[oss4lib-discuss] Howard County Library (MD) upgrades computers using oss
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From: Amy De G. <deg...@hc...> - 2006-09-26 19:09:35
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*Howard County Library Upgrades Computer System* (Columbia, MD) - Each Howard County Library customer's computer experience will soon be dramatically enhanced! On September 21, /all /Howard County Library public access computers were upgraded to a new operating system called "Groovix." -- www.groovix.com Customers will be able to: * /*Browse */the Internet using a choice of two "best-in-class" web-browsers: Firefox or Opera. * /*Work */using word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software from OpenOffice (open, modify, print and save Microsoft Office and WordPerfect files and store them in their "native" formats). * /*Message */using GAIM, a cross-platform instant messaging product which lets IM users sign in with AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and other IM accounts. * /*Play */and listen to audio via Real Player (bring headphones or buy a pair from the library for $1). * /*Access */files from the popular USB "thumb drives" (bring one or buy one from the library for $20). Fill up one with free e-books or full-text magazine and newspaper articles from the Library's web site. In addition to these new features, all branches will offer more new monitors, mice and keyboards (including two large text keyboards per branch), more memory (512 MB of Ram), on-screen text enlargement, and updated, secure virus protection systems. Howard County Library is a pioneer in Maryland in using Open Source software on public and staff machines. Because Open Source software is available free or at a very modest cost, the Library can provide public computers at a fraction of the cost using comparable commercially-available software. -- Amy Begg De Groff Library Technology Services Department Head Howard County Library www.hclibrary.org voice: 410-313-7985 cell: 443-474-0741 fax: 410-313-7864 e-mail: deg...@hc... IM: abdegroff Ranked number one in the nation among the great public library systems by Hennen's American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR) 2005 Howard County Library is committed to using open source solutions whenever possible. |