A friend and colleague is about to implement a laptop program for 1700 students over in the amazing technology section in ISB (International School of Bangkok). We are talking about true one to one where each student gets a laptop to take home.
ISB haven’t decided whether to put Microsoft or Apple onto their new laptops (actually with Apple you have to buy Apple laptops).
For a smaller program without dedicated IT help, I’d say Apple would be the better choice. But at 1700 students you have the scale to make other choices.
In terms of OS, I wouldn’t choose either Apple or Microsoft. I’d look to the future and give the children Linux laptops. Linux Mint Debian Edition is a very nice distribution which can be based on the very reliable and spritely Debian core (rather than the top heavy and sometimes slow to update Ubuntu).
Of course there are driver issues in Linux, but as you have control of the hardware, you can choose recommended hardware with 100% compatibility and effectively achieve the OS/hardware integration which Apple does at a tiny fraction of the price.
I’m a 15 year Apple user with four Apple computers now (have to get rid of a couple actually). We use all three OS at work but will be moving to Linux over the next years.
Why drop Apple?
Apple is going back to walled garden:
- software: only apps from their store
- data: iCloud for all your data
- hardware: all your devices and all your peripherals have to come from Apple (new proprietary data transfer and monitor connections)
This is an Orwellian world which I wouldn’t want to push children into.
The arguments against Microsoft (backdoors, security issues, shovelware on delivery, performance deterioration over time) have been covered many times.
Let the kids learn how to use real computers where there is a chance to look under the hoods and tinker. It will help them to develop clearer and deeper thinking about IT and technology.
And it will save a boat load of money over 1700 laptops. I’d also try to pick laptops for which I could replacement parts at reasonable prices. I’m not sure what vendor offers that. I know Apple parts are very expensive.
One could still make an argument for hardware quality in favor of Apple in buying the least expensive Apple laptops (say MacBook Air 11″ with max memory) and putting Linux on them. Where that gets difficult is you do need a distribution which handles power management on those specific laptops well.
Those MacBook Airs are very light (I have one) and easy to carry around. The maximum memory at 4GB is a limitation but one that young students could probably live with, just as students are forced to live in shared dormitories and only get apartments later in life.
The equivalent of a MacBook Air 11″ was only made by Sony a few years ago and cost upwards of $2300. Current US educational pricing on a Macbook Air 11.6″ with 1.6 GHz processor, 4 GB memory and a 128 GB flash drive with Apple care is $1332 (bare bones 2 GB/64 GB is at $949 but it’s seriously underpowered and nothing is replaceable). Not sure about Thai pricing on Apple computers. The advantage here is that the maintenance for three years would be all Apple’s problem.
No, but even the Air doesn’t scale out for educational use. The cost for 1700 machines would be $2,260,000.
Steve Jobs holding a MacBook Air: Laptops for Students should be small and light
durable and attractive. They also should not cost $1300+ with reasonable
memory and a multiyear warranty. Photo by MacMessiah.
Does anyone have any suggestions for similarly durable and attractive and lightweight mid-range hardware which would suit Debian Linux (with 1700 laptops, you could even afford to commission some power management rewrites from core Debian team)?
Alec Kinnear
Alec has been helping businesses succeed online since 2000. Alec is an SEM expert with a background in advertising, as a former Head of Television for Grey Moscow and Senior Television Producer for Bates, Saatchi and Saatchi Russia.
You make some great points and in many places in the developing world and even in schools in the US and Canada schools are moving to “Bring Your Own Device” which comes with it’s one issues. A teacher who’s not very tech savvy (and most aren’t) can’t trouble shoot multiple machines running multiple systems.
One of the issues we have here in Bangkok, and I’m sure others would have the same issues, is support.
All of our technicians know Windows as it is the dominate operating system here in Bangkok. We’ve contracted with Apple actually to support our computers.
But the issue with going Linux….even though I fully agree with you…is support.
There are very few Linux technicians who are willing to work for what schools are willing to pay.
While I was in Shanghai the issue we had was that we’d hire a Linux technician and they would work for the school until their English improved enough to get hired somewhere else and then go work for 3, 4 or 5 times the pay. Schools just can’t afford good technicians who really know their stuff and here in Asia a good Linux technician is worth a lot.
So our default becomes working with companies like Apple that will give schools like mine the hardware, software, and support all in a neat little package.
That’s why Apple is taking over International schools here in Asia. The schools have the money and Apple delivers a great product.
But…you do have me downloading Linux to install on my MacPro. :)
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for stopping by.
There are a couple of alternatives to the hire and lose cycle. One is to train someone who does want to stay with the school and in education in Linux. Or find a couple of part timers who are looking for something in addition to their main gig and are unlikely to be poached (big companies don’t want part timers).
Based on what Apple computers cost, you have a fair budget for the right tech.
Your argument is in favour of giving the students Linux as their experience with Linux would make them more capable and employable at higher salaries at the end of school.
Let me know how the Linux experiment goes. You’d do well to play with Linux inside of a virtual machine (VMware or VirtualBox) rather than try to move there instantly from an Apple computer: old habits die hard, it’s probably too late for you or I. I wouldn’t want to wish this walled garden on my children though.