Free MacBook to all Ringling Freshmen
updated 06:35 pm EDT, Wed August 23, 2006
Free MacBooks to students
The Ringling School Of Art And Design in Florida is loaning MacBooks to all incoming freshmen who are enrolled in the first year of their Core Studio Program. The laptops are free of charge, but must be returned upon graduation (or dropping out); each MacBook includes a host of pre-installed software, including Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. The MacBook was chosen for its ability to run both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows and its portability, according to the school. The new MacBooks will help the school integrate technology with learning and ensure that its Student to Computer ratio of 2:1 continues. Meanwhile, the Australian education departments seems to have declared war on Macs, according to a new report. The report claims dwindling support for Macs and that some Macs are being replaced by lower cost desktop PCs.
Macs at School
08/23, 08:36pm reply
Back in the day at the art college I went to, the Mac Plus' were most popular for term papers. Fortunately, as a work-study student a little later in the computer lab, I could learn MacDraw and Adobe Illustrator 88 while making minimum wage...
Of course back then, we thought MacPaint was greater than sliced bread!
howdesign
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
We tried this once...
08/24, 12:56am reply
My college tried a very similar thing with Apple's G4 ibooks two years ago, but has just now decided to discontinue the program because of the rapid changes/obsoletion of hardware. Now students must purchase their own apple upon entrance to the school. Also, almost all of the ibooks purchased then have died. Mine still works, but I'm in the minority.
academianut
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2006
Rapid Changes/Obsoletion?
08/24, 04:39am reply
That's odd.. Macs seem to last WAY longer than PCs. I can run recent software of 5 or 6 year old Macs. Try that on a PC.
Please elaborate.
afaby
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2005
In other news
08/24, 08:13am reply
In other news: 34 of Australia's largest school systems attacked by a worm exploiting known holes in Microsoft's Windows desktop software.
jer2eydevil88
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2005
iBook G4s
08/24, 09:49am reply
They had tons of issues; and I agree that expecting 4 useful years with software updates installed is reallly reallllly pushing it. 2 years, tops. The average Mac user upgrades every 9 months when Apple gives birth to a new system. Don't argue me on it, I've seen it alll too often. How else does a company sell $120,000 worth of $99 iPod Nanos in 12 hours upon launch? Suckers!
ibugv4
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2003
Re: ibook G4s
08/24, 11:00am reply
Sorry, but I don't believe you and I will "argue you". Please show me a study that concluded the average Mac user upgrades every 9 months.
Expecting 4 useful years out of a Mac is easy. My G4 733Mhz can still surf the web, read email, handle database and software development, run MS office, just fine thanks.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
re: ibook g4s
08/24, 12:58pm reply
I agree with hayesk.
All of my Macs have been in use for 4+ years before I decide to upgrade. I just retired my 700Mhz G4 iMac only because I got a deal on a refurb Intel iMac.
And my 20GB 2nd gen iPod is still effortlessly crankin' out the tunes & podcasts ;-)
topless
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2003
Um
08/24, 02:03pm reply
Why wouldn't you be able to run recent software on an older PC (around 5-6 years old)? Windows XP has been around for numerous years - it's the longest period an operating system by Microsoft hasn't been updated (still). Could you list some cross-platform application that simply won't run on an older PC but will on Mac? I can tell you that my friend's 933Mhz P3 (6.5 years old now) still runs everything fine.
jchen
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Free laptops for clowns!
08/24, 04:43pm reply
Honk!
symonsl
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Just sold my PowerBook G4
08/24, 08:12pm reply
I sold my 3 year old PowerBook G4 for enough money that it paid for my brand new MacBook. Try that with a 3 year old PC laptop... Good luck!
LordJohnWhorfin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2002