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The Changing Face Of Campus Tech

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the personal-notetaking-droids dept.

SeaDour writes "CNET News has an interesting perspective on the changing face of technology on campus. These days, students are showing more interest in the tech perks that campuses have to offer, and universities are taking notice. Duke University, for example, just gave away free iPods to each of their 1,650 incoming freshman. Penn State offers subsidized access to Napster 2.0 for all students, and many other schools are now considering similar programs with Rhapsody and Cdigix. Perhaps the best offering is wireless internet access, which 90% of campuses now offer in some form. Are we seeing the day when college students make their school of choice not based solely on academics or athletics, but also on tech freebies like these?"

3 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. Welcome to a decade ago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I chose my University in part because they had network access ports in every dorm room, a good online paper (which I eventually ran), a bunch of computer labs, etc. And it wasn't even a tech-heavy school.

  2. Wireless Access by RWarrior(fobw) · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm obviously in the 10% of campuses. I was informed last week that I'm not permitted to bring my laptop onto campus at all, even if I don't connect it to the wired network.

    And the wireless network used to exist, but it was taken down because (holy shit!) students were sitting out in the parking lot using it.

    Bastion of education, that.

    --
    Remove the caps and hold to a mirror.
  3. I'd choose *against* such colleges by Muggins+the+Mad · · Score: 5, Interesting


    Given the choice between a "free" iPod and having better teaching staff, I'd go for the college who spent *my* money on improving the education they can give me. If I was a music or media student then maybe an iPod would be a plus. Otherwise it's just a waste of my hard earned fees.

    The Napster stuff is absolutely horrendous. To me, universities are the *last* place that should be bowing to corporate bullying and selling its students as dumb consumers. Especially using the students money to do so.

    A good wireless network would seem to me to be a better alternative to larger computer labs, and I'd say that generally is a good thing.

    I went to University to learn and have fun learning. Sure, I love iPods, but I'd rather have had more textbooks, or more teaching staff, or better equipment in the labs.

    Or cheaper fees.

    - MugginsM