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School to purchase computers?

K

kase1025

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 13, 2009
43
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We are a school and we are working on getting a grant in order to purchase new computers. We are not sure what would be the best to buy. Macbooks, macbook pro, imacs, mac minis.

We have about 130 student and about 20 teachers/staff. All of these people have a log in name which they can log in to each computer in the school. Our computers are hooked up to the server and what they saved gets saved to the server.

Just looking to see what yall suggest we purchase. Thanks in advance!!
 
Schools? Each student gets one or you'll have labs?

If you have labs I suggest iMacs. If each student gets one you should define your needs better. Do you need portability? If so, then laptops it is and the White MacBooks are suggested for schools. What will you be running? I believe iMacs in labs and White MacBooks for teachers suffices.
 
Either Mac Mini's or 20" iMacs for General Use in libraries, computer rooms etc.

24" iMac's for the teacher in the classroom (if you use this)

MacBook Pro 13" For Higher up staff, leaders etc.
 
The reason I did not suggest a mini is due to, what I believe, would be the ease of theft.
 
Nope not all. ;) My MB Air is lacking.

But I see your point. Now would be the time to price a display + a mini + keyboard + mouse.
 
im not sure if i understand how mac minis work. i have never seen one.

Currently we have one permanent computer lab...not mobile. Currently in the lab we have OLD ANCIENT imacs. And the teachers have older(not as old as the lab) iMacs also (the flat screen).

Is this what you would suggest...if the lab is mobile...then laptops. If it is permanent, new iMacs?

I dont believe each student will be getting their own. I believe we will be doing the same thing as now (each student having their own log in)
 
kase1025 said:
im not sure if i understand how mac minis work. i have never seen one.
Click to expand...

Think of it as a mini Mac Pro. It's essentially just the computer, and you would need to either reuse or purchase a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
 
The mac mini is sold as strictly the computer only. No keyboard, mouse or monitor. These are all purchased separately. In the computer labs environment I would say go imac's for a permanent non-mobile lab and give the teachers and or staff the mbp's instead of limiting the teachers especially to only working at the school.
 
kase1025 said:
We are a school and we are working on getting a grant in order to purchase new computers. We are not sure what would be the best to buy. Macbooks, macbook pro, imacs, mac minis.

We have about 130 student and about 20 teachers/staff. All of these people have a log in name which they can log in to each computer in the school. Our computers are hooked up to the server and what they saved gets saved to the server.

Just looking to see what yall suggest we purchase. Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...

X-wife's school system had a purchasing agent, etc. Does your school have this? Also I would call Apple's Education Division for expert advise as that is their business, and you might get better pricing too, (depending on how many computers you purchase.)

Just some ideas for you.
 
Buy 20" iMacs, make sure they are locked though as well. You may want to invest in cctv for the computer labs, just to make sure no theft/vandalism is going on.
 
im asuming your a private school. If not, what type of grant are you looking into? I would suggest iMacs... great clutter free design which becomes priceless in a computer lab. Macbooks if your looking for more of a moble lab that can travel to the classrooms.
 
My university just recently upgraded one of its main computer labs and went all out with 24" 3GHz iMacs, and several cabinets worth of MacBook Airs. I think the reasoning is that by buying top of the line systems, they won't be obsolete by next year.

I don't know the economics of it myself, but that strategy seems to make sense. Don't by bottom of the line hardware if you want the computer lab to last. I'd go for the 24" iMacs.
 
My school Just bought new macs this year. They went with the 17" white iMac in the labs (which they still make for the education department) and white MacBooks for the teachers
 
beala said:
I don't know the economics of it myself, but that strategy seems to make sense. Don't by bottom of the line hardware if you want the computer lab to last. I'd go for the 24" iMacs.
Click to expand...

I worked for a university IT department, and I can tell you that is a ridiculously bad idea.

They bought Power Mac G5's for each teacher with that same thinking. They said... those things will last for years.... Guess what happened in 2005?

If you want to stay up to date, buy a mid end computer, and switch it out every 3 years. It'll likely be cheaper anyway. And having worked for a different school district, the students will trash your machines by then anyway.
 
kase1025 said:
Is this what you would suggest...if the lab is mobile...then laptops. If it is permanent, new iMacs?
Click to expand...

I am a former principal and currently teaching- this is exactly what I would rec. If you have a staff who would use a mobile lab in their own classroom I would go that route- we have that set up as we don't have room in our media center for a permanent computer lab so we have a cart and laptops- unfortunately crappy Dell's...which is weird because all but one staff member have a school purchased Mac on their desk right now! That is a battle I am currently fighting obviously.
 
You need specialist advice. Especially if it's for 150 people (130 students, 20 staff). Try to visit other schools with mac setups and find out about their problems and pitfalls.

Apple used to make till very recently their eMachine - an iMac specially for education. It was big and heavy - CRT not LCD screen - so that it was harder to steal, and the glass screen was more durable than a LCD.

But the students probably hated them as by the time Apple got rid of them, they were very slow and outdated.
 
goMac said:
I worked for a university IT department, and I can tell you that is a ridiculously bad idea.
Click to expand...
On the other hand, my university might have only bought such nice computers so that they could show them off to the tour groups. They also remodeled the lab, and painted everything bright colors.

Soooo yeah ditto what RedTomato said. Get a consultant/specialist/whatever. A 150 person lab is a big project, no matter who's doing it. I wouldn't shell out that kinda money without some expert help.
 
RedTomato said:
You need specialist advice. Especially if it's for 150 people (130 students, 20 staff). Try to visit other schools with mac setups and find out about their problems and pitfalls.

Apple used to make till very recently their eMachine - an iMac specially for education. It was big and heavy - CRT not LCD screen - so that it was harder to steal, and the glass screen was more durable than a LCD.

But the students probably hated them as by the time Apple got rid of them, they were very slow and outdated.
Click to expand...
Apple made an eMachine? :confused: I think the word you're looking for is eMac. eMachines is a brand of PC owned by Acer.
 
eMac yeah :) Regent Street Apple store had them up to a couple of years ago for the kids to play on. Every now and then an adult or teenager would gingerly sit on the kiddie seats and spend 10 minutes trying log on to MySpace or FaceBook or summat, and then realise these machines were locked down tight to kiddie apps only, and that they looked like they'd just been playing children's games for the last 10 minutes...
 
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