Director of Harvard Arts and Sciences Computing Services (HASCS) Franklin M. Steen admits that roaming Ethernet capability may not be the most sexy change Harvard could make, but says ultimately, Harvard's network will be at the top of its game.

"It's nerdy--people are very reluctant to bring laptops to class," he says. But HASCS has confidence that eventually everyone will be doing it.

"[Roaming Ethernet] is something that is just a minor convenience," Georgi says, "but it'll become more important as we get more things wired."

Low Cost, High Reward?

Despite infrequent use of the roaming capabilities so far, all undergraduates with an Ethernet connection--even those who can't tell roaming Ethernet from roaming buffalo--have reaped the benefits of the system change.

The change forced HASCS to redesign its net-connect utility, the program by which students register their computers and network connections when they get to campus. In the past, when students were assigned to specific data jacks, it took a day or two for their applications to be processed.

With the new roaming Ethernet program, students are on the network in an hour or two.