Letters: IT and Change

Everything in IT is subject to change, time and the availability of knowledgeable personnel. It's a given that every IT manager wants to support his or her company with the latest technology. The real challenge is knowing when the latest technology is right for your enterprise.

Many of our corporate leaders began their careers when technology was little more than the click-clack of a telex machine. Momentous changes have since given rise to the Information Age, a revolutionary period we've come to take for granted.

Beginning in the early 1970s, when I first entered IT, companies have found the structuring and overall use of information to be their most valuable tool. One of the most influential architects of today's IT infrastructure was futurist Alvin Toffler. In Powershift, Toffler predicted many of today's corporate practices, discussing ways in which companies might collect customer information to market their products and services more effectively.

IT departments are expected to carry the weight of a company's information, which in turn becomes the structure by which all decisions can be made. When the bottom line is at risk, it is usually IT that is asked to redouble its efforts.

Network Computing strives to address the evolving trends every IT manager needs to know. NWC's continuing ability to share its wealth of information with its readers is a tribute to its staff.Craig Schwab
Senior IT Manager
Lawrence Metal Products
[email protected]

Editor's reply: Thanks for the compliment. Now go back and fill out our survey.

Affordable StorageThank you, Don MacVittie, for your recent evaluation of storage systems ("Storage: DAS Gets the Boot ).

Before I knew the basics, all my storage options seemed too expensive. Now that you've clarified the subject for me, I believe I'll find it much easier to set up an affordable backup system for my workstation data.

Emanuel Aras de Souza
IT Manager

Company name withheld by request
[email protected]

CorrectionsIn "Nice-Priced Switches" (May 12), we mistakenly provided street, as opposed to list, prices for the Adtran and Netgear switches tested. Adtran's NetVanta 1224ST lists for $895; Netgear's FS526T and FSM726S list for $280 and $575, respectively.

Because Adtran's pricing exceeds our $750 cutoff, we've disqualified the NetVanta switch from consideration in this review.

In keeping with the price changes, we've adjusted our numerical pricing grades for the Hewlett-Packard ProCurve 2626, the Netgear FSM 726S, the Allied Telesyn AT-8524M and the SMC TigerSwitch SMC6724AL2.

And contrary to what we reported earlier, SMC Networks' TigerSwitch SMC6724AL2 does come with a lifetime warranty--to qualify, you must send in product registration information within 90 days.

Online, both the report card and the features chart have been revised accordingly.

Tell Us How You Really Feel

Send e-mail to [email protected], fax to (516) 562-7293 or mail letters to Network Computing, 600 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030. Include your name, title, company name, e-mail address and phone number. All correspondence becomes the property of Network Computing.