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From: tla@kaiser.UUCP (T Anderson)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: unused gifts
Message-ID: <645@kaiser.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Aug-87 14:20:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: kaiser.645
Posted: Wed Aug 19 14:20:26 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Aug-87 03:42:54 EDT
References: <407@ndsuvax.UUCP> <500@rocky.STANFORD.EDU>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Liberty Corner
Lines: 27

A related issues is why so few computer companies donate to any
colleges.  Instrument manufacturers such as Tektronix and HP have
for many years had significant programs for donating oscilloscopes
and other lab instruments to engineering and physics programs even
in fairly small schools (although I don't think they do this as much
today as 10-15 years ago).  They seemed to be convinced that the
engineer when employed will tend to specify instruments that he is
familiar with and trusts from his college experience, and I think
that to a large extent this did pay off.  

Both IBM and DEC have done this to a smaller extent with computers
but I think that many of the smaller computer companies have been
reluctant because of not being so sure they will be around long
enough for the investment to pay off; for the students to graduate,
get employed and buy from them.

Also the cost of a single donated item WAS a lot more for computers
(1-2k$ for an oscilloscope but 10s to 100s k$ for computers).  Today
with educationally interesting computers for only a few k$ one would
expect more donations to education.  Why not?


			     --	Terry L Anderson
				AT&T Bell Laboratories -- Liberty Corners
				UUCP:     ...!ihnp4!kaiser!tla
				TeleMail: Terry.Anderson
				(201) 580-4428