Seeking Your Input Re: Your org.'s hardware/software replacement procedures

You'll note in the minutes of the 8/2 meeting, County administrator Karen St. Hilaire asked IT Committee members for input and advice regarding the County's computer equipment replacement/purchase policy and procedures. In the past, she explained, the County has been on a 3-year retirement schedule for all PC's.

Karen and others are interested to hear how your organizations deal with this issue? Those who attended the meeting offered several good insights - everything from choosing the right components at time of purchase, to inventorying end user demands, to smart choices regarding extended warrantees.

Because several committee members were absent at that meeting, particulary those from the larger organizations, I wanted to extend an invitation to the rest of the committee to offer advice and recommendations. Please be encouraged to share insights about how your organization manages the following:

• How frequent do you replace your PC's?
• Do you purchase extended warranties on lap tops & PCs?
• Do you maintain an inventory of PC's - including age, capacity, functionality, warrantee?
• Do you maintain an end user requirements inventory?
• Where are you with open source software?
• Other ideas regarding this topic?

Feel free to post your comments here. If you would rather keep them more private, feel free to submit your comments directly to Karen St. Hilaire at KStH@co.st-lawrence.ny.us