SEC:INTERNET vs. full-service(?)

[East Haven Teacher Account <EHAVENT@BIOMED.MED.YALE.EDU>]

Hello to all...If you can spare the time, I would appreciate some input.

I am in the process of submitting requests for purchases for a new, "state
of the art" school, current population 1,100, due to open in Sept. 97.  The
 LMC will be the "heart" of the school, with "technology on display
 everywhere", 6 full computer labs, computers in every classroom, etc
...at least that was the plan, but as crunch time comes, as is so often the case,
funds are dwindling fast...

So...in an LMC which should seat 250 and which is half the size of a football
field, I've asked for 40 fully functioning computeres to access the network
which will contain SIRS (3 products), Newsbank full text, ProQuest
Magazine Express (I'm asking for it anyway), the card cat (requesting
Winnebago), and the INTERNET.  I had also wanted at least some of
these computers to be multi-media, so that students could create in
HyperStudio and PowerPoint.  I had hoped that students could access
software which is incorporated into subject areas from the LMC, so that
when the particular lab is in use, students might come to the LMC to
complete these types of assignments.

I was told on Friday that I may get 20 computers.  I was encouraged to
consider a product which has been euphemistically called "the black box",
which has only INTERNET capabilities and limited wordprocessing, I'm
assuming one can print from it.  No network capabilities, no access to the
card cat, nor to periodical databases.  These go for about $500 each. If I
requested only 15 full computers, then I could possibly get another 15 of
these INTERNET only machines.

Personally I'm positive that this is NOT what I want and ...I'd like to
 be open-minded.  Maybe I'm over-reacting to the frequently heard premise
that the INTENET is the "be-all and end-all" of the students' information
needs?  "Anything you could possibly want is on the INTERNET!"  Despite
my best efforts...

Your input, insights, suggestions and comments would be  much appreciated.

Regards,

Julie Hulten, LMS
East Haven High School
200 Tyler Street
East Haven, CT 06512

EHAVENT@BIOMED.med.yale.edu