WVLS PC & Networking Services

July marks the launch of PC and Network Support Services offered by Wisconsin Valley Library Service. Please see this PDF for more information. Shaun Howard, our Technology Support Specialist, has been helping us prepare for this launch. Shaun brings several years of helpdesk support expertise, as well as a strong skillset in the areas of PCs and Networking.

Our primary channel for initiating support requests is via email to support@wvls.org which will automatically create a support ticket in our Spiceworks helpdesk system. Over the past 6 months, we’ve been guiding people to that address so for many of you the support@wvls.org address and the Spiceworks formatted responses are becoming familiar. We will continue to improve on our internal process and support workflow and will also be helping our end users (you the library directors and staff members) to manage your own support requests with the Spiceworks User Portal, http://support.wvls.org/portal (currently accessible from within our WAN).

Our primary support phone line is 715.261.7254. WVLS technology staff who are out of the office or otherwise unavailable will be forwarding their lines to this number in order to better manage the flow of incoming calls. All support requests, whether initiated by emailing support@wvls.org or by calling one of our technology staff members, will have a support ticket generated; automatically if by originated email or the User Portal, or manually if originated by a phone call or other means.

We’re looking forward to working more closely and directly with our member libraries to offer PC and Networking Support Services and help ease technology related budget concerns across the system.

Joshua Klingbeil – IT Director
Wisconsin Valley Library Service

Computer Prices on the Rise

With the 2011 Gate's Grant round edging onto our radar, I thought it prudent to update quotes and offerings.  Boy was I surprised.  Our standard system build is still a relevant build and one of the better deals available, but pricing seems to be going in the wrong direction. They are now about $150.00 more than when they started.

I decided to investigate.  Was it this particular configuration?  Within the scope of Dell's offerings the answer was no.  When I expended the search to include competitive brands like HP and Lenovo that were close in price last year, the answer was still no. 

Here's why, from what I can tell.  Basic component costs were bottomed out last year.  Labor shortages coupled with increased labor and materials costs in major supplier countries like China are a direct influence.

Tech Spot - Mother Board Prices to Rise in First Half of 2011

http://bit.ly/gAyX01

The story is similar with memory prices - http://bit.ly/gKeBtY - and other basic components that are used to make the various parts that make up a computer.  It seems that computer manufacturers and vendors are already anticipating (or experiencing) the rise in component costs and have adjusted current pricing accordingly. 

What does it mean for you?  Whether or not you're library is a Gates' Grant recipient for the 2010-2011 cycle, it means the computers will be a bit more expensive for a similar configuration this year.  You can buy much less PC for fewer dollars, a bit less PC for the same dollars, the same PC for more dollars, or more PC for much more dollars.  For those of you not in the Gates' round, you could wait it out, prices do tend to fluctuate up and down like a sign wave.  There is no guarantee that they'll come down anytime soon though.

My recommendation?  Be aware of the current pricing increases.  Keep an eye out for good deals.  And purchase PCs as needed without worrying too much about the longer term pricing fluctuations.  The title was mostly a hook ... As one of my favorite guides cautions - "Don't Panic"