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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."
Nowadays many families buy their child a laptop before he or she has even finished the college application process. Why buy laptops for your students if it's something they are probably already going to have before arrival?
This is OT and all, so mod this down, I don't care.
Your sig is offensively dense. There is so much wrong with it that I won't even begin to explain it to you. Suffice it to say this response to it doesn't belong on this discussion thread. Like I said, mod me down, I don't care. I had to say it, because it's deeply offensive to me. Want to talk it over, send me an email.
I'm just glad I know better than to consider it even remotely correct.
Good day.
TLF
I do not respond to cowards. Especially anonymous ones.
Am I wrong or did I miss something? I thought it said student labs with laptops not having students to buy laptops. Did I miss something? I don'[t see any issues if you a half way descent(don't crae to spell check) service plan. Our company 100000+ switched from desktops to laptops a few years ago. No problems.
500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.