Minimum purchasing standards recently have been placed into effect for all university-owned desktop computers on the ISU campus.

The list of standards, effective as of May 1, applies to “all computers that sit in front of you on a desk,” said Dorothy Lewis, director of academic information technologies.

Lewis said that by having a list of minimum requirements, computer software will be easier to manage, while at the same time technology support and repair will not be such a chore for the university.

She said it is mainly a matter of total cost of ownership and is a support issue more than anything else.

“We hope to turn over the technology every three to four years,” Lewis said.

She said the Desktop Standards Committee, representing each college of the university, hopes to encourage members of the university to update their computers every three to four years as well.

Lewis said students are strongly encouraged to follow these standards, but compliance is not required, as the rule applies to computers students use on campus (lab computers), not the students’ personal computers.

“We send every incoming student `Connected at Iowa State,’ a booklet that gives recommendations to the student on what type of computer to bring to Iowa State,” Lewis said.

Lewis said if a student brings a computer that is too old, in technology terms, it can make it too difficult for Iowa State to make the connection and support the PC.

For example, SCOUT, a program the university offers to students, contains a wide array of software that may not function on a PC if the minimum purchasing standards are not met.

Linda Hutchison, associate director of Academic Information Technologies, said the new standards are an opportunity for Iowa State to become the best in information technology.

“This is really a reason to set a goal so we can become the best,” Hutchison said.

The DSC will look at recommendations to update information technology on a quarterly basis.

Hutchison said technology changes so rapidly, standards may be out of date quicker than the quarterly meetings.

She said narrowing the range of equipment on campus also allows campus support groups to narrow their focus and know the machines better than previously possible.

Iowa State currently has buying arrangements with five different vendors, Apple, Compaq, Gateway, Dell and Hewlett Packard, Hutchinson said.

More information about the standards may be found at www.iastate.edu/computing/standards/.