The Dell GX 100 Series!The Dell GX 100 Series!

When Dell introduced the When Dell introduced the GX 100 series (which GX 100 series (which includes the GX 110) in includes the GX 110) in 1999, they were considered 1999, they were considered state-of-the-art performance state-of-the-art performance machines.machines.

Dell offered the following Dell offered the following selling points for the machines:selling points for the machines:

““Dependable Managed PCs. The Smart Dependable Managed PCs. The Smart Choice for Demanding Networks (with)Choice for Demanding Networks (with)

• Reliability Reliability

• Configuration Stability Configuration Stability

• Serviceability Serviceability

• Manageability” Manageability”

http://web.archive.org/web/20000302062417/www.dell.com/us/en/k12/products/series_optix_desktops.htmhttp://web.archive.org/web/20000302062417/www.dell.com/us/en/k12/products/series_optix_desktops.htm

CNNCNN said this about the GX said this about the GX 100:100: “ “Make no mistake about it. Users Make no mistake about it. Users

today demand powerful PCs that today demand powerful PCs that come equipped with state-of-the-art come equipped with state-of-the-art features. They also demand all of features. They also demand all of that functionality and capability at an that functionality and capability at an affordable price. With prices starting affordable price. With prices starting at $829 and all of the latest at $829 and all of the latest hardware installed, Dell Computer hardware installed, Dell Computer Corp.'s new Optiplex GX100 is just Corp.'s new Optiplex GX100 is just one of those machines” (McNair). one of those machines” (McNair).

• PC WorldPC World said of the GX 110: said of the GX 110: “This powerful managed PC is sure to “This powerful managed PC is sure to be a front-runner on any be a front-runner on any corporation's approved list.”corporation's approved list.”http://www.pcworld.com/article/14453/dell_optiplex_gx110.htmlhttp://www.pcworld.com/article/14453/dell_optiplex_gx110.html

• More importantly, More importantly, John HuberJohn Huber said said, , “When we got those white “When we got those white computers, I thought they were computers, I thought they were great. They were so fast compared to great. They were so fast compared to my home computer.”my home computer.”

• To be fair, at one time those To be fair, at one time those statements probably were true. That statements probably were true. That was a long time ago!was a long time ago!

• Computer years move faster than Computer years move faster than dog years. dog years.

• In recent years we faced a new In recent years we faced a new reality when it came to our beloved reality when it came to our beloved GX 100s and 110s. GX 100s and 110s.

• They were slowThey were slow• They were overburdenedThey were overburdened• They crashed frequentlyThey crashed frequently• They didn’t run modern software and They didn’t run modern software and

applicationsapplications• They were uglyThey were ugly

Most of us would rather do Most of us would rather do ThisThis with these computers! with these computers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfq8KtUHyGg

I often wished I could sell mine on eBay. I could make enough make enough money to buy a pizza or a new CD (which would have been unplayable on my old GX 110 since the disc drive hadn’t worked in years).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-GX110-Desktop-PC_W0QQitemZ280370459136QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDesktop_PCs?http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-GX110-Desktop-PC_W0QQitemZ280370459136QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDesktop_PCs?

hash=item414761b200&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1234%7hash=item414761b200&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1234%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

•Will new computers solve all of Will new computers solve all of our problems?our problems?

•Have slow, overburdened, ugly Have slow, overburdened, ugly computers that frequently crash computers that frequently crash been crutches that we’ve used to been crutches that we’ve used to justify our non-use of modern justify our non-use of modern technology?technology?

• We’ve been fortunate enough to get We’ve been fortunate enough to get new computers. They’ve got fast new computers. They’ve got fast processors, large hard drives and flat processors, large hard drives and flat screen monitors. screen monitors.

• If we had a crutch to lean on, it’s gone!If we had a crutch to lean on, it’s gone!

• While use of technology can’t take the While use of technology can’t take the place of quality instruction, we also place of quality instruction, we also can’t view use of technology as a can’t view use of technology as a hindrance to getting through the hindrance to getting through the curriculum. curriculum.

• The time is now to learn the use of new The time is now to learn the use of new technology and ideas to enhance what technology and ideas to enhance what we teach. We can do it together!we teach. We can do it together!