The Year
2000 discussions are well underway. In fact, the
common wisdom is that, if you haven't started
preparing yet, you're too late.
But, you're
not alone. Legislation in the United States
requires that vendors post information on their
web site about Year 2000 compliancy. The best
part for consumers is that there are steps to be
taken if the hardware or software that you're
looking for is not ready for next January.
These vendors
sites can be invaluable as you take stock of your
inventory to see just how much concern we should
all have for the next millenium. As we take a
look at the things that are in place in Greater
Essex, the following web sites are visited
to name a few.
Resources at each site include recommendations
for a minimum operating system (Apple), a
database of products which you search for your
part number (IBM) to a ferret that scopes out
your system. (Novell)
But, further
to muddy the waters, we have hardware in
operation where the producing company is no
longer in business. In all cases, considerable
time by the Information Technology Staff will be
required to test and apply the patches and fixes
necessary to ensure that when the Year 2000 rolls
in, our computer equipment continues to function.
It doesn't
stop there. Just like viruses, our school
hardware and software doesn't work in isolation.
Check this newsletter in the coming months for
tips and resources to test your home equipment to
ensure that there will be no problems there
either.
And finally,
when you think that you've got all the upcoming
disasters planned for, Grover returns ...
keyboard in hand to contribute an article for
this month's GEC Computers in Education!
Seriously, his efforts and insights are welcome
and I hope to see more of his efforts in the
upcoming months.
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