At Dartmouth, technological progress is easily measured by examining the differences between computers owned by seniors and those owned by freshmen.
A look at the computers purchased by the Class of 1998 reveals a wide variety of powerful machines with large color monitors and huge capacities for memory and storage.
But those purchased three years ago by members of the Class of 1995 are smaller, slower and in many ways considered obsolete by today's standards.
This year Kiewit Computational Center recommended that freshmen purchase a Macintosh Quadra 605 with at least 8 megabytes of internal memory (RAM), a 160-megabyte internal hard disk and a 14-inch color monitor at a price of $1,432.
In the fall of 1991, when this year's seniors were freshmen, the recommended machine was a Macintosh Classic with 2 megabytes of internal memory (RAM), an internal 40-megabyte disk drive and a black and white monitor. The package cost $1,295.
With the recommended computer, the '98s have machines better suited for four years at Dartmouth than any previous class, said Randy Spydell, director of consulting for Computing Services.
Spydell said the dramatic improvement in the past three years is not unusual. "The pattern of technological improvement has been constant since the 1980s," he said.
But despite the changes, Spydell and others said even those with Mac Classics can still take advantage of all the College network has to offer.
At the same time, however, computing administrators said that with this increased technology has come a more computer-oriented group of students
"A lot of the questions we got from '98s over the summer would suggest that they are an increasingly literate class," said Marty Moor, the director of fiscal services for Computing Services.
"Not as many of them are intimidated by the technology explosion. They seem to embrace it and know much more about it," she said.
And while technology in the computer industry has steadily improved, prices have for the most part remained constant.
"Despite mild inflation over the past five years," Spydell said, "we've seen a tremendous increase in computer capability, while prices have actually decreased a bit."
While some '95s have stuck with their older models, others have opted to improve their systems.
Anitra Auster '95 purchased a Macintosh LC with 2 megabytes of RAM and a 40-megabyte hard disk before her freshman year, a slightly better package than the basic package.
"I had to upgrade my memory after the first couple of weeks ... and I still can't always have two applications open at the same time, even with the memory upgrade," Auster said. But she said she is happy with her computer and that for the most part it has met her needs.
Lou Spelios '95 also bought a better machine in 1991 than the basic package, a Macintosh II SI with a 12-inch color screen, a laserwriter printer, and the capacity to expand to 80 megabytes of hard drive space. Spelios said he feels his computer has always served his purposes and was actually "even better" than what he needed.
This year's freshmen seem satisfied with their computer packages. Jennifer Altbuch '98 bought the standard Quadra 605 package and said the computer has been everything she expected.
Jonathan Lloyd '98 bought a Macinotsh Performa 636 with CD-Rom, a more deluxe model than the standard package. "I feel very happy to see my computer in comparison with the computer of a '95, because my computer can do many things that the older computer can't."
While Spelios said he was "impressed" by the Quadras offered to the Class of '98, he said they "probably are more powerful than what anyone needs here."
And for some, the basic computer of three years ago is still enough to get by. Tim Hozier '95 said, "I love my Mac Classic. I don't have computer envy; my little Mac does everything I want it to do."
