I've been avoiding products from Sony for years. It started with the whole CD rootkit debacle, but Sony continually makes short-sighted decisions related to how it treats its customers (in some cases, breaking the law to do so). If people stand for this kind of treatment, companies will continue it.

With the recent release of Google Apps, if they condisdered Google as an alternative they could also provide students with POP access to e-mail, a word processor, a spreadsheet application, a calendar, a customized start page set up by the school that's integrated with the other tools, and Google Talk access with the school e-mail account. I'm not a rep for Google, but considering how badly Google wants to take this area of the market, it would be crazy for any school not to at least consider and compare both alternatives. They even have a special program for schools (http://www.google.com/a/edu/). Good Luck...