Ten laptop computers are available at the circulation desk in Fiedler
Library for checkout to Engineering students, faculty and staff.
These laptops offer the same software and capabilities as the Fiedler
Library desktop computers. In addition, they have integrated
wireless network cards. You can use them wirelessly in any part of
the Durland-Rathbone-Fiedler building complex that has
wireless coverage.
Laptops may be checked out from the Fiedler Library circulation desk.
Checkout requires a valid KSU ID card and an Engineering computing account
(the laptops require the same login as the Fiedler Library desktop computers).
You will receive
- a laptop computer
- a power adapter and cord
- a nylon carrying case and strap
- a user information card
- a 7-foot network cable for connecting to a wired network jack
In addition, you may optionally check out
- a floppy drive module (in lieu of the standard DVD ROM module)
- a longer, 15-foot network cable for connecting to a wired network
jack
A library staff member will check off each item on a checkout sheet.
You sign the checkout sheet, acknowledging that you received all the items
listed and will be financially responsible for them in case of loss or
damage. You also agree to be responsible for late fees and fines
(view
a copy of the checkout sheet and statement you sign).
The laptop will be checked out to you for a period of four hours (or
less if the library will close sooner). You must return the
laptop on time as someone else may be waiting to use it. If no one
else is on the waiting list and you return it on time, you may renew for
another checkout period.
- Do not take the laptop out of the Durland/Rathbone/Fiedler building
complex.
- Laptops will only have wireless network access in areas
with wireless coverage.
- Do not loan the laptop to others.
- Return the laptop on time.
The laptops must be connected to the campus network (either wireless or wired)
to work properly. A network connection allows you to authenticate (login)
to your
engineering account, use our installed software, access your engineering home
directory,
and print to a network printer.
If you want a wired connection, use a network cable to connect the laptop to any
live
network wall jack. In the absence of a network cable, the laptop will make
a wireless
connection, assuming you are in an area with wireless service.
Note that not every network wall jack in Fiedler Hall is live. We
installed extra network
jacks when the building was constructed and have not yet activated some of
them.
When you boot up, the screen that invites you to enter CTRL-ALT-DEL to log in
appears about 20
seconds before the network connections are established, and an immediate attempt
to login will
fail for lack of a network connection. We recommend waiting 20 to 30
seconds
before entering CTRL-ALT-DEL and logging in.
Our laptops are configured with support for more than one network printer.
Before you
print, make sure you select the printer you want and know where your pages will
be printed.
-
A reboot or logout will erase any files you have stored on the laptop
hard drive. To prevent possible data loss, store your data files on
a floppy disk, CD-ROM, flash drive, or a network drive.
-
Wireless networking is ABSOLUTELY INSECURE. Anyone on the
wireless network can see, unencrypted, everything you send or receive. You
should not
use a wireless connection to transmit or receive sensitive or confidential data,
such as
credit card numbers or purchases, student grades, banking or financial
transactions,
etc. - anything you would not want publicly known. If you need to to
protect the privacy or confidentiality
of information you send or receive, use a wired connection to a network jack
instead.
- Report problems immediately to the Fiedler Library circulation desk.
- The Fiedler Library circulation desk can answer most questions.
What software is on these computers?
The software should be the same as installed on the Fiedler
Library desktop computers. Like the Fiedler Library desktop computers, they do NOT
have Pro/ENGINEER, ANSYS or AutoCAD.
Do these computers have ZIP drives? How can I save my data?
Sorry, these laptops do not have ZIP drives. You can check out the laptop with
either a CDRW drive or a 3.5" floppy drive module and save data to your own
floppy
drive or writable CD. You can save your data to your own USB device,
such as a flash memory drive. You can save data to any network drive you
have access to, such as the home directory of your College of Engineering
computing
account. Finally, the laptops have firewire and Type II PC Card external
ports
if you have a data storage device that uses these.
A hardware list is below.
Can I print from these laptops?
Yes, they can print to the same network printers as the Fiedler Library
desktop computers.
Are these laptops the same as the checkout laptops in Hale Library?
No. These laptops are provided by the College of Engineering, and
are configured and managed by CECS (College of Engineering Computing
Services).
They are entirely separate from the laptop computers available for checkout
in Hale Library. Our laptop checkout system, however, is (intentionally)
very similar to the one used in Hale Library.
How were those College of Engineering logos applied?
It's done by a laser engraving process. Working from a photographic master,
a laser removes the silver-colored outer finish, exposing the white
layer below.
Will more laptops be available in the future?
Very possibly. We began by offering three checkout laptops in 2002; the
number
was increased to ten in February 2004. If the demand for checkout laptops
by Fiedler Library patrons exceeds the supply, the College of Engineering will
strongly consider expanding its support.
Gateway 450E
Hardware
- Intel Pentium M Processor - 1.4 GHz
- Intel Centrino mobile technology
- Integrated 802.11b wireless networking card
- 512 MB RAM
- 60 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA hard drive
- modular 24x/10x/24x CDRW and 8x DVD combo optical drive
- 15" SXGA screen + TFT active matrix
- ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 integrated video w/32 MB DDR video memory
- 2 Type II PC Card slots
- External ports: USB 2.0 (2 ports), IEEE 1394 (Firewire), VGA, Parallel,
Serial, PS/2
- External headphone/speaker jack, line in jack, mic jack
Standard Accessories (always supplied with checkout laptop)
- a carrying case with shoulder strap
- an AC power adapter
- a network cable for wired connection to network jack
- a user information card
Optional Accessories (available on request with checkout laptop)
- modular 3.5" floppy diskette drive (in lieu of the modular CDRW-DVD
drive)
