Random Access — September 1997
After months of waiting, grumbling, and delay, the Internet terminals in Rizal Library are finally open to the Ateneo studentry. And now we discover what we suspected all along: that Internet access in the Ateneo is a dismal farce.
Of course, we had Internet access in the Faura Basic Computer Lab long before the library SunJava stations were set up. The computers there are 486-DX2's, with Windows 3.1, Netscape Gold, and Eudora — all running at excruciatingly slow speeds. Scarcely a day goes by in the lab that someone doesn't curse the inferiority of these outdated machines. This, plus ill-tempered lab assistants, plus selfish geeks who hide the Netscape icons, all make websurfing in Faura an intolerable experience.
Don't worry, thought I on one foray into the lab last omnth. Soon the library stations will be up, and we'll find web-heaven there.
But it was not to be. After trying out the new SunJava stations in Rizal Library on the first day, I was very, very disappointed. The new terminals are even slower than the ones in Faura, if that's possible. On heavy days, with several peoples at the stations, it takes upwards of two or three minutes to load as as simple a site as Yahoo. Even the Ateneo home page takes a considerable delay in loading.
Still, considering the limitations of the AdMU server, I suppose slow connection time is expected, maybe even forgivable. What I find truly frustrating is that many of the terminals are eternally stuck in browse mode, which means no information can be inputted: no entering of search terms into Yahoo or Yehey, no logging-in to register for web services like HotMail or GeoCities, no sending of e-mail.
And even if every terminal could support information input, the HotJava software can view only a very limited range of content types. The browser frequently fails to decipher graphics, showing only their big gray headers. Indeed, more often than not an entire page fails to load.
The SunJava stations do not even have disk drives. There is no way to save data or translate it into a transportable form. There isn't even a printer! What use is is acess to all that information if we have no way to properly retain it?
These limitations greatly rob the Internet of its primary selling point: interactivity. By keeping Atenean web surfers at the "look-all-you-like-but-don't-touch" level, the Admi has placed the Internet on a very high pedestal, as if to keep students from delving too deeply into it, while announcing at the same time, "Look at us; We have Internet!"
To cap it all off, barely a week after the library stations opened, I went in and found a sign there: ATENEO SERVER IS DOWN. NO INTERNET SERVICE. I have a feeling this will not be the last time we see that sign in the library.
This is not worth the P500 we paid at the beginning of the semester. If Ateneo Internet does not shape up anytime soon, and start delivering fast, thorough, and consistent interactive access, I will no be the only one clamoring for a refund at the end of the year.