Updated: Sad tales from a school system that went from Macs to Dells
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Sep 13, 2005 at 12:48am
I’ve discussed what I think will happen with the Henrcio County School System after their move from Macs to Wintel systems (in fact, it’s already happening). Recently, a teacher (who asked to remain nameless for job security reasons) from another school system (which will also remain anonymous) underlined my points.
In 1998 the teacher’s school system decided to purchase Mac systems for grades K-8. For the high school the default choice was also Macs, but in certain locations Windows would be selected “when it made sense” (personally, I’m not sure that’s ever the case, but I digress). One such decision was putting PCs in most of the vocational programs. Intensive professional development began the summer of 1998, and in the fall the school system got off to a running start.
The technology plan called for replacing groups of computers every year to avoid having to make massive purchases as the system had in 1998 with state technology funding. In 2002 the high school technology committee met to plan the replacement of two labs and the purchase of two additional mobile labs for the 2003-2004 school year, as well as the rest of the labs and teacher desktop computers for the 2004-2005 school year.
After extensive discussion and review of hardware and software they decided to stay the course, making just two changes. They decided to buy iBooks for teachers rather than desktops and to switch from AppleWorks to Office and Filemaker Pro as their “gold standard”—but to phase these changes in over a two-year period to give teachers plenty of time to shift their documents over.
Unfortunately, that plan was scuttled by the school board and in 2004 nearly every Mac in the high school was replaced by a Dell. And over the next two years all Macs throughout the district will be replaced by Windows boxes.
“The board, led by the board president, offered lots of excuses for the change but no substantiated reasons,” the educator told me. “The platitude that students should be taught on the computers they’ll use in the real world was offered as one reason. Lower costs was another. More timely technical response from the IT office? We never did get that one explained.”
The results from last year? IT service calls to the high school tripled from the year before. The IT office had to hire another full time tech and contract with an outside consultant to keep up with tech calls. After factoring in the cost of software to prevent virus, malware, and adware infection as well security software to prevent students from messing with the systems the Dell computers cost US$19 apiece less than the Macs the school system would have bought. That, of course, doesn’t count the extra personnel.
The week the new computers were delivered and set up coincided with the international outbreak of a virus that every new computer caught. The money spent to “de-virus” the computers was taken from the software budget so the school system had no software to convert AppleWorks documents into Office documents. Further, they also had to scuttle plans to buy a site license of FileMaker Pro. Teachers who had depended on AppleWorks had to buy their own copy from Apple and surreptitiously install it since they’re prohibited from installing software on their own desktop computers.
“But most amazing of all, the IT and professional development departments decided that this massive change required no additional professional development investment,” the teacher told me. “Teachers who had spent the last five years using AppleWorks were expected to switch to Office with no help. They were expected to figure out how to connect to a new network without any help. The result was chaos”
Such tales I fear aren’t uncommon. Chalk it up to another Dell of a mess in too many of our school systems.
Thoughts? Write me at dsellers@macsimumnews.com
And don’t forget this week’s Macsimum News poll. We’re asking, “Will you buy an iPod nano?” The iPod nano is the replacement for the iPod mini.
i agree with fubar Says:
Your side panel is also in the way with Safari 2.0.1 (under Tiger .2). Can you please keep the layout from getting in the way of the information
Posted on September 13, 2005
Ditto to that Says:
How is it that this mac-centric web site doesn’t display properly in the two most popular mac web browsers? Who designed it?
Posted on September 13, 2005
Anon. Says:
Doesnt work in Camino either.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Anon E Muss Says:
Some Mac site… Somebody needs to buy a Mac and look at this site. (Side column)… Where do we send the $$ to? I’ll send $10.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Opera User Says:
Article appears fine when using Opera version 8.02 on Mac OS 10.4.2. I can’t get it to display correctly in Safari 2.0.1, Camino 0.8.4, Mozilla 1.7.11, Firefox 1.5 beta 1, and Netscape 7.2.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Greg Says:
Back on topic...It doesn’t surprise me that these schools have had, and are going to have, problems. It seems the “smarter” you are (school administrators) the less common sense you possess! When you look at ALL of the costs of ownership. Macs always win! Plus, you get a system that is a joy to use!
Good job, Dennis!
Posted on September 13, 2005
size9 Says:
I say let us sit on the school board.
Come on guys! use yr spare time to influence the decision making process. After all, the children could be yours....
I am sure the more the merrier..
Posted on September 13, 2005
SlyRobber Says:
Site designed on a “DULL”
lol
I am also disturbed by the way this page displays on my Mac. Isn’t the layout even tested on a Mac ?
Posted on September 13, 2005
JLL Says:
What are you all talking about? Look fine here in Safari and Firefox.
Posted on September 13, 2005
bucketomonkeys Says:
The School Board is RIGHT!
Kids are learning exactly what to expect when they get out into the “real world.” Why not start the complete disillusionment early? Why put them on Mac’s and get their hopes up? (Page looks fine in Safari 2.0.1)
Posted on September 13, 2005
name Says:
Site columns on right side block on my config, using both Safari 2.0.1 and Firefox 1.0.6. Please eliminate the columns so I can read the text— I’m sure it’s a great article.
Posted on September 13, 2005
SlyRobber Says:
Well it doesn’t on mine. I am running 10.4.2 and Safari Version 2.0.1 (412.5) and this page is f****d up because of the side bar. The other pages I have read seem fine.
Thank you.
good comment buck.....
Posted on September 13, 2005
ken2 Says:
Typical school board - each member probably got a Dell for “school” use at home. The one thing you can be sure of is that the school board will keep all problems with the Dells very quiet.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Mr. 1.5% Says:
Off topic: sadly, I’m forced to use a Gateway with WinXP Pro, BUT I use Firefox.. the site works and looks well on an WinTel system, so the issue is in the HTML code.
On Topic: I’ve seen and heard this story (and similar ones like it) for the last three years.
Typical.
School boards never listen and the SAME ISSUES creap up time after time.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Dan Robinson Says:
The site’s working fine on mine. (Dual G5, Tiger 10.4.2)
(Safari 2.01)
(Opera 6.0.2)
(Netscape 7.2)
(Mozilla 1.7.11)
(Firefox 1.5 beta)
Have you guys been installing strange stuff and customizing Safari again?
--Dan
Posted on September 13, 2005
SlyRobber Says:
Off or On topic “school-boards” are not some mythical government creature. They are all about you and me. They get voted in and can get voted out, we all can get on a school board if we put in the effort or we can at least influence it’s decisions. Unfortunately most would rather put their efforts on more selfish pursuits and complain. Just complaining about or thinking getting rid of anything government is just too easy but getting involved takes real brains and courage.
To try to have a say in the choice of ones work tools also takes courage that most don’t have and excuses for not doing so comes a dime a dumpster.
This is not pointed at anyone in particular but rather my point of view on school boards and the choices they make.
Posted on September 13, 2005
SlyRobber Says:
As for the strange goings on the page now is correct but the automatic mailing system directs me to a whole different page than this one and I had to use a previous mailing in order to post once more. mmmmmm bizarre.
should be
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/7331/
was sent out the last two times
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/sad_tales_from_a_school_syste
which tells of part 4 of setting up your computer desk.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Rob Moreland Says:
It makes total sense that kids should be learning Windows XP! Those elementary school kids will be USING XP when they graduate and go into the real world in 2015! The Windows environment is going to be exactly the same in ten years as it is now. I learned Windows ten years ago, and it taught me how to do everything I need to do on Windows today. Well, Ok, I have to admit...the file system has changed. And of course we didn’t really have any interwork or networks back then. So I didn’t learn how to use those. And all the key commands are different. And none of the software that I learned back then still works even. But that little logo is the same when you start up the computer! So yeah! Windows 95 definitely taught me how to look at a logo. And I for one feel really well prepared.
Posted on September 13, 2005
oz Says:
adults ####. i think if the kids were consulted, they would have made a better decision. PSP’s for everybody!!!
Posted on September 13, 2005
oz Says:
its one thing to “prepare” the kids for a world of bugs, viruses, crashes, freezes, and whatever else microsoft charges us for, but to spend millions of dollars, and worse, waste education and class time when a clearly obvious and perfect tool/solution was given away for $50 a pop? someone’s an idiot and i dont think its the folks that voted for macs.
listen, you may wanna teach your kids how to drive on a old used car that wastes gas and stalls on the highway, because most likely when your son turns 16 thats what he may/may not be able to afford. but why should everyone risk poor training and safety? and if so, would you sell your $45,000 BMW for $500 to teach your kids drive-ed on a $10,000 KIA?
Posted on September 13, 2005
John Says:
PSP’s? Exactly. Most kids I’ve met prefer Windows machines, because they like playing the latest video games, so I don’t think they would choose macs for school. Most kids I’ve known also use Windows machines at home.
I do think it’s a good idea to have macs at schools though, since this will help them to know how to use both platforms.
School boards are usually concerned about money when it comes tech purchases, and only in terms of the initial product without regard for tech support and such.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Brave New World Says:
The schools you use is following the current fad among Windoze admins and IT departments-- lock the desktop down so that nothing but spyware, trojans and viruses can get in. If I was a teacher and was handed a laptop that I could not install software on I would throw it back at hem as hard as I could.
These security settings are about as solid as a politicians promises and last about as long. As to school boards, after Katrina does anybody have any faith in most state and local governments? I sure do not.
BTW- The site renders fine on every Mac in the house (G3 iBook, G4 mini, G4 eMac, G5 PowerMac).
Posted on September 13, 2005
Eli Says:
Let’s hope APPLE learns from this and uses it on all of their presentations to school boards (and whomever, really). This should help sell more Macs…
Posted on September 13, 2005
Johobo Says:
this site shows fine on G4 Powermac with Firefox, but not with Powerbook 17” with Firefox, mysterious ha!
Posted on September 13, 2005
Martin Pilkington Says:
It makes total sense that kids should be learning Windows XP! Those elementary school kids will be USING XP when they graduate and go into the real world in 2015! The Windows environment is going to be exactly the same in ten years as it is now.
By that theory we should only teach what is the most popular and ignore everything else. Change is how the human race progresses, if you don’t then teach people of this change then how will that advancement spread? After all, we didn’t all learn that the world was round by saying “But most people think the world is flat so lets carry on teaching that”
Posted on September 13, 2005
Frank Petrie Says:
Ever been to school board meeting?
‘Nough said.
Posted on September 13, 2005
SlyRobber Says:
No, but I regularly attend meetings at my child’s school. I have “harassed” my school district rep. in order to change something I didn’t agree with. I know I will in the future I won’t need a decoder ring or magic powers. I do have a full time job am proud to pay my taxes and do my share.
Thank you very much.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Santayana Says:
Henrico County School Board? Ah yes, the same Einsteins who set up that “surplus Macintosh riot” about four weeks ago, in which nobody planned for any civil order or crowd control. My my, home schoolin’ lookin’ awful good in Henrico County about now.
Posted on September 13, 2005
Pikemann Urge Says:
I don’t think much of the ‘real world’ arguement. It has no relevance. School itself is nothing like the ‘real world’! Exams themselves are artificial and don’t make students any better at what they learn. Maybe get rid of them?
If I were a student I’d want the best computer possible because it’s the work that I do on it that matters. I would want to work efficiently, smoothly and if possible with style. The Macintosh is the only computer that would really let me do that.
BTW I have used all major platforms and am currently using a Windows computer - but for the last time. Changing several times from one to the other over the years was no hassle. That’s part of living with technology in the ‘real world’. :-)
Posted on September 13, 2005
AC Says:
The “real world” is not black-and-white. Regardless of popular opinion, the “real world” is made up of Windows machines, Macs and everything else in between.
I used Macs in high school. I used Macs in art school. I now use a Mac at work and a Mac at home. I don’t have to sit in front of a Windows box unless I’m visiting my in-laws.
The “real world” argument is as baseless as the “Macs-don’t-get-viruses-because-their-market-share-isn’t-worth-it” nonsense.
Posted on September 13, 2005
KaptainAmazing37 Says:
Gosh, this brings me back when I was in college and came back to work with my old high school to explain to them that they could save our cash strapped district an butt-load of money by upgrading the computers they bought with Linux (since they only performed word processing, slide shows, excel, and web browsing in school). The focus group consisting of the principal, and intelligent tech savy parents were delighted with the prospect of saving Tens of Thousands by putting off purchasing new hardware for another 3 to 4 years. The school board, in their infinate wisdom, couldn’t wrap their minds around it. Saving money intelligently just didn’t make sense to them at the time. Course, this was a year before OSX was released in it’s first debut.
Remember this: The average intelligence level of a School Board member is just that - AVERAGE. Most people in any local government have not even completed a 4 year degree, let alone understand how to run an organization efficiently. This is why people who are wealthy from thier work avoid getting involved in in local government - why waste your time working with idiots for no reward? It’s much more worthwhile to spend your time working FOR idiots (or serving idiots while working for yourself) while making LOTS of Money.
I don’t hold any stock in these claims of victory by Dell OR Apple when they convince a Public School System to convert one way or another. Any decent salesman with a proper pitch could convert a School Board to serve Asbestos in the cafeteria if it would keep the school within budget. But seriously, if you want to see who is making the most progress within the education market, look to see who the TRENDSETTERS are choosing and why. Private Schools & Charter Schools (Note, NOT religious schools), those who are independent of the stupidity and ignorance of the Public School System, are the real markets we should be watching. Every time I see a comercial for a new Charter School or Academy, I see kids using Macs. Every time I see a comercial touting the public school system, I see a kid on a Wintel. Coincedence? I think not.
Nope, I think I’ll ensure my children use the most reliable and easy to use computer system avaliable when the time comes (and from looking at Windows Vista, I’m sure my kids will be plugging away on Mac OS X Puma or whatever cat they use as their mascot). That’s right folks, increase your child’s chance to go to the Ivy Leauge: Buy a Mac ;D
Posted on September 13, 2005
dan Powers Says:
It would be great if the educational system would stop equating using a tool (windows, mac, or Linux) with the notion of solving problems. I don’t care if my kid learns how to use Excel… I want him to know how to tear a problem apart and solve it with whatever tools he has. A computer is a tool. Macs are great tools… but learning how to solve problems on a Mac does not preclude you from later solving problems on windows. God, if all we are doing is teaching our kids how to use microsoft word in school, we are truly screwed.
The logic used in these situations is ridiculous. Total cost of ownership is almost never considered - heck, with Dell’s pricing, just getting an accurate cost for what it is you think you are buying is tricky enough… Just follow the link to the $299 Dual Core 8.6 GHz Perplexion Computer… Where you will be introduced to the 1.2 GHz Celeron home computer with 128K of RAM and a 20 GB hard-drive… Which, when properly configured with all of Dells recommended upgrades, costs $695.00…
----
To quote Douglas Adams (who foresaw all of this through his deep understanding of human behavior - AKA sheep mode = ON)
“says of the The serious cybernetics corporation products - ‘that it is very easy to be blinded to the essential uselessness of them by the sense of achievement you get from getting them to work at all. In other words, and this is the rock solid principle on which the whole of the corporations galaxy wide success is founded… Their fundamental design flaws are completely hidden by their superficial design flaws.”
Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy… Many years before Win 95.
Douglas Adams was a mac user.
---
I say, let the kids use macs ... At least school can be fun.
---
Posted on September 14, 2005
David Says:
Before retireing, I worked in a school system that went WinTel. The tech people couldn’t keep up with the calls. The system went so far as to train some of us to help with tech problems locally and then locked up the operating system so we couldn’t do anything to straighten out problems.
Unfortunately, here in North Carolina, we seem to be stuck forever with Dell garbage since the legislature gave away millions of tax dollars to get Dell to locate a distribution center in the state.
Posted on September 14, 2005
Krioni Says:
The problem with the sidebar becomes obvious when you increase your font size. You need to make sure that the text in the main article div (item1) does not get covered. It seems the div for the article is absolute position, while the right sidebar is float. Please fix this - I hate having to make my font smaller - it means trying to decide between straining my eyes and having to guess what the last few letters of a given line are.
Posted on September 14, 2005
mackeyser Says:
This comment some make is maddening:
“this is what they’ll see in the ‘real world’ so, of course, they should use Wintel machines.’
Really?
The ‘real world’ also has in many cases incompetent and/or bullying bosses, gossiping co-workers, favoritism-based promotions which totally disgregard merit, work stealing, and on and on and on.
Should we simply accept these behaviors and throw out the behavior codes in most schools as well? I mean,it is EXACTLY the same logic which justifies using Windows in schools…
As well, as any economist will tell you, the engine which drives our economy is not big business, but small-business and entrepreneurs. In such a cost sensitive environment where TIME is the most valuable asset at all, how do these small companies justify expensive QOS and customer support contracts, the time wasted with malware of all sorts and the extra expense of extra personnel to keep them running?
Moreover, the tech support solution for most serious windows issues is “Ghost it”. Problem solving hardly exists on the Windows side anymore. The way IT does it now is keep the docs on the server and lock down the clients. Protect the server as much as possible and just reimage the desktop or laptop if anything goes wrong. And if you have a problem with your laptop away from your IT dept...you’re just S.O.L.
So if anyone takes the time to notice, actual problem solving on the windows side is in drastic decline. Critical thinking to solve windows problems is a distant memory in most cases.
Macs aren’t perfect. But I am sick and tired of people using flawed logic, bogus reasoning and ignnorant prejudices to make choices that greatly influence. Thankfully, my school district (Culver City, CA) uses macs and even has a performing arts/video production program (we are very close to the Sony Studios/Columbia Pictures lot).
And if someone tries to convert MY school district where I have 4 kids...I will declare jihad against them...lol (any Eddie Izzard fans will understand what I mean)
Posted on September 16, 2005
Mr. 10% Says:
I work for a medium sized district that just made the switch from Mac to Windows, and it has been a less that easy transition. The decision was made with virtually no input from the staff, and was recommended by an outside consultant that specializes only in windows. The number one reason given for the change..."market share”. By the time teachers found out about this change it was too late to do anything about it- we even tried to get Apple to come in and make a counter proposal to the board, but deals had all ready been inked. Absolutely no consideration was given to the needs of the staff and students and our woefully inadequate training on the new computers/software was “just play with it, you’ll figure it out”. They’ve locked down every Windows box so hard, that we have to call the IT department for such mundane things as selecting a printer or setting the date/time.
The whole situation is so frustrating that I’ve considered purchasing a Mac with personal funds for use here at school… but then we’ve been warned by administration that we better not do that. At least I can still use my Mac at home…
Posted on September 16, 2005
Technology Coordinator - NH Says:
It is interesting that school boards (Who often only have the claim to fame of going to school which therefore qualifies them as experts in schools) lack the ethical standards that they want of the children and teachers in their districts. These random decisions at late meetings are so lacking in judgement and data which they all scream about. As I watch switching in NH, you can always find a rep who is a buddy with a school board member or a wanna be third tier NT consultant that knows someone, etc. If any of these board members owned a business or worked for a small business that is Windows based and examined the IT budget they would be shocked. In northern NH, the school districts have some of the largest and most sophisticated networks as compared to all the businesses in the region and yet their friend down the raod who was an ISP 10 years ago with a 20 line modem bank knows more than people in education. My Dell rep told me that if it wasn’t for Microsoft subsidizing the price of the laptops to school, they would never be able to offer the prices that they do.
This is just like choosing the new math text book based on the free poster sets that one publisher threw in!
Please......Try to be as intelligent as you want your children to be.
Posted on September 18, 2005
Thomas Gentry-Funk Says:
I am surprised at anger displayed in some of the posts. Aren’t we debating issues here? I don’t see the need for personal attacks in our posts.
My .02
Posted on September 21, 2005
Hugh Says:
Macs are it for me.
If noone in the world used macs I wouldn’t care as long as I was able somewhere to purchase one for myself.
Schools have classes in Math in English in Business, why not have classes in the Windows OS and the Mac OS also. Students are likely to use one or the other at sometime.
If students have a good understanding of both systems they will find greater employment oportunities for themselves and not be so intimidated by the different machines.
Posted on September 27, 2005
Thomas Gentry-Funk Says:
An interesting piece of news....my 6-12 Independent school after being a Mac school for 20 years is converting their servers to Windows. A recent IT hire convinced the administration to convert the entire admin system and the entire school to Windows server.
In our first two weeks of implementation, nothing works. Access to files, email, software, and printers is non existent. The new IT staff person said, “I’m wokring out the kinks”....funny story. Glad I have my laptop for work.
Posted on September 28, 2005
Frank Petrie Says:
Of course. I have a cousin who is an IT guy. He personally is switching to Mac. But he won’t mention that idea to the company. If they were to switch to Mac, you’d need a smaller IT department. Don’t want to be one of the ones they let go.
Posted on September 28, 2005
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
fubar Says:
Hey, that side panel is in the way with firefox (under linux)! Can it be moved/adjusted?
Posted on September 13, 2005