBook G4 or Dell laptops for faculty, and Apple eMacs for part-time
faculty and graduate student workstations. Faculty were able to choose platform and
laptop/desktop, and a sizable number chose the wireless laptop option. All systems are
configured with ample RAM and hard disk space, as well as CD-RW burners. The advent
of Apple's BSD Unix-based OS X operating systems for graduate student workstations
brings greater reliability and functionality to these systems.