Digital Government
Stage set for first ODIN pact
NASA is set to award in the next two weeks the biggest portion of its groundbreaking desktop PC outsourcing contract, a project vendors say will be a crucial step in determining whether agencies consider desktop outsourcing in the federal market. The Outsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA (ODIN) i
Digital Government
Smith Corona PCs target government buyers
Tested by Joshua Dean and Ross Armstrong Government users now can buy PCs and notebooks from the company whose name is famous for those early word processing tools: typewriters. Smith Corona Corp., which even manufactured rifles during World War II, is marketing computers specifically to the federa
Digital Government
Government needs EC game plan
Like the Washington Redskins' first win of the season, the government's search for a singlefacetoindustry electronic commerce solution is proving to be elusive. But it is not for a lack of options. The Defense Department has announced it will test a new EC system designed to tie together a multi
Digital Government
Document management moves to the Web
In the past few years, the World Wide Web has become a standard means of outreach for federal agencies, a multimedia bulletin board for items ranging from public service announcements to tax forms. Now, however, agencies are looking for the Web to do more than simply post documents for public consu
Digital Government
IBM upgrades NWS supercomputer
In a move that will significantly improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, the National Weather Service awarded IBM Corp. a $35.6 million contract to supply the agency with a faster supercomputer. IBM will lease the agency its massively parallel RS/6000 SP supercomputer, replacing the current Cra
Digital Government
IBM debuts smart card-based notebook security
IBM Corp. this week plans to announce a smart card security system that is designed to prevent unauthorized access to data stored on a notebook's hard drive even when the computer is stolen. The Smart Card Security Kit comes with a smart card and smart card reader/writer, along with security softwa
Digital Government
Network Associates ramps up after buying spree
Network Associates Inc., the world's largest independent information security company, has seen its federal government business grow faster than the company as a whole, with the company's chief executive officer setting an even loftier goal for future growth in the federal arena. Fueled by a recent
Digital Government
EDS reorganizes government group, cuts top-level jobs
Electronic Data Systems Corp. earlier this month revamped its Government Services Group and eliminated about 10 senior management positions as part of a restructuring that reflects changes in the way federal, state and local governments procure information technology services. As part of the restru
Digital Government
Feds, industry find GWACs to their liking
Earlier this month, I chaired two breakout sessions with Bob Dornan, senior vice president of Federal Sources Inc., at the Industry Advisory Council's annual government/ industry meeting in Richmond, Va. The sessions, called 'GWACs: Reform or Regression,' used interactive technology that allowed al
Digital Government
iMac lives up to the buzz
Created as a lowcost PC alternative for students and consumers, Apple Computer Inc.'s innovative iMac platform is generating excitement in the federal government market. After a handson evaluation of the iMac, we understand the hoopla: We found the iMac to be fast, welldesigned and affordable. T
Digital Government
Roster
The National Science Foundation has named University of Pennsylvania computer science and engineering professor Ruzena Bajcsy assistant director for NSF's Information Science and Engineering Directorate. Bajcsy will assume her new position in December; she is replacing Juris Hartmanis, whose term e
Digital Government
Army readies PC pacts
The Army continues to push for the latest PC technology at the best prices, with slightly more than $800 million worth of contracts for advanced PCbased servers, desktops and notebook computers up for grabs between now and January. The Army CommunicationsElectronics Command's (Cecom) Systems Mana
Digital Government
Letters to the Editor
Decrypting PKI Christopher Yukins and Timothy Carnahan should read the primer on publickey infrastructure a little closer. Their article 'DOD PKI plan raises liability, relevance issues' [FCW, Oct. 5] contains a glaring error on how a 'dual key' system works. They should have written that the send
Digital Government
DOD tells Hill IT central to readiness
Two weeks after senior military commanders warned Congress that defense readiness is spiraling downward, a top Pentagon acquisition official this month implored lawmakers to fund modernization efforts or risk losing its edge on the battlefield. Jacques Gansler, undersecretary of Defense for acquisi
Digital Government
IT services firm acquires Vanstar
Vanstar Corp., a newcomer to the federal market last year through its acquisition of Sysorex Information Systems Inc., does not plan to change its position in the federal market after its merger with Inacom Corp., officials with both firms said. Inacom and Vanstar earlier this month announced plans
Digital Government
Journey Around the Value Chain
In this issue, we bring you stories that show how your peers in state and local government agencies throughout the country are striving to deliver value from their information technology investments
Digital Government
Windows NT 5.0
Microsoft Corp. recently shipped Beta 2 of Windows NT 5.0, giving government users a first look at what to expect when the shipping version is released, probably next summer.
Digital Government
Intel's New 300 Mhz PII:
Due to tight agency budgets, most state and local workers in the market for a notebook computer are not looking for a second system but a workhorse replacement for their desktop PC.
Digital Government
An Assessment, From the Vest
A mentor once taught me early in my career to note on each New Year's Day five goals for the next 12 months and to keep them in my vest pocket always.
Digital Government