MEMO TO: Rich Rotunno, Assistant Director
FROM: The Computing Advisory Committee
SUBJECT: Concerns about the CiNA project and its
relationship to the MMM desktop upgrade plan

The Computing Advisory Committee met on April 25, 2000. Part of that
meeting was devoted to a discussion of how the latest developments with
the CiNA project might impact the MMM desktop computing plan for the
systematic upgrade of older machines. The CAC agrees that the CiNA
computers are suitable alternates to any new desktop systems that may
be purchased as part of the approved desktop computing plan. However,
the CAC asks that due consideration be given to separating the purchase
of the classroom machines from those which are currently on individual
desktops.

We are concerned that if the purchase of the classroom and desktop machines
is bundled together, then this may jeopardize the long-term goals of the
MMM desktop computing plan and the budget proposed for this plan. The
CAC never planned for anything more than a systematic upgrade to desktop
machines, including those CiNA machines that are now on desktops. The plan
called for replacing those machines in the next fiscal year, but we did not
plan for purchasing the classroom machines nor replacing them.

The CAC further understands that any CiNA-related desktop machines that are
purchased as replacements for existing desktop machines will then be put at
the bottom of the queue as far as any future replacement. The age of these
machines would be set to the date of purchase by MMM rather than the date
(about 18 months ago) of entry into the MMM desktop computing environment.
This would ensure that these machines do not come up in the next cycle
of the long term desktop upgrade plan some 18 months or so earlier than
anticipated.

Respectfully,
The Computing Advisory Committee
Jay Miller, Chair