US University Dumps Windows to go All Mac

MacKeyser passed us a link to a MacWorld article about a University doing things a little differently. Instead of sticking with their inefficient mix of Apple and PC systems, the college is doing a 'total technology refresh', and adopting an all-Mac policy on the campus. Previously, a class at Wilkes University would be outfitted with something like 20 Macs and 20 PCs, to allow for individual preferences in software and OS use. With Boot Camp students at the Pennsylvania liberal arts college will be able to switch between Windows and OSX, choosing which applications and OS to use at any given time. "[Scott Byers, vice president for finance and the head of campus IT said] 'We think it will save $150,000 directly, in buying fewer units - even though the Macs cost more per unit than PCs.' The school, which enrolls about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students, will reduce its inventory from nearly 1,700 computers to around 1,450 after the change over. Other costs savings, however, will be harder to measure. 'By standardizing, the IT department should be more productive,' Byers said."

Comments

Productivity ..

[Anonymous Coward]

> By standardizing, the IT department should be more productive

Translation : Having much less computers to fix, they'll be able to spend more time posting on Slashdot about how great Apple products are.

Re:Because that's what they've always used

[dr.badass]

but I think they're prime targets for Apple's "just works" marketing because they wouldn't stay focused long enough to get technical problems fixed.

It isn't about focus, it's about willingness. All of the Mac OS X users I know are technically adept enough to fix most problems they might have (or have had, on Windows, Linux, etc.) -- they just don't want to have to do that to get real work done. Oh sure, once upon a time it was rewarding to solve some intricate technical issue, but these days, most of the problems are too boring and mundane to be of any interest themselves.

This is irrelevant.

[MEForeman]

No one knows where this college is without looking it up. When a major college does this, make news out of it. I'm relatively sure Berklee College has been a mac campus for years, but then again it's an arts college (mostly music) so it's logical. And at least Berklee is in Boston, not Wilkes-Barre PA... which is a lovely area if you like boredom. And yes, I've been there. ::yawn::