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Before Winter break I requested information about vendors going to intern= et and abandoning cdroms. Since I had only two responses I am hoping that it was due to everyone getting a much needed winter break. I am posting the two responses, along with my original response (last). I would welcome any futher responses and will post a hi= t if there are more. Perhaps someone could also explain from the vendors point of view. I thoroughly agree that it can be a problem not to have CD-ROM "back-up" for online programs. I am about to write to Ebsco to request that they continue to send me the monthly CD-ROMs. Our Internet access is so slow that it would take three times as long just to show students how to use a program= , much less for them to access it and then try to research anything. Related to the subject raised by Deborah Stafford on whether or not vendor's should discontinue CD-ROM products in favor of on-line subscriptions is the question of whether or not we can get the CDs to function properly. I totally agree that it is best not to put all your eggs in one basket and to have both on-line resources and CDs, but two recent orders that left me very disappointed and frustrated make me also wary of CD products. Original post In the past I have subscribed to a CD-ROM focused on Social Studies. The program fit our needs, the teachers and students liked it. The program ru= ns on our network. Last week I found out that the program is no longer available on CD-ROM and can only be purchased as an on-line subscription.= I then went to another vendor thinking I would then purchase a different product only to find that one also is no longer available in CD-rom. For several reasons I much prefer the CD-ROM. Our Internet connection is= slow and getting slower as more applications are routed through it and we= b sites are adding more bells and whistles. Going with CD-ROM takes some of= the traffic off the Internet. I also wonder if we are doing students a favor by making all information come off NETSCAPE and Internet explorer. = I like giving my students a variety of interfaces so they learn to look at the screen (or book) and think about their search. Thirdly, with the CD-R= OM (or book) I have the resource on hand. If our network is down, I can run the older versions on stand aloes. If the Internet is down, the CD-ROMs still work on the network. If my budget gets cut or products increase in price beyond our means, I still have theCD-ROM to use until I can update.= I am hoping that others feel this way and that we can convince the vendor= s to continue offeringCD-ROM as a choice. In the case of my first subscription. I would sacrifice the immediate updates. Often I want the service not for the immediate updates but for the archives. If you agree (or disagree) please reply. I will compile a hit. Deborah J. Stafford Gen. H.H. Arnold High School Wiesbaden Germany now proudly on the web at http://www.wies-hs.odedodea.edu Deborah_Stafford@compuserve.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=