Computer Center offers free access to Internet and e-mail

Residents and Winter Texans take advantage of free e-mail and Internet at the Computer Center, operated by the Port Aransas Computer Club and volunteers. The Port Aransas Computer Center only gets better as time marches forward.

"We've added a couple of new computers, and we're adding a backup hard drive for the file server," said John Somers, president of the Port Aransas Computer Club.

The club is responsible for stewardship of the computer center, which is supported by donations from the community and is staffed by volunteers.

The center nowadays counts 29 computers and several laptop computer connections.

The computer center is located in an old city-county jail building, at 430 N. Alister St.

During this past summer, several area businesses and the Weir Foundation replaced 15 older computers with Dell machines that have upgraded memory and faster processors.

The center also has stocked digital card readers for people who want to bring their digital cameras in to record photos on CD or to e-mail them.

Laptop connections are available for laptop owners to use the center's Internet service and for printing documents.

Volunteers replaced old furniture with new computer tables that are set up for a comfortable height. And many of the center's chairs have been replaced with more comfortable ones, allowing expansion of the laptop user space and more than doubling the number of laptop users the center can accommodate.

Volunteers also have worked without fanfare to upgrade software to upgrade the center's computer capability.

New server equipment from Cisco was installed to improve wireless reception and the wifi network is available around the clock. The center also has two scanners, a CD and DVD writer available, in addition to a networked Dell laser printer to handle all users' printing needs.

The volunteers at the center have offered classes on Windows XP, digital photography and use of the Internet.

A recycling program for printer ink cartridges, laser cartridges and cell phones helps to raise cash for the computer center's operating expenses.

The computer center's hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Hours may vary depending on availability of volunteers.

The center always needs volunteers, and they don't have to be computer gurus to help. Anyone who wants to volunteer should call 749-4011.

Volunteers also have personal computer accounts that allow them to download programs and do other things that regular patrons cannot do.