Connecting state and local government leaders
GCN's Reader Survey this year polled federal employees on subjects ranging from product preferences and user trends to broad topics such as seat management, LAN plans and strategies, reverse auctions and online procurement.
Hardware numbers
Date | Survey | Highlights |
Jan. 10 | Office suites | Corel WordPerfect Office 2000 nips Microsoft Office 2000 Premium as top-rated product; 80% in survey use versions of Microsoft Office. |
Feb. 7 | LAN plans and strategies | Ethernet is most common LAN technology; 67% in survey use Microsoft NT Server as network OS; 29% of LAN administrators have 100 to 499 users; 22% have 1,000 or more. |
March 6 | Server brands | Gateway Inc. servers were rated No. 1, followed by Hewlett-Packard Co. and Compaq Computer Corp. servers; users value product reliability and strong technical support. |
April 3 | LAN technologies and operating | LAN administrators expect to need much more bandwidth in next two years; 48% of NT users expect to upgrade to Windows 2000 Server in next 24 months. |
April 24 | Network management software | Hewlett-Packard OpenView Network Node Manager tops Novell ManageWise in product ratings; 50% use Microsoft Systems Management Server; users want security and server monitoring features most of all. |
May 15 | Enterprise e-mail software and groupware | Novell GroupWise edges Microsoft Exchange for top rating but Exchange holds 65% of users; security and user interface are most important features. |
June 5 | IT procurement | Feds like online, open-market and GSA schedule buys; PCs, printers, input devices and monitors top shopping lists; product reliability is key factor in purchases. |
June 19 | Online procurement | Feds enjoy convenience, speed of transactions and ease of use of online buying; GSA Advantage is favorite site; security is biggest concern; users chide poor site design, difficulty of navigation and slowness of some sites. |
July 10 | Seat management | Many feds are either unfamiliar with or wary of the seat management approach to PC outsourcing; 69% said it was unlikely that their agencies would ever adopt it; cost, contract complexity and loss of control of systems head feds' list of concerns. |
Aug. 7 | Reverse auctions | 70% in survey expressed lack of knowledge about how reverse auctions work; of those familiar with the practice, 60% saw at least some potential for it as a buying method for their agencies. |
Aug. 21 | Notebook computer brands | Dell Computer Corp. notebooks grab No. 1 spot, followed by notebooks from Gateway Inc., and Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.; buyers want durability, long battery life and quality displays. |
Sept. 11 | Notebook computer use and trends | Users expect to step up notebook use in next 36 months; 82% in survey use notebooks for travel; 18% as a replacement for their desktop PCs; 83% use notebooks for remote access; 99% retrieve e-mail; 69% access the Internet; 98% use a wired modem for remote access. |
Oct. 2 | Handheld computers | 68% of handheld users have devices from Palm Inc.; PalmV is most widely used; 16% use HP handhelds; all handheld users in survey wished for clearer, brighter screens, color displays and more memory; convenience is most important attribute. |
Oct. 23 | Handheld computer use and trends | 82% in survey synchronize data with their PCs; 24% use their handhelds to access data from remote locations; 92% of those retrieve e-mail and 92% use a wired modem to connect; Palm OS is preferred operating system. |