A while back, I asked for people's impressions of the Ariel ILL system.
Someone asked that I summarize responses for the list. So here goes ...
According to a December 1993 release, basic Ariel for Windows
PC/Communications Equipment includes:
25 MHz 80486 PC or better (minimum: 33 MHz 80386)
8 MB RAM recommended (minimum: 4 MB)
80 MB hard disk drive
One floppy disk drive
4 expansion slots
Windows 3.1
LAN adapter supported by Clarkston packet driver
Standard Ethernet transceiver cable
Ethernet transceiver
The last two are only required for Standard Ethernet (10BASE5) systems.
The system comes in one of two formats: print only and full. The latter
requires one of the following scanners -- HP ScanJet IIp, IIc or the
Fujitsu Scanner M3093, M3906 or M3097.
The cost for the full system, as of December 1993 is $789
(Windows)/$479 (DOS) for one user, $5000 (Windows)/$3000 (DOS) for 10
users, $12500 (Windows)/$10000 (DOS) for 50, $15000 (Windows)/$12500 (DOS)
for 100 and $30000 (Windows) for unlimited use.
The cost for the print only system (Windows only) is $479 for one user,
$3000 for 10 users, $10000 for 50 users and $12500 for 100 users.
Although there are currently few law schools who seem to be using the
system, it appears that Ariel is the up and coming thing. Everyone who
responded had positive things to say (although earlier versions of Ariel
did have some technical problems). The single biggest drawback, aside
from cost, seems to be the fact that both lending and borrowing libraries
need to be on the system. Because there are so few libraries currently
using Ariel, your circle of lending institutions is liable to be small.
If anyone is interested in more details, don't hesitate to contact me.
Additionally, Ariel was a the subject of a session at the '92 AALL meeting
in San Fran, so anyone who bought tapes of the session will also have
info that might be useful.
Scott A. Livingston
Lawyer-Librarian for Telephone 313.226.0160
Reference Services E-mail livingss@mlc.lib.mi.us
Detroit College of Law
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