Switching a College from Desktops to Laptops? 515
tverbeek asks: "The college of art and design where I work is going to start switching next year from a labs-with-desktops approach to computers, to a students-with-laptops approach. The president appears to have made up his mind that we're doing it, so that's not really up for debate. We'll be starting by equipping all the full-time faculty this year, then next year start requiring (as in 'you can use financial aid to pay for it') each new student to buy a laptop that meets our specs (Apple or Dell, depending on major). Does anyone have experience with this kind of transition? What were the biggest complications?"
"How did you handle software licensing, especially for high-priced apps? How do you do software installs/upgrades? What do you do for resource-hungry apps (e.g. CAD, 3D rendering)? What about traditional lab configuration issues like anti-malware software, classroom restrictions on IM/P2P/network gaming, standard configuration options, etc. that would seem impossible to do with computers you don't own?
I know that many other colleges have done this sort of thing, but what about *art schools* or other colleges with high-end needs but mostly non-technical users, and where something like Photoshop is considered a 'core' application more than MS Office? Also, I'm especially interested in info about much more/less support staff the laptop approach requires; my intuition says that 1000 unsecured laptops will take more work to support than 300 locked-down desktops, but I need data."
Remote Desktop (Score:3, Interesting)
Let them buy their own copies of PS or whatever if they want to.
Better yet, quit now before the whole thing goes to hell. Find a nice cushy job in the industry rather than eke along in academia.
...Wow. (Score:5, Interesting)
Please, don't be so cheap.
Laptop Initiative. (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:The most important question is ... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Remote Desktop (Score:5, Interesting)
As mentioned by the OP, requiring that students have a laptop allows financial aid to pay for it. Once every student has a laptop, the school no longer needs to invest the space and money on computer labs, just omnipresent wireless connectivity. In essence, the school is shifting the expense of computing from an indirect cost (i.e., tutition increase) to a direct cost (purchase). Frankly, most students would give their eye-teeth for a computer they don't have to share; the requirement of said machines makes the purchase affordable (via student loans).
Additionally, many software companies will deal in bulk with universities to provide lower-cost licenses to students/faculty. These programs encourage graduated students to purchase the software when they are out in the real world because they are familiar with it. MS is good at this, offering Office and Windows licenses for $75 each (yes, the newest versions, think XP Pro and Office 2003 full whiz-bang version). As far as high-end packages (solid-modeling in this case), one software company gives the school an unlimited number of licenses for a $5000 fee, but the school can earn that fee back by using the software in class demonstrations, required projects, etc. Again, the full-bore version, not a limited thing (this is software that costs $5000 per seat in the real world). Required software is also an eligible purchase using aid monies, thus making it easier on the student (in the short-term, at least).
The thing you're getting hung up on here is the difference between required purchase and mandated purchase. The latter (as I define it) is a computer bought, maintained, and controlled for you by the school. Medical schools (at least one I know of) are shifting to this setup, with exams being taken on the laptop (and answers being submitted via wireless; don't get me started). All other software is disabled while the test software is being run, and woe be unto you if you bring in a laptop for service that has anything other than school-sanctioned software on it.
All that being said, there are two problems I have with required computer plans. The first is that they tend to isolate students. Some of the more productive, enlightening, and entertaining times I had at school occured while working in the close proximity of other in a computer lab at four in the morning. The second is that, in order to justify the program, professors are encouraged to shoehorn computer-use into classes that don't need computers. Some professors do great things with the new technology, others, well, let's just say it doesn't work out so well sometimes.
Re:Check with Law Schools (Score:2, Interesting)
whatever, I'm drunk and offtopic anyway, fuck you, flame me, I'm moving to digg
Re:The most important question is ... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Another Question (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Remote Desktop (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Remote Desktop (Score:3, Interesting)
The point I'm trying to make is that the school needs to make several alternatives availale. Require the students to own their own computer, sure. But they still need a backup plan in case their computer breaks or something.
Re:Remote Desktop (Score:3, Interesting)
The problem is, as you have brought up, seems like they don't teach the general concepts that fundementally drive 3D as a whole. An example in modelling might be them telling you how to use tools, but not something such as edge/geometry flow, edge loops, etc. It's one thing to know how to use the tools in Maya, but it's another thing alltogether to know why you're using them, and when/how to use them properly. However, given the complexity and scope of some of the 3D programs out there, there is a need for classes specifically geared to them. Unfortunately, no one teaches the basics before teaching the tools.
Re:The Club is worthless (Score:3, Interesting)
While the thief may have a laugh that the owner thinks it's worth stealing, is it worth his effort to steal it?
Especially when the car next to it has no club, and no alarm. The whole point of these security measures is to make some other target more attractive. If someone really wants to steal your car, as opposed to just any car, they will.
Security measures can't prevent theft, they can only make it more likely, and any lock is better than none for that.
Re:Remote Desktop (Score:2, Interesting)
Students should be able to get their software very cheaply using educational licenses. Or the college could provide them with it, for the duration of their courses.
Re:The most important question is ... (Score:4, Interesting)
UNC-Chapel Hill has over 27,000 students and began requiring laptops starting with the incoming class in 2000. It all works through the Carolina Computing Initiative: http://www.unc.edu/cci/ We even have IBM/Lenovo repair service right here on campus and 4-year warranties on the laptops. A Microsoft site license and IBM ImageUltra helps them maintain system images and covers software licenses.
I'm a OS X fan (Linux for servers), but I have to admit that UNC did a great job on making this work.