T. Kirschbaum
I question the rationality and feasibility of Mr. Slaymon`s tip in the Nov-ember 1997 issue (see "Strategically place voice/data outlets to accommodate equipment cords," page 72).
In my company, I relocate departments constantly, with little or no warning. I am currently relocating a department for the third time in three years. I do not have the time to punch a hole in the wall for a new voice/data outlet. In fact, many of my co-workers talk to me regularly about rearranging their desks in their offices, so additional outlets would look ridiculous and would be useless.
Slaymon`s arguments for indiscriminately placing outlets would result in higher costs, increase the hazards of tripping, and reveal unsightly cable draped along the floor. These results aren`t acceptable in my work environment. First, there can`t be much of a difference in price between a 7- and 10-foot Category 5 drop cable. Second, if you look closely at the two pictures in the Cabling Installer Tip, the desk is cornered between the two walls, so there is no hazard of tripping pre- sented in the picture. And third, draping a cord across the floor is typical. Additionally, most of the computer end-users at my company want to get back on the network immediately after a move. Furthermore, an experienced cable installer knows that the trick in most offices is to lift up slightly the baseboard tile and slip your cable--whether 10Base-2 or 10Base-T--up underneath. This removes the cable completely from sight.
My company`s telecommunications technician would agree with me that no one ever places his desk in close proximity to an information outlet, as the first picture illustrates. In this business, installers end up dealing with situations very different from the ideal. Remember, it`s not a perfect world out here.
T. Kirschbaum
Data Communications Technician
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco, CA
