“Apple Computer Inc.’s Macintosh computers are making the grade in universities around [Japan]. One after another, schools are switching to Macs from Windows-based computers, including the University of Tokyo, which did so in the spring. Macs have a reputation for being graphics-oriented, and as such they are the computers of choice for designers and artists. But thanks to their increasing popularity with schools, Macs appear set to take a bite out of the overwhelming market share held by Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system, on which most of the nation’s PCs run,” The Asahi Shimbun reports.
“In September, the Faculty of Fine Arts at Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka bought 80 iMac G5 computers, which Apple launched that month. The computer comes with a 64-bit, high-performance processor. ‘The G5s offer at a cost of several hundred thousand yen what previous computers did at a cost of several million yen,’ an Apple spokesperson said. ‘Campuses used to be able to afford only a few computers this powerful,'” The Asahi Shimbun reports. “In addition to being powerful, the latest Macs, which run on Apple’s proprietary Mac OS X system, also run on the Unix operating platform, which is widely used by researchers. Until now, many universities used Unix-based computers for academic research and Windows products for word processing and other applications.”
“With the new Macs, both functions can be accomplished on a single machine. Because Macs are known for being user-friendly, they are expected to be well-received by students. Apple has been inundated with inquiries from schools that learned that queries from students about how to use Mac computers dropped dramatically compared with Windows at such universities as the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Woman’s Christian University… Windows computers overwhelm Macs in terms of business use but Apple hopes that students trained on Macs at universities could eventually get hooked on its products and at some stage redraw the computer industry map,” The Asahi Shimbun reports.
Full article here.
Cool
Sayanora monkey boy!
mushi, mushi apple.
Japanese schools get it. School computer purchases should not be about market share, but about a combination of price vs performance, usefulness, space usage, and technical necessaties (upkeep, tech support, ect.) all createing the total cost of ownership much lower than your average PC. Especially since schools use such hardware for up to 7 to 10 years, TCO should be the FIRST thing looked at. My almost 5 year old cube runs better now than when I first bought it (with no hardware upgrades) on the NEWEST OS (panther) and still runs the newest Photoshop and Illustartor and Golive well.
“Moshi moshi” is the approved spelling for “hello” in Japanese. But you are so right Joe and SoyBoy.
soyboy,
There are no bugs in this apple…
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I keep on telling you folks. It’s a no-brainer. Schools should use PCs ’cause I have one at home. Why can’t you Mac zealots understand something even as simple as that?
You know, it’s about time everybody realised that they’re completely wrong and I am 100% right.
Has anyone seen that Gateway Ad with them running in a herd like cows and LYAO? I thought I saw Rich Brook in the middle of the “herd” with Billiy Gates On horseback and his monkeyboy “dog” herding them proper to get BRANDED! LOL
Tokyo University switching to Macs was huge. Where Todai goes, the rest will follow.
Well, that settles it – I’m going to insist that ALL the local schools in my district start using Windowzzzz PCs just because Rich Brooks has one at home!
What more reason could they ever want.
Hold on – I can think of one!
PC’s are cr*p!
hey no complaints here.. WOW great news!! 😀
I’m certain Apple’s Educational Division is learning how to be more competitively priced… about 300/yr i take it..sort of like renting a computer… very nice..
Japanese girls… ohhhhhhhh
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Japanese girls with Macs… ohhhhhhhh
This is good news for Apple.
However, you do all realise that the whole supplying the schools deal in the hope that the kids will leave and get a job and request an Apple at work has been one of their marketing ploys since the Apple ][ days.
What I want to know is if this has made any difference to them? I can only assume it must have, because they continue doing it. Maybe if they hadn’t they’d be out of business now? I don’t know.
I only say this because the places at which I’ve worked (in Australia) haven’t ever shown the least bit of interest in any of Apple’s offerings, but always went the “cheaper” or “more compatible” way. Or resorted to cheap shots at Apple’s expense. (or perhaps that’s more reflective of the companies I worked at?
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theloniusMac: the trick is not to marry them. Only then can you have your cake and eat it too
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Actually, that goes for every nationality.
It’s… It’s REALLY HAPPENING!! THE REVOLUTION IS HERE! THIS IS IT!
Praise be. At last, salvation for the Mac faithful.
It has been foretold for time immemorial – since System 6 – that the day of the Mac would one day be upon us. I have worshipped the one button mouse when ALL OTHERS tempted me with 2 or more buttons and the evil false friendship of Windows and Gates.
Oh how I wept. Oh how I doubted.
And now: Absolution.
Thank you Steve. You are our saviour.
A digital device comes in many forms, with many OS available. Why restrict your students to one environment. I find these decisions riddiculous.