Re: Repository services and budget

[Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond <ocl@gih.com>]

On Jan 8,  7:55, Dave Crocker wrote:

> 	There is a very serious downsizing trend for administrative staff
> in organizations.  It's been underway for, perhaps, 10 years.  Given
> voicemail, email, and other computer-based applications, the specific
> functions for an administrative assistant are considerably reduced.  They
> become cost-effective when a group is up toward 10 people, I believe,
> helping with general office and coordination functions, travel
> arrangements, and other logistics issues.  These are not serious
> requirements for a one- or two-person operation.
> 
> 	It can be VERY easy to inflate the requirements for the repository.
> I'm suggesting that it be kept as lean as is feasible.

You mention a one or two-person operation. I hope that you're not
thinking of having a one or two-person operation take care of one
of the most important tasks in the operation of the Internet !

It's really time to get rid of that "dirt cheap" image of the Internet,
if we want it to survive another ten years or more. Every day, large
corporations are taking the stance that they are not ready to invest in
Internet operations because the network still looks like it's run using
a couple of baked beans cans connected by a piece of string. 
(Source: "FT (Financial Times) laments lack of business class Net", 
Network Week, V2.14, 11 Dec 1996)

Oh, so the business model of a repository with 20-30 people, and $200,000+
of equipment, using a state-of-the-art network/psu/environmental control
system doesn't make sense if you keep prices low? 
I figured that a long time ago.

-- 
Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond  |----------> Global Information Highway Limited
Phone: +44 (0)956 84 1113  | Always 60 seconds |  E-mail:    <ocl@gih.com>
Fax  : +44 (0)171 937 7666 | ahead of the past |  Web: http://www.gih.com/