The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group PC (President's Comments) George Skarbek gskarbek@melbpc.org.au |
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Survey Results
During the past month we ran an online survey to determine the preferences of the broad membership base in respect of the location of any new premises. That is, if we move from the current location in South Melbourne. There was also a survey gathering your views on a possible ADSL Internet service. As mentioned in an earlier report, we are examining the feasibility of providing such a service for members.
Office Location
The response has been very good with about 1600 replies. I will cover the main points here and there will be a more detailed summary available by the time the next PC Update goes to print.
The survey showed that a larger number of members would participate more in most activities if we moved to the Eastern or South Eastern suburbs. This presents us with some interesting challenges, including still being able to provide central facilities for those members who would prefer a city location.
Currently 65% of members do not visit Dorcas Street, and a further 15% visit only once or twice a year, usually to pay their subscriptions.
These who do visit, report that the main reasons are:
- Interest Groups 18%
- Training 8%
- Library 6%
- Interest Groups 78%,
- Training 34%,
- Library 31%
ADSL
About 800 of our 6,000 Internet members replied indicating that there is support for an ADSL service but there was no clear-cut preference. Responses from that 800 indicate that:
- 30% were interested in the lowest cost option: 256/64 Kb with 500 MB monthly data limit
- 25% would want 256/64 Kb plan with unlimited downloads
- Not surprisingly less than 1% would choose the highest speed 1.5 MB with unlimited downloads costing about $2,400 pa
- nearly 20% not did find a plan they liked or wanted.
The main problem we must solve before deciding to introduce this service is the help and support issue. Currently we don't have the expertise and we're investigating ways to obtain it.
The industry average is that 60% of users who receive the ADSL equipment need to phone support in order to get it to work. About half of the problems are fixed by a single phone call and in only about 5% of cases a technician needs to visit.
One way to reduce the initial support calls is to supply a modem /router with the user's ID and password preconfigured. This means we would know the hardware worked so one potential problem would have been removed. However, we still have a long way to go to solve the support problem.
Are You Thinking About History?
Melbourne PC User Group history, that is. Our group will be 20 years old at the end of this year and the committee has decided to print a special booklet to mark the occasion. As writing this is far too big a task for any one person, the only way it's going to happen is if enough members write sections dealing with their involvement. I have requested articles for this special booklet but in the last few months only four articles have been submitted. Without your input the project will not eventuate so please write about your experiences in any aspect of our group.
If you have any photos please send them in as well. The e-mail address is committee@melbpc.org.au.
August Monthly Meeting
The August meeting will be back in Parkville on 6 August at the Pharmacy College. Have you been to a monthly meeting yet? You don't know what you're missing.
Reprinted from the August 2003 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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