Category Archives: Computers and technology

PaperCut

Papercut is horrendous. Clunky, slow, frustrating. Why can’t we choose a printer, how many copies and upload a document on the same page? Why does it take forever to submit? I know the size of the file makes a huge difference, but even reasonable ones often take a long time. So many students interact with this website. Investing time and money in a new, more streamlined, more reliable website would make a big difference to me and I don’t even print very often.

Anna Ready-Campbell

New acquisitions lists in MIDCAT

I miss the old way that MIDCAT organized the ‘new acquisitions’ lists by the month. The new format, with the covers of the various library acquisitions, looks nice but it’s not very useful for browsing. I think it would be very handy to be able to sort the list by acquisition type — e.g, book, DVD, music CD, score, map, etc.

Mike Sheridan

Gmail vs MS Exchange

Enough anecdotes have suggested that many students prefer gmail over MS exchange.

It might be time for an online vote to hear the voice of all people and solve the question once and for all: whether we should do the switch.

Too often we just suffer in silence, frown upon the clumsy interface, mumble and complain a bit, and then move on grudgingly. The problem, however, remains there.

This time, we need a definite answer and a real change. Let people’s preference be heard and realized!

From Student

GMAIL vs WEBMAIL & OUTLOOK

I was reading the comments about gmail and there appears to be a lot of support for switching. But I wonder if that isn’t because the comments are from students who mainly use webmail, which I think is not as easy or powerful as windows outlook. Please be sure to gather staff and faculty preferences on this issue since so much of our work happens over email.

From Brenda

WebMail or Gmail?

Do you think we should switch midd email accounts from Microsoft Outlook WebMail to Google Mail and Google Calendar?

  • Yes — everyone forwards their mail to Gmail anyway. Plus, the Wave is coming…
  • Yes!! Please let’s do so. Microsoft Outlook is so out of date.
  • Yes! (A faculty member)
  • Yes!!! Gmail is Awesome!
  • Definitely, everybody already does.
  • Yes, let’s use better technology!
  • Yes, please switch over ASAP.
  • Yes — so much easier and more compatible.
  • Absolutely! Gmail = more space + integrated system + plays well with browsers other than IE.
  • Yes — your email communication will last longer than your time in school . No space issues, let Google administer your email!
  • Yes, Gmail is far superior — way more storage.
  • Absolutely yes, Gmail is much easier to use because I can filter emails.
  • Yes, simplify email, save money, easy answer!
  • Yes, if Google doesn’t own all my stuff or invade my privacy.
  • I fear not having Gmail.
  • Wave is going to be so clutch, please, I want it!
  • Whatever you decide to do, I’ve been retrieving all Midd emails to my Gmail (using POP account settings) ever since I enrolled here…so frankly, I do not care…but it’s true that I like the expanded email attachment option (over 20MB) on MiddMail…
  • Recommendation: expand Outlook memory. It’s the only thing Gmail has on Microsoft Outlook.
  • Teach Microsoft R+D that they need to build better software. But I like MS Outlook’s lightweight feature and its simplicity.
  • Not until it has support to check account using iMap.
  • No, I can’t deal with Gmail.
  • No, I don’t want a commercial company crawling all over my email.
  • No, I like having separate accounts for school and play.
  • No, Google is too creepy.
  • No, seriously?

From suggestions poster