It is a well known fact that technology is doubling its rate of development and expansion every 7 months. This means that what you buy today will be obsolete next year... or will it?
Many people get caught up in the hype from manufacturers and try to keep abreast of development and buy the 'latest and greatest' regardless of whether it will improve their operating procedures, reduce time in processing or add to the bottom line.
There is an old saying that says "many a fine tune is played on an old fiddle". That is also true in the technology world of computers. Many older machines are suitable to be used as terminals in a Terminal/Server environment where dedicated server software is being used. Older machines are suitable for use in slow environments such as card printing or collecting data via a serial port such as security systems and pabx.
LANs (Local Area Networks)
The location where you need the fastest machine available is your server. A dedicated server using Windows Server 2000 or 2003 software and running terminal services to your other pc's is the way to go where you have more than 4 networked pc's.
For smaller sites using networks then you MUST use gigabit switches or routers to link your pc's under what is called peer to peer networking. Each pc must have gigabit network cards and category 6 cabling, otherwise the speed of your network will degrade significantly.
Wireless networks
Wireless Networks still have a long way to go with security of data over the network. Interference, echoes, cross modulation or induced powerline hum may all cause 'packets' to be dropped or 'bit's within the packet to be changed requiring the resending of the entire packet. Wireless networks are ideal for providing Internet access for your guests via ADSL as the occasional dropped bit in a text file is easily corrected by the recipient. Changed bits in compressed data can change the entire data set and make it invalid. So while a LAN using wireless is good for guests it is not secure for your data network. For this reason we do not support the use of Fiesta over wireless networks and will refuse support where this has happened.
Backup Systems
There are many proprietary backup systems on the market. You have a choice of backing up to another network pc, to a removable hard drive, to a memory stick of large enough capacity, to a zip drive, to a CD, to a streaming tape, having mirrored drives or to a remote storage facility. You have to decide what you need to backup.
Backing up to another pc is a good safe option. This pc should can then brought on line in case of emergencies with the server or the machine acting as a server on peer to peer networks.
Backing up to a removable hard drive is good where you wish to take the data off site for security. The same applies to a Zip drive, streaming tape, CD or memory stick. Be careful with memory sticks and zip drives as they must be of large enough capacity to store the entire data set. Tapes are safe but slow.
Mirrored drives are NOT safe where your data has been corrupted as the mirrored drive will have exactly the same data as the standard drive. We do not recommend them as a backup device. However, mirrored drives are great where the prime drive falls, over as the mirrored drive will keep you going until the first drive is replaced.
Remote storage facilities are great for backup as they are completely removed from your local environment. However they will backup at the same speed as your upload speed on the internet. So unless you have high speed cable or ADSL both upload and download, forget it as it will be too slow.
Monitors
Flat screen monitors are the way to go. CRT displays are close enough to be finished except for high end applications requiring exact colour as used by professional photographers. LCD screens should have a minimum contrast ratio or 400:1, higher is better. The refresh rate should be at least 75 hertz and screen lag time of at least 6 milliseconds or better to eliminate flicker. Flicker is the prime cause of computer fatigue and some people are more susceptible than others. Size of the screen depends on the available space on your desktop. Bigger is not always better as large screens make your eyes move over a much larger area and can become tiring or cause eye muscle ache.
Printers
The best ones for the front desk are dedicated stand alone printers, not integrated systems. The front desk printer, if a laser type, should have a warm up period only at initial startup. You do not want guests queueing while the printer reheats itself. Speed should be at least 8 pages per minute. Inkjets are useful where they are equipped with individual colour cartridges as black is the most used colour. Again go for at least an 8 ppm machine. Small printers designed for the home market should not be used as they will slow you dramatically. Integrated laser printers with fax and copying facility are ok as long as you do not have to wait for preheating. Fiesta will print to whatever printers you have connected.