Boosting Start-up & Shut-down Speeds

well, folks..
we are currently working on building a new computer image for the various computing areas across campus..
one of the key features that we are investigating is the Start-Up and Shut-Down times, particularly when using WindowsXP.





Our preliminary research finds:

Start-Up time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- ~03:00:00 - 03:30:00+
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- ~01:30:00 - 01:50:00
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) -- ~01:30:00 - 02:00:00

Shut-Down time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- ~00:45:00 - 00:50:00
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- ~00:45:00 - 00:55:00
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) -- ~00:50:00 - 01:05:00

I hope to tweak with the configuration of these machines to squeeze-out a significant change.

We'll let you know how it goes!

See below:

After our enhanced configuration:

COMING SOON!

Start-Up time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- 
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- 
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) -- 

Shut-Down time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- ~00:45:00 - 00:50:00
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- 
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) --

Sherrill MacBooks... and some issues.

We have discovered an interesting quirk about a certain line of 13" MacBook Pro models.

Known issue:
After installing Apple MultiTouch support in Windows XPSP3, we discovered that these machines started behaving erratically... their boot times jumped from a one-minute load-time to anywhere from 5-10 minutes.
We investigated the issue and explored a number of options, but for the time being, we have disabled Multi-Touch Support in Windows XP.... :(
I know, I know...

this means no two-touch scrolling, no right-clicking, no gestures, and no pinch-and-zoom under Windows XP.  Luckily, the library has provided a number of two-button scroll mice for Windows users.

Needless to say, MacOSX still has multi-touch support.

We are working diligently to find a solution and are in contact with other providers that use these particular hardware types.
Expect an upgrade/fix for the Spring 2011

Scanning Stations in DOBLE-INFOCOMMONS

So the scanning issues have been resolved in the Doble InfoCommons.
We decided to place the scanners at designated workstations so that the cables would stay stationary....
These machines have been tested on both MacOS & WindowsXP, and there is the choice of using the OS image handler (preview/microsoft scan), Picasa 3, Adobe Photoshop + EpsonScan Utility.

Deployment Days: Doble 4th Floor

So, the deployment of a new computer image is occurring in Doble 413 & Doble 415 as of 10:00am.

The total image size is about 40GB (MacOSX+WindowsXP)
Good stuff!

I will post a software list and an update to follow.
More info coming soon!!!!

Lesley Lucid Lynx Linux Loaner Initiative.

Don't you love alliteration?

I had the bright idea to take old machines that were slotted to be trashed and to spiffy them up with a next-generation Ubuntu Linux (10.04 LTS) distro....
The result?

Absolutely amazing.

This desktop image (catered around Ubuntu distros) incorporates the Lesley Lynx and Ubuntu's Lucid Lynx (10.04) as part of the same branding.

I have also made desktop images for all of our OS distributions:

Software Updates for Wolfard Fall 2010 Image!

Rigorously running through software updates for the Wolfard workstation image.
It's interesting because this area contains what I consider our "2nd Gen" iMacs*...
These are characterized primarily by the thin base-stands, the Mini-DisplayPort connector, and the nVidia integrated graphics cards.


*2nd Generation only in the series of Aluminum iMacs that we have on this campus.

=============
MacOSX
--> Software Update included various security & application updates.

• EFI Firmware 1.4
• Bluetooth Firmware 2.01
• SuperDrive Firmware 3.0

Applications:

Updated Office 2008 -- 12.x
Flip4Mac WMV Components -- 2.3.2.6
Adobe Reader -- 9.3.2
Firefox -- 3.6.3
Google Earth 5.1.3535.3218

----------------------
WinXPSP3 
--> Windows Update included various security & application updates.

Applications:

Installed Filezilla FTP Client 3.3.2.1
Microsoft Office 2007

Realtek vs. BootCamp via 1st Generation 21" iMacs

So many of you all have reported that the sound quality from the 21" iMacs either sucks (strange swooshing or crackling sounds) or doesn't work at all under Windows XP/Windows 7.
Well, not to worry;  you aren't alone.

This is a known issue through Apple and BootCamp, and we here at the Labs & Classrooms office feels your pain.  We have updated Boot Camp drivers (now running 3.1),... and we have installed May 2010 drivers (WDM_R248) from the Realtek website...

Perhaps this will help!

Relevant links:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=389026
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3

Areas this affects:
All dual-boot 21" iMacs (1st, 2nd, & 3rd Gen).

We'll post a couple of comments to follow-up.
Thanks for reporting your concerns!!!

--- Richard