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List: publib
Subject: [Publib] Userful information compiled
From: "Sandie Knes" <gdhse () llcoop ! org>
Date: 2008-10-31 18:31:49
Message-ID: 000001c93b86$f0521f20$d0f65d60$ () org
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Following are comments I received about Userful (formerly Discover Stations)
a few weeks ago. Please let me know if you would like anything further.
FWIW, we decided not to purchase their equipment.
We have owned Userful computers for over three years now - and are getting
ready to replace our first units with newer Userful units. I would be glad
to visit with you about them, as we have been very happy with them overall.
I am not the least bit impressed with these systems. Coming from an IT
perspective, I like to have access to the computer, and I can lock down our
computers very effectively and cheaper. Any good IT person should be able
to. I think this company might do ok with small libraries that do not have
IT support, and perhaps it would work for you. But I saw no need to pay for
systems like that.
My two cents. And perhaps of note that it's been a couple years since I
talked with the company.
Our library considered it and then rejected mostly after talking to one
Library in Colorado who used it and had a myriad of problems, both with the
product and with the customer service. We also had some questions about
compatibility with our ILS.
A sort-of neighboring library was using them a few years ago so I went to a
demo. I thought it sounded intriguing. My tech guy didn't like the way the
system worked so we didn't go with them. FWIW, that library is no longer
using them but I don't know why.
We currently have had this product for about 3 months and are still not
sure we like it. Personally, I find the tech support to be nice, but
SLOWWWWW! I think we also had a relatively new employee handling our
system..The module that you have to log people on with, or add time,send
notes, etc...is a nice feature but continues on at molasses pace. People
will have to tell you two or three minutes before the session is up if they
need more time, and sometimes even that is not long enough. They said there
was going to be a patch for that soon...I really hope so, because I have
gotten a few irate patrons who have lost their data. It has the occasional
glitch where it shuts itself off, ARGGH! I would almost say hold off a
couple of months if you can and see if they can up their game, because as of
right now, if we hadn't already paid for it, I think I would be looking
elsewhere.
These views are my own.
I set these up for Garfield County Public Library District and they had good
and bad moments.
We have owned Userful computers for over three years now - and are getting
ready to replace our first units with newer Userful units. I would be glad
to visit with you about them, as we have been very happy with them overall.
Sandie Knes, Library Director
Loutit District Library
MAILING ADDRESS: TEMPORARY LOCATION:
407 Columbus Avenue 1051 S. Beacon Blvd.
Grand Haven MI 49417 Grand Haven MI 49417
Voice: 616-842-5560, extension 212
Fax: 616-847-0570
www.loutitlibrary.org
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<p class=MsoNormal>Following are comments I received about Userful (formerly
Discover Stations) a few weeks ago. Please let me know if you would like
anything further. FWIW, we decided not to purchase their equipment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>We have owned Userful computers for over three years now
- and are getting ready to replace our first units with newer Userful units. I
would be glad to visit with you about them, as we have been very happy with
them overall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext \
3.0pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I am not the least bit impressed with these systems.
Coming from an IT perspective, I like to have access to the computer, and I can
lock down our computers very effectively and cheaper. Any good IT person
should be able to. I think this company might do ok with small libraries that
do not have IT support, and perhaps it would work for you. But I saw no need
to pay for systems like that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>My two cents. And perhaps of note that it's been a
couple years since I talked with the company.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext \
3.0pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'>Our library considered it and then rejected mostly after talking to
one Library in Colorado who used it and had a myriad of problems, both with the
product and with the customer service. We also had some questions about
compatibility with our ILS. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext \
3.0pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Elephant","serif";color:blue'>A
sort-of neighboring library was using them a few years ago so I went to a demo.
I thought it sounded intriguing. My tech guy didn't like the way the system
worked so we didn't go with them. FWIW, that library is no longer using them
but I don't know why.</span><span style='font-family:"Times New \
Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext \
3.0pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>We currently have had this product for about 3 months
and are still not sure we like it. Personally, I find the tech support to be
nice, but SLOWWWWW! I think we also had a relatively new employee handling our
system..The module that you have to log people on with, or add time,send notes,
etc...is a nice feature but continues on at molasses pace. People will have to
tell you two or three minutes before the session is up if they need more time,
and sometimes even that is not long enough. They said there was going to be a
patch for that soon...I really hope so, because I have gotten a few irate patrons
who have lost their data. It has the occasional glitch where it shuts itself
off, ARGGH! I would almost say hold off a couple of months if you can and see
if they can up their game, because as of right now, if we hadn't already paid
for it, I think I would be looking elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>These views are my own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext \
3.0pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText>I set these up for Garfield County Public Library
District and they had good and bad moments. <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext \
3.0pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>We have owned Userful computers for over three years now
- and are getting ready to replace our first units with newer Userful units. I
would be glad to visit with you about them, as we have been very happy with
them overall.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sandie Knes, Library \
Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Loutit District \
Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>MAILING \
ADDRESS: \
TEMPORARY \
LOCATION:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>407 Columbus \
Avenue \
1051 S. Beacon Blvd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Grand Haven MI \
49417 \
Grand Haven MI 49417<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Voice: 616-842-5560, \
extension 212<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fax:
616-847-0570 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.loutitlibrary.org \
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span \
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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