I had an interesting discussion with the IT head of our city's Health Authority (Gov't runs our health care here in Canada). I asked him how y2k preparations were coming and he said they plan to replace 5000 PCs (I think that was the number) in the next year. I also asked about embedded systems. He replied that they didn't expect many problems in that area and was I aware that there are a lot of fear mongering doom-sayers about the y2k issue? Certainly there are problems, but they are being adressed. He thinks that they'll be able to get all their new PCs on line in time, but holidays for the last quarter of 1999 and Jan of 2000 have been cancelled for his entire department. My assessment? Doomsayers, keep up the knowledge dissemination!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), October 03, 1998

Answers

Not to be a wet blanket, but two things come to mind: first, have 'they' checked mundane things like routers for example- many need to be replaced or software upgraded; second, a long-time acquaintance who handles hardware/software/networking procurement contracts for an extremely large state government agency has mentioned that one of the top four PC manufacturers informed him that the demand as of 01/01/1999 for new equipment will greatly exceed what manufacturers can put in the distribution pipeline- if the orders are not in now, they may not be filled in time.

-- ED CONDRON (ECOKC@HOME.COM), October 04, 1998.