Concerned Student
by Derek Kandt
4/18/2007

As a concerned student at Hays High School. My concern over the future of technology in the district is growing. Your stereotypical stance of “cheaper is better” is continually frustrating aspect of government bids. These laptop bids deserve thorough consideration.

I am involved in many different classes and organizations that require me to constantly interact with my laptop. Choosing a PC over a Mac because of price difference at purchase is not fair, nor is it logical.

Students deserve what will be best for them over their entire high school careers, not what is best for the budget right now. Apple computers cannot be compared to a PC on the bases of initial cost alone. Apple has so many more money and time saving features that must be considered.

First of all, you need to look at whom you are buying these computers for: high school students. I know; it’s a scary thought. However, if you intended for the computers to exist and to, more importantly, facilitate learning you need them to be quality machines. Apple computers and software have proven time and again to be more durable and more resistant to system failures and viruses.

Their Unix based systems allow them to avoid crippling system failures and to be more secure, not only against outside threats but also from students who would want to harm the districts infrastructure.

This is not something you should just laugh off either; students are always looking to prove themselves against your systems. Apple computers are much easier to secure for several reasons. Most importantly the world at large doesn’t use them. There are not millions of suggestions floating around on the Internet for how to bring them down. Not to mention Apple servers are easier to secure with their Unix systems.

And security isn’t the only plus of the apple servers. A few years ago when the University of Colorado supported a 50/50 (that is Mac/PC) system, they had to hire 5 Microsoft technicians to every one Apple technician. And that is a substantial savings you budget for support staff.

So what allows for all of Apple’s durability and reliability? They have adopted an almost completely “closed system”, where they are in direct control of the hardware and the software that goes onto, and connects with their machines. Every part of the Macintosh was designed to be there; you don’t want software designed by a third party that doesn’t really know how everything works in the computer. I can tell you that the rest of the world sure doesn’t either. The entire nation is moving towards closed systems. They want the power and integrity of software designed for one machine.

Even if you are worried about the few programs that you may need that don’t run on Apple’s OS, then there are no worries. Now with Apple’s Boot Camp you can run Microsoft Windows on your Mac.

Most importantly though is the opinion of the student population in general. The majority of Hays High students are calling for the return of the Apple product line. They want to work with what they are familiar with and what they feel is most powerful. Simply put, the Macintosh computer is in the best position to help the teachers and the students educate. Period.

How much money is enough to deal such a blow to our education?