District Administration - February 2010 - (Page 23)

TechSavers Guide A report about refurbished technology, sponsored by CDI Computers Advertisement VOlume 2 How a used computer is turned into a good-as-new computer There’s a difference between a refurbished computer that merely appears brand new and one that actually performs as if it just rolled off the manufacturing line. cdi, a refurbisher that serves many Us school districts, uses rigorous testing to ensure its products meet the higher standard. “We do more checks, both automated and by technician,” says chris bristow, cdi’s operations manager. “and we go deeper into the machine Technician Chirag Patel checks a computer at CDI’s to ensure every component is work- refurbishing facility. ing, as opposed to simply checking that the unit is operable.” ing is removed and dust is vacuumed up attention to detail makes the differ- from internal components. ence. is the monitor bright and clear? • Surface cleaning. Grime, sticker residoes the mouse track correctly? are due and other built-up gunk is removed there conflicts in a system’s components? from all external surfaces. at the start of cdi’s inspection cy• Custom imaging. The computer’s hard cle, each piece of equipment is given a drive is wiped clean and a new image is scanning tag so its repair history can be loaded onto the system. monitored. “anyone on the line has the • Operating system test. Basic functions ability to remove a machine if it has not are tested after the computer boots up. passed,” bristow says. cdi’s inspection cycle exceeds inhere’s a peek at the process: dustry standards, but the company runs • Power up. Technicians make sure the the whole process a second time to ensystem turns on properly. a diagnostic sure there are no glitches. Only then are test is run to detect any damage in the machines certified for sale. schools can system’s software. choose to have custom upgrades added • Visual inspection. Workers check for at this point, such as greater memory or cosmetic damage and loose or missing hard drive space. after those upgrades fittings. are installed and double-checked, the • Dust removal. The computer’s hous- units are ready to ship. ChiraG PaTel neVer knOWS what may come down the line in his job as a computer refurbisher. but he knows what to expect when work on the equipment—mostly top-of-the-line desktops and laptops from manufacturers such as Dell, hewlett-Packard and lenovo—is done. “We make sure it’s equally good as a new one,” says Patel, who has worked for two years as a technician for Torontobased cdi, a leading computer refurbisher. “That’s why we’re on the line. anything that’s wrong we’re going to catch.” Patel has earned an a+ certification from the computer Technology industry association. he’s one of about 20 technicians on a long conveyer belt that makes up cdi’s production line. Workers can look at as many as 75 computer systems in a day, but the average is about 30 to 35. cdi buys used machines in lots that average failure rates of about 30 percent. By the time Patel and his linemates put the PCs through two inspection cycles the Chirag Patel rate drops to as low as 1.5 percent. customers typically report failure rates of 3 to 4 percent, as some problems subsequently arise from shipping or storage. still, that’s a lower failure rate than most brand new equipment— and a point of pride for Patel. “Anything that’s wrong we’re going to catch” http://www.cdicomputers.com/advisory.aspx http://www.cdicomputers.com http://www.cdicomputers.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - February 2010

District Administration - February 2010
Contents
Advertiser Index
News Update
Facilities Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
New Books
Problem/ Solution
Pursuing Peace in Chicago
English Language Learner Charter Schools
Tweeting Your Own Horn
Tech Disruptions
Professional Opinion
Research Center
New Products
Product Focus

District Administration - February 2010