iBook deal for Maine high schools still up in the air
updated 09:15 pm EDT, Mon August 2, 2004
Extended Maine iBook deal?
The Maine Education Department to sign up enough high schools by the end of July to account for 8,400 laptops, the number necessary for an interim proposal by Apple to put iBooks in some Maine high schools this fall, according to The Associated Press: "Gendron still held out hope that the laptop plan could be salvaged if more schools sign up over the next few days and if Apple lowers the minimum participation level. Gendron said she expected to make an announcement after discussing the matter with Apple officials on Wednesday."
The report indicates that Apple had agreed to charge the state the same price for the iBooks sold to 242 Maine middle schools if the state signed up enough high schools to account for 8,400 laptops for students and teachers this fall: " The annual fee would be $300 per laptop for four years. That cost includes servers and repairs, and Apple also would provide training and assist in installing the wireless networks that link the computers."
