“The purchase of $1,000 MacBook laptops for first- and second-graders doesn’t add up for David Pearl, a member of the Hooksett Budget Committee and a technology volunteer at Underhill Elementary School,” Lauren Sausser reports for The Union Leader. “‘The issue that I have right now is they purchased 10 MacBooks to be used by first- and second-graders,’ Pearl said, noting that PC laptops can be had for as little as $400. ‘I feel like (the computers) are being bought without any plan. I would feel more comfortable spending the money if there was some sort of plan.’”
MacDailyNews Take: Actually, the real issue is that a “technology volunteer” cannot grasp the rather simple concepts of comparing prices of similarly spec’ed machines along with Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Sausser continues, “Bailey Rigg, technology director for the school district, insists a plan is in place. The purchase of the 10 laptops in August for Underhill Elementary was just a small part of the grand scheme, Rigg said.”
“The MacBooks were included in a $60,000-dollar Macintosh order that included 40 iMacs, the desktop equivalent of the MacBook, and 20 additional laptops spread throughout Hooksett’s two other schools,” Sausser reports. “The recent purchase brings the district’s computer count to about 500 computers, or one computer for every five students. Rigg said 95 percent of those computers run on the Macintosh platform.”
MacDailyNews Take: Tough decision, but we’re going to have to side with the school district’s Technology Director over Joe Random “technology volunteer.”
Sausser continues, “‘Those 10 MacBooks that we put in Underhill this year are the best machines they have in that school,’ Rigg said, adding Macintosh computers are pre-installed with necessary software, generally last longer than PCs and are more user-friendly. ‘The kids are getting a wonderful amount of technology.’”
“Technology volunteer” Pearl said that “there is no good reason the district needs to purchase such sophisticated Macintosh hardware when PC laptop equivalents are available for less than half the amount,” Sausser reports.
“Hooksett Superintendent Charles Littlefield [said] the school board made a decision in 2001 that the district would adopt a predominantly Macintosh platform,” Sausser reports. “My position on this is that it was a decision that was made long before I came on board. We’re going to make purchases that are consistent with that decision. We’re done fairly well striking deals with Apple to get favorable prices on hardware that supports and runs the software that our kids are using. That, to me, is cut and dry,’ Littlefield said. Including the Hooksett School District, Littlefield also oversees the Candia and Auburn school districts, both of which use Microsoft operating systems on computers.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Nice little story. You’ve got the informed Technology Director, Joe Random “technology volunteer” who can’t see past price tags, and the buck-passing Superintendent who’s onboard for the moment, but seemingly could flip at any time depending on which way the wind blows.
Now, there is a comment section to the article on the Union Leader’s website that desperately needs input informed Mac users. The ignorant Windows PC sufferers’ tripe is nauseating. Please go there and offer polite, level-headed information regarding why Macs are the best choice for schools. For some examples:
• Macintosh computers have substantially lower Total Cost of Ownership.
• Macs are easier to learn, requires fewer keystrokes for similar tasks, and results in much higher user productivity.
• Macs can also run a Windows and/or Linux operating systems essentially providing two+ computers for the price of one.
• Compared to Windows PCs, Macs are much easier to support and experience far fewer problems.
• Due to the rapid pace of change, specific OS/programs should not be taught as they will likely be markedly different when the student enters business; you teach computing concepts. An OS-unlimited Apple Mac is the best machine choice for schools; all other OS-limited choices (Dell, HP, etc.) are needlessly shortchanging students.
Many more reasons and supporting links for the bullet points above can be found here.
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