Workplace Hardware and
Running head: WORKPLACE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
Workplace Hardware and Software
Holly A. Sarnowski
University of Phoenix
Workplace Hardware and Software
The hardware and software of a workplace is important to the support of personal, workgroup, and enterprise computing. While each company is different, hardware and software will always be used. One of the 15 largest law firms in the world, Reed Smith LLP, must support nearly 1500 lawyers located in 23 cities worldwide (Reed Smith, 2009). Not only must they support lawyers, but also the hardware and software must also support the thousands of employees they have. Each office of Reed Smith LLP uses the same hardware and software worldwide.
Reed Smith LLP uses a standard set of hardware and software for each employee based on his or her position. Every employee uses a Dell workstation and monitor. These pieces of hardware allow the employee to connect to Reed Smith LLP’s network and function as a corporation. The workstations use the Windows operating system, Windows XP. Windows XP, a Microsoft product, released its first edition in 2001 (Microsoft, 2009). While this operating system is no longer being sold, Reed Smith LLP decided to hold off on upgrading until the release of Windows 7. Due to the compatibility issues Windows Vista, the operating system released after Windows XP, had, Reed Smith LLP chose not to upgrade. Reed Smith LLP primarily uses Microsoft products. Their primary internet browser is also a Microsoft product, Internet Explorer.
