I and a number of people I've talked to are somewhat frustrated by the limited number of applications available on the public KSL computers. Here's my wish list (ranked from most to least wanted):

1. Firefox.
2. PuTTY SSH client, so I can log into my home machine and check email, make some quick edits to a paper, etc.
3. VNC and/or Remote Desktop clients for doing the same thing, visually.
4. A WebDAV client so I can access my filer.case.edu account.

Is there any possibility that some or all of these could be made available?

I will make sure our tech team reads your suggestions.

I do know that these computers are a major improvement than what we had a year ago. We did have dumb terminals with no Microsoft Office applications or USB ports for flash drives.

I do not know what factors are the driving forces to what is included on our systems. I do know libraries have to balance providing the necessary resources to assist in research without overloading computers so other activities are limiting the library-related uses.

I will forward your message on. Thanks.

Brian C. Gray
Head of Reference
Librarian - Engineering, Math, & Statistics
Kelvin Smith Library (http://library.case.edu)
Personal Blog: http://blog.case.edu/bcg8/

Seconded, at least for Firefox. Is it possible to use Filer as a network drive on the KSL computers? I have it set up that way here in Nord, but I haven't really used the KSL computers yet.

Andrew Witte:

I and a number of people I've talked to are somewhat frustrated by the limited number of applications available on the public KSL computers. Here's my wish list (ranked from most to least wanted):
1. Firefox.
2. PuTTY SSH client, so I can log into my home machine and check email, make some quick edits to a paper, etc.
3. VNC and/or Remote Desktop clients for doing the same thing, visually.
4. A WebDAV client so I can access my filer.case.edu account.

Is there any possibility that some or all of these could be made available?

I talked to some of our tech people about the computer configurations in KSL. The current setup was established to promote library research first. Other activities have been limited to insure that computers are available to use the library databases in support of our mission.

Brian Gray:

Quote:

1. Firefox.
2. PuTTY SSH client, so I can log into my home machine and check email, make some quick edits to a paper, etc.
3. VNC and/or Remote Desktop clients for doing the same thing, visually.
4. A WebDAV client so I can access my filer.case.edu account.

Is there any possibility that some or all of these could be made available?

I talked to some of our tech people about the computer configurations in KSL. The current setup was established to promote library research first. Other activities have been limited to insure that computers are available to use the library databases in support of our mission.

I think 1 and 4 are, then, very good ideas, if you are trying to promote library research first.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit was 2006:10:19:19:44:08 by Christopher Hess.

What is wrong with only having access to Filer by the web interface?

Not much, besides that it kinda sucks. I mean, what is wrong with only having access to the internet through Internet Explorer?

+Chris

Christopher Hess:

Not much, besides that it kinda sucks.

I have nothing to do with the computer configuration, but I cannot think of many reasons that the Filer web interface would not be adequate for doing library research.

I have passed on the suggestions to our Tech Team, just in case they do not follow the forum.

Brian C. Gray
Head of Reference
Librarian - Engineering, Math, & Statistics
Kelvin Smith Library (http://library.case.edu)
Personal Blog: http://blog.case.edu/bcg8/

Much appreciated, thanks Brian Gray.

+Chris

This is a perfect example of the university thinking "why" as opposed to "why not."

Phil

and I'm sure a "why" is good too sometimes (blah blah blah)