computers? notebook deal vs mac...

<p>I’ve written this three times now, but I keep getting logged out because it is so long. I’m not going to rewrite the whole thing, but here goes the SparkNotes version:</p>

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<li><p>I do not represent the IT department, nor do I make or have I ever made any claims to. I’m providing this information as a realist who works in IT, who has observed first-hand the support gap between the Mac and PC platforms. I just don’t want any potential W&M students to bring a Mac and then find out that they aren’t really supported. By all means, if you are comfortable enough with a Mac (or have other means of support available) then feel free to bring one, but the reality is that (at least for the next year – see below) Macs are not extensively supported.</p></li>
<li><p>Is W&M “proud” of their “incompatibility?” This is a ridiculous statement. A standardized platform and notebook model lowers costs and allows more expedient repairs. In addition, a standardized platform allows instructors to integrate software into their course with confidence that it will actually work - and work effectively. It might be said that standardizing the platform and hardware is most compatible with IT’s mission at the College.</p></li>
<li><p>Change is possible. The College’s contract with IBM/Lenovo expires in a year. Whether or not it is renewed or transferred to a different manufacturer has not yet been determined. If you want to see Mac support (or even potentially see Macs as a myNotebook option), let them know. Make the effort to garner support. IT can’t support everything - hell, even HP or Toshiba machines are not backed by on-campus hardware support, and they’re Windows-based. There are limits to what a department can do with its resourses. Thus, I’m sure they take demand into consideration when deciding what to support. So if you want expanded support for Macs, you have to make it known. Get all your friends, circulate a petition, maybe get the Student Assembly involved to make a recommendation. If IT knows there is a large Mac user base, they are going to be more likely to look into expanded support. Given the looming contract expiration, now is the time. Believe it or not, Proud Dad, I would fully support such a move. I don’t make the rules, but it is apparent to me that if any new platform or model is to be added to the support list, it should be Macs. They’re probably the third-most popular machines behind IBM and Dell, and their popularity on college campuses is skyrocketing.</p></li>
<li><p>Wrapping up everything here, I want to reiterate that Macs are not fully supported. My only intention with this post and my previous post is to ensure that no student brings a Mac to W&M under the delusion that it is fully supported. W&M may eventually get there, but that’s going to require your voice, and I fully support you in that matter.</p></li>
<li><p>Viscious, I do hope you will revert to contributing to the dialogue in a reasonable and constructive manner. Your last post seems quite inconsistent with your first two on this thread.</p></li>
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