It was next asked how many NT computers would be purchased and how many Macs. Ray answered that it depends on how many requests for each were received. Fernando asked what the software costs were associated with switching to Wintel. Ray answered that the cost was more modest since the Microsoft campus licensing agreement. Some money is available for the conversion, and some conversions have particularly high software costs.
Departmental time can also be a big cost.
Joe asked whether we should do anything to re-evaluate the new dual platform arrangement. Tom suggested that it was too soon, and that perhaps next year we should examine the success of the new system. This has posed great challeges to ITS, and that the transition had not been disastrous was an achievement. Alumni Relations and Development have made the transition to the Wintel environment without any significant loss of fundraising productivity. Ray explained that ITS will be sending out a survey on computer use after break, and that this survey will include questions on the transition and on the network operations.