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Switching a College from Desktops to Laptops?
tverbeek asks: "The college of art and design where I work is going to start switching next year from a labs-with-desktops approach to computers, to a students-with-laptops approach. The president appears to have made up his mind that we're doing it, so that's not really up for debate. We'll be starting by equipping all the full-time faculty this year, then next year start requiring (as in 'you can use financial aid to pay for it') each new student to buy a laptop that meets our specs (Apple or Dell, depending on major). Does anyone have experience with this kind of transition? What were the biggest complications?"
"How did you handle software licensing, especially for high-priced apps? How do you do software installs/upgrades? What do you do for resource-hungry apps (e.g. CAD, 3D rendering)? What about traditional lab configuration issues like anti-malware software, classroom restrictions on IM/P2P/network gaming, standard configuration options, etc. that would seem impossible to do with computers you don't own?
I know that many other colleges have done this sort of thing, but what about *art schools* or other colleges with high-end needs but mostly non-technical users, and where something like Photoshop is considered a 'core' application more than MS Office? Also, I'm especially interested in info about much more/less support staff the laptop approach requires; my intuition says that 1000 unsecured laptops will take more work to support than 300 locked-down desktops, but I need data."
I know that many other colleges have done this sort of thing, but what about *art schools* or other colleges with high-end needs but mostly non-technical users, and where something like Photoshop is considered a 'core' application more than MS Office? Also, I'm especially interested in info about much more/less support staff the laptop approach requires; my intuition says that 1000 unsecured laptops will take more work to support than 300 locked-down desktops, but I need data."
This is a horrible idea. Crime in the area around my first college was bad, I'd hate to think what it would be like with _every_ student carrying several hundred dollars worth of pawnable hardware. I also see plenty of students incredibly pissed at having to allocate hundreds of dollars to a laptop that they need for food. Not to mention that it's a laptop that they, effectively, aren't going to have full control over what they run on.
Please, don't be so cheap.
I go to Lawrence Technological University, and they have a Laptop Initiative. They have two sets of computer types: a compaq laptop for architect/sciences and a micron laptop for the engineers. Each Major type has their own 'Laptop Image' that loads the computer with the OS and programs. Since all the computers are the same they just image everything in the labs and hand them out to the students. Then the student is free to do what they wish with the computers. They have no locks on them what-so-ever. The programs on the computers are registered like corporations, and some of them require you to be on campus to use them (Matlab) because they have to contact the campus servers. As for upgrades, its up to the student. However, every two years the computers are returned to the help desk for the next set of images to be loaded. And if you bork your computer, you can just go down there and have them re-image it for you. Any physical damages have to be paid for though. You don't have to use a campus issued computer. If you have your own you can use it on their network, but will not be pre-registered on the domain or given any programs/support. The laptop initiative is very useful because it allows students and faculity to contact each other when ever needed. Our whole school is wireless with printers throughout the buildings, so presentations and class work can be done on them.
Back when I worked as a model and prop maker I had a serious problem with lost tools. For a number of years I painted all the tools with a type of hot pink until it was discontinued. It was offensive looking but the entire time I used it I never lost a tool to thieft. People laughed but they left them alone. It's serious business when you start loosing thousands in tools a year. The color was so intense that I could stand in the middle of the room and point to every tool of mine. If some one wants to steal all you can do is make your stuff less attractive so they'll go on to the next person. It may be possible to repaint the computer but if they have the choice between your laptop and one that's unpainted they'll go for the unpainted one. Resale value? Well with laptops everyone I've had by the time I was finished with it the resale was so low that I gave them away. I've sold dozens of computers but I've never sold a laptop.
The thing is, it's not 'stupider,' and I'll tell you why.
As mentioned by the OP, requiring that students have a laptop allows financial aid to pay for it. Once every student has a laptop, the school no longer needs to invest the space and money on computer labs, just omnipresent wireless connectivity. In essence, the school is shifting the expense of computing from an indirect cost (i.e., tutition increase) to a direct cost (purchase). Frankly, most students would give their eye-teeth for a computer they don't have to share; the requirement of said machines makes the purchase affordable (via student loans).
Additionally, many software companies will deal in bulk with universities to provide lower-cost licenses to students/faculty. These programs encourage graduated students to purchase the software when they are out in the real world because they are familiar with it. MS is good at this, offering Office and Windows licenses for $75 each (yes, the newest versions, think XP Pro and Office 2003 full whiz-bang version). As far as high-end packages (solid-modeling in this case), one software company gives the school an unlimited number of licenses for a $5000 fee, but the school can earn that fee back by using the software in class demonstrations, required projects, etc. Again, the full-bore version, not a limited thing (this is software that costs $5000 per seat in the real world). Required software is also an eligible purchase using aid monies, thus making it easier on the student (in the short-term, at least).
The thing you're getting hung up on here is the difference between required purchase and mandated purchase. The latter (as I define it) is a computer bought, maintained, and controlled for you by the school. Medical schools (at least one I know of) are shifting to this setup, with exams being taken on the laptop (and answers being submitted via wireless; don't get me started). All other software is disabled while the test software is being run, and woe be unto you if you bring in a laptop for service that has anything other than school-sanctioned software on it.
All that being said, there are two problems I have with required computer plans. The first is that they tend to isolate students. Some of the more productive, enlightening, and entertaining times I had at school occured while working in the close proximity of other in a computer lab at four in the morning. The second is that, in order to justify the program, professors are encouraged to shoehorn computer-use into classes that don't need computers. Some professors do great things with the new technology, others, well, let's just say it doesn't work out so well sometimes.