Apple Offers Customized MacBooks to School Districts

[InLikeALion]

These don't explode. There are enterprise hdd's that have ink or acid capsules in them that can be remotely activated. These permanently ruin the platter surface so they can no longer be read by the heads - no matter what software recovery is used.

 

[mlochm]

what the hell are they teaching kids down in Louisiana?

sensitive nuclear secrets?

 

[Carl Spackler]

ive been thinking that for apple to work its way to the top of the market is to really make an effort to get its computers in schools. even if it means giving them out dirt cheap. because thats how it all starts. kids use them at school all the time. then they get used to it. whenthose kids buy there first computer they buy mac cuz its what they used in school. there really is no better advertisment then getting these computers out there and getting the students to use them

I was very fortunate to be in grade school in the early, early 80's, when Apple ruled the roost in schools. For the longest time, I had no idea any other computers existed.

Go little turtle drawing program...whatever you were called!

 

[goosnarrggh]

I was very fortunate to be in grade school in the early, early 80's, when Apple ruled the roost in schools. For the longest time, I had no idea any other computers existed.

Go little turtle drawing program...whatever you were called!

LOGO. It was a programming language that was available in equivalent forms for other microcomputers besides the Apple ][, if I recall correctly, but the Apple version certainly was very popular as a teaching tool.

 

[gceo]

GPS, remote destroyed hard drives... mmm

This should be a stock option, then Macbooks wouldn't be such a HOT item.

 

[crackermac]

I just remember playing Oregon Trail and super munchers (maybe it was number munchers) when I used them in elementary school.

I still have a pizza box (Mac LC) so I can rock out on Oregon Trail

 

[jellomizer]

School data isn't valuable...

Having the Hard Drive break or whip out isn't that big of a deal get a $1000.00 Laptop and buy a $100.00 replacement Disk.

As for the impossible sticker I haven't seen one yet.. There are the Acid burn stickers which melt the information to Plastic or Metal but if it doesn't do that they may not peel off but some time with a mild abrasive may do a good job. Then some polish when your done and it will look almost like new.

If you need protection from stealing them I would suggest that you find a way for a CPU self destruction (Perhaps an Apple ]I[ Design). That would bring the $1000.00 Laptop to a $100.00 laptop...

I am guessing kids will steal them for their own use so I guess blowing up the drive is better then nothing because they will not go out of their way for a new drive... But if there are more criminal behavior going on I would assume the parts are worth more then the system itself. Even without a Case and a Drive.

 

[notjustjay]

Stickers? Can't they run these through the iPod assembly line and have them laser-etched with the school district information?

 

[72930]

This should be a stock option, then Macbooks wouldn't be such a HOT item.

I don't know why GPS isn't an option, it would be useful to so many people, and Apple clearly have nothing physical stopping them. gMaps integration would be awesome...

 

[SeaFox]

]All of the laptops have stickers clearly identifying them as the property of the Kansas City, Kan., public schools. The sticker will not come off without virtually destroying the laptop.

Destroying, as in replacing the case section that has the sticker, or, heck, just putting stickers all over the laptop to hide the school district's sticker.

If thieves find a way around that obstacle, a GPS tracking device will help locate it. If all else fails, district officials said, they could also use a remote device to destroy the hard drive.

So now the thief replaces the hard drive, too.

 

[johnnyi]

Hi

remote detonator to kill the hard drive !,GPS,No removable sticker well done apple but i think that apple should strap C4 inside the mac. When it gets stolen hit the big red button and boom kills the sucker who stole it in the first place.Why dont apple give us the option of the GPS as there is nothing worse than forking out £2000 on a laptop.Then 6 months down the line it gets knicked but go it sounds good.

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

Holy crap, are you kidding me? Explode the hard drive remotely? What are the safety precautions on these things?

Isn't this the Osama bin Laden Special Edition MacBook I've heard rumored about?

 

[evil0ne]

I guess none of you have ever heard of CompuTrace. Guaranteed to recover your computer within 60 days or you get $1,000. We've had great success with it at work and have not found a way to defeat it.

 

[guzhogi]

While it's a good idea to get kids hooked on Macs when they're young, I wonder how well that'll work. ~90% of today's computers are Windows so some might think "Why get a Mac? The whole world uses Windows." On the other hand, Macs can run Windows now. Yet, w/ Apple's/Steve Job's control freak thing and not wanting to let 3rd party developers design for the iPhone and whatever, that might push some potential buyers away. Also, I remember an article a while back that said some game developers (EA or some other big name company) tried talking to Apple about bringing games over, but Apple was too hard to deal with. Hopefully, just using Macs in schools will be good enough to bring more converts. Only time will tell.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

There are numerous ways to "Destroy" a hard drive with software. The recent batch of Seagate drive problems is just on way. Rapid spin ups and stops, repeatedly overwriting the boot block. Putting the heads out before the drive spins up.

Its probably nothing Jim Phelps dramatic.

As for unremovable stickers, if KC schools are getting 5000 of these things they could get a custom plastic cover with the "sticker" etched or with a clear plastic case and the sticker between the plastic and the metal.

 

[winterspan]

you probably don't...

I wish I'd grown up and gone to school in the US.

We were stuck with stupid Windows PC's right through school - and only in my last year (6 months ago) did we get Windows XP.

Way to go with the latest technology, guys!

[Gosh, I'm almost paying Windows a compliment in a way.. latest technology? Hehe. I made a funny.]

Seriously, it *REALLY* depends on where you go to school. Rich areas have nice public / private schools but elsewhere it's hit or miss. There are MANY areas of very poor education quality... It's almost like America is really 10 different countries, as it totally depends on what state you live in. And although we are one of the richest countries per capita, IMO our actual education spending is abysmal. Compared to most western European countries
and ESPECIALLY the Nordic countries per capita, It's a joke.
Although we do have excellent education in what most people outside the US call University ( In the US, 'college' and 'university' are the same thing).

 

[LondonMacs]

Quite interesting, england wont see this for a while

 

[ChrisA]

You have to take what you read with a grain of salt. For example "destroy the hard drive" likely means simply erasing some part of it and "GPS" likely means simply locating it by it's assigned IP address. The people who write for these papers may not have a technical background.

I'd bet both functions of "GPS" and "Destroy HD" are done in software only.

 

[winterspan]

hot dang. i live in louisiana and i'm an education major. this news is great and even know that the govenor made the announcement like 10 miles from where i'm sitting right now.

this is exciting.

i <3

Isn't "education in Louisiana" an oxymoron?

 

[Stampyhead]

There's always a complainer out there making a fuss about them using Macs... Does he really think the school district would pay full retail price for these machine? Some people need to think before they write...

I believe that providing laptops is a great idea, but going with propitiatory software and some of the most high end hardware is a waste of money. Free software that is highly competitive is available as well as better priced hardware. The school just paid easily two times the amount they should have to use a name brand. Is this Apples new marketing, or just a display in terrible money management? Possibly someone should educate these educators before they educate our children. Indiana schools saw the benefit and sensibility to migrate towards Linux, perhaps that is part of the reason Indiana schools are accredited and Kansas City is not. Waste and excess is that the American way?

 

[bignumbers]

Waiting for revised info...

I'm sure we'll soon get revised info regarding what these laptops REALLY have.

I doubt there's real GPS functionality. It's probably a phone-home feature (Computrace or similar). If it had real GPS it would likely need FCC certification and we'd hear all about it. Not to mention the cost impact.

For destroying the hard drive, I'll guess it locks down the system, erases some key directory data, a specialized firmware password, or something along those lines. I don't see physical hard drive destruction involved, Seagate jokes aside.

 

[winterspan]

I'm sure we'll soon get revised info regarding what these laptops REALLY have.

I doubt there's real GPS functionality. It's probably a phone-home feature (Computrace or similar). If it had real GPS it would likely need FCC certification and we'd hear all about it. Not to mention the cost impact.

For destroying the hard drive, I'll guess it locks down the system, erases some key directory data, a specialized firmware password, or something along those lines. I don't see physical hard drive destruction involved, Seagate jokes aside.

Why would they need FCC certification?? It's not like Apple is going to physically manufacturer a new GPS chip. Couldn't they just use a cheap Surf Start III module connected internally, as the GPS device would already have passed certification?

 

[phillipjfry]

6 million$ in Apple Laptops? That comes out to like what, 200 laptops?

Erase. Or possible firmware erase too.

Do you really think they would blow something up?

Sony laptop batteries did it all the time

I guess none of you have ever heard of CompuTrace. Guaranteed to recover your computer within 60 days or you get $1,000. We've had great success with it at work and have not found a way to defeat it.

That ain't no crap. We had a laptop stolen from one of our warehouses. It wasn't 30 days later I heard my boss talking about prosecuting the now-in-custody thief to the full extent.

 

[7031]

Sticker eh? A bit like my school. They have the schools address engraved in the iMacs.

Though, to be honest, it's not too deep, and some sandpaper could probably remove it...

Seriously, it *REALLY* depends on where you go to school. Rich areas have nice public / private schools but elsewhere it's hit or miss. There are MANY areas of very poor education quality... It's almost like America is really 10 different countries, as it totally depends on what state you live in. And although we are one of the richest countries per capita, IMO our actual education spending is abysmal. Compared to most western European countries
and ESPECIALLY the Nordic countries per capita, It's a joke.
Although we do have excellent education in what most people outside the US call University ( In the US, 'college' and 'university' are the same thing).

True. It all depends on where you go, not specifically what country it is in, and yes, I'm sure America differs a vast amount between states.

 

[compuguy1088]

I was very fortunate to be in grade school in the early, early 80's, when Apple ruled the roost in schools. For the longest time, I had no idea any other computers existed.

Go little turtle drawing program...whatever you were called!

I've never used it, but I recall the "turtle drawing program" is called LOGO.