Minimum Workstation and Software Site License Subcommittee Minutes

 

Jauary 17, 2008
Meeting in AH-1120 at 10 a.m.
Diana Osborn, Chair

MS Windows Vista Deployment
Rich Pickett explained recent IT Managers Meeting's outcomes on MS Windows Vista Deployment:

• No compelling reason to make any major move to Vista at this time.
• Some areas may be moving, but not because of any driving force to do this at this time.
• At some point, we may have issues with newly purchased machines, but nothing currently.
• Licensing may be an upcoming issue.
• Using a Key server will be investigated next month.

Discussion ensued and the following was mentioned

• CSU agreements cover 268,000 desktops.
• Windows XP will be around until 2014 with support.
• Internet Explorer 7 can't access Oracle Markview, but Firefox can.
• Windows Vista Ulimate (with DVD Decoder) will be available for HOME USE from Aztec Shops Bookstore (2nd floor Technology area) for $9.99. Red ID is required.
• Windows Vista Enterprise does not have the DVD Decoder.
• Testing Keys will be replaced by new Deploying Key for Windows Vista Enterprise.
• Searching and media use is better in Vista.
• Server 2008 and Vista is a big improvement if the domain consists of only Server 2008 and Vista (not mixed environments).
• VMware runs on top of Linux, OS X and Windows Vista.

Diana mentioned MWSSLS is looking for interested people to investigate Vista more and work with ITSO. If you are interested, please email Diana.

Minimum Workstation Sub-Committee
Diana requested the Minimum Workstation Sub-Committee be reformed to update the specifications on the MWSSLS's hardware standards web pages. Diana will chair the sub-committee. Scott Horvath and Merka Phoenix will work on the Windows platform and Carol Phillips will handle the Mac platform web pages. Please send your suggestions to one of the committee members, so old specifications can be removed and the remaining ones verified as current.

Email Clients Issues
With Eudora no longer supported by Qualcomm, there will be no further updates for either the Windows or Macintosh platforms. The clients can continue to be used until their final versions no longer are compatible with updated operating systems. Wayne Ridge stated that several of his users (College of Business) are on Vista and are not having any problems with Eudora.

Scott Horvath (Athletics) mentioned problems migrating users to MS Outlook on Vista. Outlook is being used since it handles tables better than Eudora. He has found converting the Eudora Out box tricky, but using Thunderbird as an interim conversion a good solution. Thunderbird handles the mbox convert well and then you can import to any other Email client without problems.

Rich Pickett announced a iPhone Settings for SSL document would be added to the TNS web site soon, and they are working on other PDA (Treo, Mobile, etc.) settings

EndNote
According to John Ross, the confusion over the EndNote product line has been cleared up. The contract that was being considered was a 3 year subscription rental of $20,000 per year and at the end of the contract, the user must remove the software. Due to current budget constraints, this request is still a no go.

Deep Freeze
Celia Chavez is handling the distribution of the Deep Freeze licenses for the current contract. Since the contract runs until June 30th, all areas will need their quantity needs for next year to Diana Osborn by April 1, 2008 for the renewal negotiations.

ACC software
ACC Verify is a yearly subscription and it expired on 12/31/07. Now ACC Verify 11 must be a fresh installation, while the other HI software will require just a new activation code. ACC upgrade also has a new Flash CS3 compatible piece for captioning video testing.

Meeting Maker
There will be a rollout of Meeting Maker version 8.7 in February between the 18th and 25th.

Other software
Celia Chavez announced that the beta arrived by mistake for MS Visual Studio Pro 2008 and will not be released. We are currently waiting on the real version scheduled to arrive by the end of February along with MS Office 2008 for Macintosh.

Next Meeting
Next meeting will be February 21st at 10:00 am in AH-1120.

PLEASE NOTE: The statements found on the MWSSLS Home Page are for informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure that this information is up to date and accurate, official information can be found in the University publications.

Last modified on February 1, 2008
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