Date sent:        Sat, 27 Apr 1996 12:49:18 -0400

Purpose of allocationOverview:To quote from our 1996 Budget application:>There are two old
computers (Macintosh IIsiÕs) that no longer serve the paper in >any capacity except as
internet browsers and simple word processors. These two >machines are more than five years
old. The newspaper needs to replace them with >an additional graphics workstation in order
for more than one person to work at >a time. The paper can hardly be productive, and
certainly not collaborative with >only one useful computer. Our proposal asks for a new
7200/90, which is not very >powerful, but inexpensive. We also are proposing for additional
RAM and storage >space, which is highly necessary for graphics programs such as QuarkXpress,
>Photoshop, and Illustrator. (As an illustration of system requirements, >Photoshop needs 15
Megs of RAM to run efficiently, Quark needs 5 Megs, and the >System Software runs at 8 Megs
of RAM. One usually needs to run both programs at >the same time.)To end this problem, The
Student Union is requesting a special allocation to purchase a new computer workstation. We
are looking at the Apple Power Macintosh 7500/100, instead of the 7200/90. The 7200 looks
much cheaper, but actually is not (see cost structure comparison chart below).Technical
AspectsThis allocation for a new 7500 should be considered a wise investment in the future
of The Student Union. It will go a long way, as what we plan to purchase is a smart choice.
It is something that is easily upgradable by means of a replaceable CPU chip, has all the
necessary power and capacity for a publishing operation, and will undoubtedly be supported
well into the next century. The 7200 is very likely to be a bad investment with little
future or expandability. Finally, the 7200 is considered slow and bug-ridden, with many
hidden ÒextrasÓ needed to make it run smoothly, such as additional Video RAM to support the
built-in 64-bit data path and to support larger 17Ó monitors, and so on.RationaleAn
organization like The Student Union is quite dependent on computers to be productive.
Without this allocation, members of the Union will be forced again to do bits and pieces in
public clusters, which donÕt even support the programs the Union uses on a daily basis.
Inevitably, it will fall upon the one person on the single useful Mac in the office to
layout and produce the paper! This is of the current status of things, where I am taking a
unduly large burden to produce the paper on the current computer. The Union prides itself on
being a collective, and it cannot be one unless all members have a chance to look at all
aspects of the paper, including layout and design. As I am a senior, it is vital that I
transfer skills I have learned over the years now, to those who will produce the paper in
the coming years.The one computer (slowly but surely becoming obsolescent) is just not doing
the job. The Union needs this allocation to complete a return to normalcy, and to be able to
produce at the rate it used to. The paper used to come out every two weeks, and was a source
of excitement as it became available around campus. Even despite the great forward strides
the paper has made this year, we are not close to completely restoring the paper to its
former self. Some people on campus are hardly aware of the paperÕs existence, because we
cannot (financially and resource wise) produce a paper every two weeks. The Union needs more
resources so more people can be involved. Finally, as an added benefit, a nice computer also
maintains and attracts new interest in the paper.Background Info and/or HistoryThe Union was
founded 11 years ago by a group of CMU students interested in a slightly more aggressive
approach to journalism and news. It was founded to be distinct from any other campus paper,
including the Tartan. Today, it is one of two alternative voices. (Any respectable
university should have at least 4 or more student publications, as an aside.) It has gained
a reputation for being slightly iconoclastic, alternative, and open to all. It was also
founded on the basis that any one involved is part of the collective, an egalitarian system
where members have equal input and say. It has generally served the paper well.However, over
the last two years, the Union has faced a crisis in identity, and has had a failure to
produce. Reasons for this are: loss of contract with the UnionÕs printer, Typecraft Press,
experimentation with direction of the paper (failure), general apathy and neglect, and lack
of computing resources. I and others have taken responsibility to recoup our losses, and the
Union is functional again. Over the summer of 1995, a contract was secured with Gazette
Publications in Indiana, PA, the office was gutted and organized, and a new computer system
was brought in. The ensuing semester saw three new issues, and new people on board. None of
the students currently involved has been on last yearÕs Student Union. Everyone involved is
new. (I myself was involved 4 years ago, but only as a part-time writer. I came back this
year per the request of a graduate student, Lenny Young.)This year I act as the UnionÕs
Business Manager, and handle all University related business for the Union. I am also the
Technical Manager, helping people with the software programs, and am ultimately responsible
for all the hardware operations. (I do the same for some Pittsburgh businesses, for an
hourly consulting fee.) Brandy Humphrey gives a lot of her time as a editor, and also is
proficient in the layout and design software programs. Elizabeth Zambelli is a recent member
who is editing as well. We have lots of people in and out of the office these days, and I
believe the campus perception of the Union is on the way up. We plan to put our a few more
issues out and are we are looking ambivalently to our move to our cramped office in the new
Student Center.The Student Union has not had a major capital expenditure in six years. In
1990, Senate granted an emergency allocation when The UnionÕs Mac IIcx and Mac SE was
stolen. We have been working with two Mac IIsiÕs until summer of 1995, when left over budget
money was used to purchase a 7100/80. (At the time, a stunningly cheap $1,510.00.) Amount of
allocationThe Student Union is requesting a budget amendent in the amount of $4368.00 to
purchase a new computer workstation, a Power Macintosh 7500. This will be expensed from line
item 8916, Capital Equipment in the 1996-1997 fiscal year.Breakdown of Items
PurchasedSummary:The following table shows what is needed for the UnionÕs new setup. There
are two proposals, one for the 7500, one for the 7200. We did this comparison to illustrate
that the 7200 is not a very good value. In the long-run, it would be more expensive to
operate, and will have a substantially lower resale value. Apple is currently standardizing
on 604 PPC processors, making 601 obsolete. Cost Structure	in dollars(1) Power Macintosh
7500/100 (16 RAM, 1000 HD, 4x CD)	1985(1) AppleVision 1710 Monitor	898(1) AppleDesign
Keyboard	75(2) 16 Meg DIMM	468(1) 256K Level 2 Cache	180(1) 1 Gig Hard Drive	300    
wristrest, mousepad, security kit	60TOTAL ALLOCATION	4368		Price Structure B: 7200/90	in
dollars(1) Power Macintosh 7200/90 (8 RAM, 500 HD, 4x CD)	1105Apple Rebate Period OVER	0(1)
AppleVision 1710 Monitor	898(1) AppleDesign Keyboard	75(2) 16 Meg DIMM	870(1) 256K Level 2
Cache	180(1) 1 Meg VRAM DIMM	270(1) 2 Gig Hard Drive	550     wristrest, mousepad, security
kit	60TOTAL ALLOCATION	4008	Price Differential between A and B	 $ 360.00 Thank you for your
time and participation!
