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16,000 CWRU Computers Getting Gigabit Ethernet
lowlypeon writes "In a move that makes going back to college more tempting than usual, Case Western is installing fiber connections in 16,000 computers over the next year to give students a 1 gigabit per second Ethernet connection. Administrators aren't sure what anybody needs that kind of bandwidth for yet, but they are curious to see how it gets used."
Broadband is useless : it's only useful for applications that are illegal or at least against Terms of Service.
Want to download music ? Illegal.
Want to download flicks ? Illegal.
Want to run a server > Against ToS.
Want to download commercial software ? Illegal.
The only thing I can think of that's legal, is downloads of free software. About a few ISO's per year, for a very small percentage of the users (the geeks). No need for gigabit ethernet networks for that.
Great, instead of sleeping to a boring professor, I can surf the web and get streaming [ place your vice here ]. How about investing in something else more benefical to students.
More student activities/research/etc that will get them out of their dorm rooms, and out of the near antisocial virtual space, and doing something.
Technology is great, but it is not a savoir.
Accentuate the positive, don't waste your mod points on the negative.
Right, the Case Engineering school merged with the Western Reserve Women's University to form a single school, and the Western Reserve was a concession from Britain in the War of 1812...
News Flash: nobody cares. As an alumni, I can assure you that in the real world, the name of our mutual alma mater is just too damn big. So chill.
The point is that CWRU has been tossing students huge bandwidth for years now; it's a priority for them. They had 10Mbit fiber to the dorms in 1994, and then upped it to ATM to the dorms four years later, and now they're stepping up to 10 Gig. It's their ongoing social experiment of living on the bleeding edge.
Important note: Their mail server still runs with unencrypted passwords, and their universal cardreader system works by sending your SSN in the clear over CWRUnet. So despite their love for bandwidth, their ability to utilize it lags behind, you know, CMU, and... the other smart schools.
Just a hint.
Well look who got up on the wrong side of the bed today.. tsk tsk.
I'm sorry you're still bitter about whatever it was that made you angry. I don't know, but I'm sad just the same.
You're absolutely right on both "Important Notes", at least for the time being. The mail system is in the process of being switched out for a system that will allow for all the encryption you could want and more. Also, I believe the card reader system is in the planning stages for being replaced as well.
No need to be so bitter. CWRU isn't by far the best school in the world. I think anyone can admit that. However, being mean-spirited by saying, "their ability to utilize it lags behind, you know, CMU, and... the other smart schools," really isn't convincing and only helps to drive home the point that you're a bitter individual.
Have a better day... from another CWRU alum.