On October 8, 1996 Mark Vang said:

>>Slap me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the level of technicial
>knowledge regarding digital imaging in the Museum-l list members is way up
>there!  I couldn't help but add my own 2 cents, though.  First, Margaret, you
>can still buy a 5 1/4" floppy drive... though I wouldn't figure that that
>would last for 5 more years.  So run out now and get one!  Personally, I never
>keep anything on a diskette anyway all of my stuff is on my HD and when it's
>time for the next bigger better HD it all gets copied over.  As for the actual
>topic of image file size...

Apparently you missed the point of my post about the dangers of old software
(and equipment).  Its wonderful that some of the people on this list have a
high level of techincal knowledge in the specialized area of digital
imaging, and are willing to share it with anyone who asks.  That is one of
the purposes of this list.

But consider, most museums in this country do not have large budgets.  What
money they do have is frequently devoted to such trivial matters as keeping
the doors open and the restrooms fully stocked.  Many, *gasp* don't even
have computers! If at some point in the past a windfall allowed them to
purchase one or more computers they are probably working with technology
that is less than cutting edge.

Luckily, these poor unfortunates are not necessarily cut off from the
information age thanks to the proliferation of friends and relatives with
personal computers hooked onto the internet.  But chances are they don't
have alot of computer sophistication (just because you can point and click
to get e-mail does't mean you know the hardware parameters of the machine
you're using or have a clue what software interface is all about).  It is
especially important that these people (and I suspect a lot of people in
larger institutions) be aware of some of the dangers involved with accepting
other people's cast off computers, of relying on old technology, and some of
the traps of new technology.

I freely admit that I am not a computer expert.  At my museum I am the
computer guru more by default than by plan.  However, I am willing to admit
my ignorance, which is better than most software dealers.  So if anyone out
there in the bitty (no pun intended) museum world needs someone to answer
basic questions, direct them to more knowledgeable people, or commiserate
with their computer woes, call me.

Margaret Lyman
Curator of Collections
Silver City Museum
SCMuseum@Zianet
505-538-5921

P.S. Mark, if you really have no need for diskettes, congratulations, you
either have the luxury of a printer hooked up to your own computer, or an
office with enough computers to form a network and an employee to keep it up
and running.  My museum runs a sneaker network.  Remember, whether you use
disks or tape, always backup your files.