Digital Library Center - University of Florida Smathers Libraries

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Digital Library Center
Smathers Libraries
University of Florida
P.O Box 117003
Gainesville, FL32611-7007 USA

P: 352.273.2900
F: 352.846.3702
DLC@uflib.ufl.edu

Workstation Specifications

The following lists equipment used by the Digital Library Center at the University of Florida Libraries. This list should not be taken as an endorsement of any manufacturer's product. Those using this list as a guide for their own purchases should be cautioned that equipment suited to the Center's specific needs, source documents, or fitness-for-purpose determinations may not be suited to another institution's needs, the source documents they intend to image, or meet other fitness-for-purpose requirements.

Archiving
Configuration: DVD+/-RW internal drive, double layer
Rationale: We archive our TIFFs locally on DVD-ROM, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. We need both plus/minus and read/write features for compatibility with different readers.
Memory
Configuration: >= 2GB
Rationale: Due to the fact that we handle processor-intensive image processing and memory-intensive batch processing both involving dozens of large TIFFs or thousands of small JPEGs open simultaneously, we require a larger than standard configuration of memory: a minimum of two gigabytes.
PC Format
Configuration: ATX
Rationale: The small form factor that the Libraries are currently purchasing presents problems with previously purchased hardware that, although still usable, will not fit in these small cases. This creates a need to order new external equipment such as DVD burners. We need the ATX form factor so we can use existing hardware from older machines such as graphics cards for dual-monitor support, PCI firewire cards, and DVD burners. Staying with the ATX format has the additional advantage of the PCI bus speed as opposed to a USB2 connection.
Video Card
Configuration: The video card needs dual-monitor output capability (VGA & DVI) regardless of the number of monitors ordered.
Rationale: Image production, image quality-control and OCR output quality control all require a greater amount of screen space than normal. Boosting the screen resolution does not work as a solution as attention to detail is of great importance.
Monitors
Configuration: Either one 17" CRT for each scanning workstation or two 17" CRT's for each camera or quality-control workstation.
Rationale: Unless specifically requested, LCD's are still unacceptable, but well-chosen, quality 17" CRT's are adequate. For camera and quality-control workstations, dual 17" CRT's are both more efficient in terms of real estate usage, more versatile in general, and a better value than a single 19" CRT.