Staffing decreases were accomplished over a period of several months, and all but two of the positions were vacated by attrition. When the project is completed, we anticipate that the head count will be three consultants and one manager. The MCC retail store is currently being renovated into a showroom displaying products that have been tested on the MIT network by Information Systems and that are listed on an IS Recommended Products Web page. Customers visiting the showroom can try out the recommended machines and discuss their specific needs with an onsite consultant. Personal purchases may be made from the machines in the showroom or elsewhere.
Individuals use credit cards to place personal orders.
Because access to the catalog is limited to the MIT community through the use of digital certificates, individuals can access the catalog from any Athena workstation1 or, using the Netscape browser, they can access the catalog from their dorm room or from home. Orders are shipped to the U.S. address indicated by the customer. NECX has contracted special pricing for MIT and has created an MIT-specific products page on the Web featuring the recommended equipment and software for use on the MIT network. NECX works cooperatively with MIT to keep this information up to date. In addition, this Web page serves as a doorway to the NECX catalog of more than 30,000 products.