Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Re: Best Platform for a New School

I have found that most administrative users will need / want PCs as
Jomar indicates. No matter what platform you choose, you will spend
less time on dealing with hardware issues if you are able to have a
single platform throughout your school. So, in general, I would
recommend staying with all PCs and if possible all with same operating
system (e.g. Vista ugh!).

If you do find there is some need for Macs for specialty classes like
advanced video, I would put these in one area, dedicated only to the
classes that really need these computers, again to save time dealing
with hardware and compatibility issues.

Renee Ramig
Director of Technology
Seven Hills School
=20
The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. John
Powell
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Jomar McDonald
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 7:35 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Best Platform for a New School

I am going to suggest Windows PCs/Servers, even though I'm a mac user at
home. You're running a high school and building it from the ground up
so this is your shot to get it right from the start. Macs are consumer
PCs and are not geared for the enterprise market at this point. You
should strive to implement an enterprise class instrastructure that will
be the backbone of your core business. Also, macs will always cost
double to receive the same effect you can get from Windows PCs, no
matter how creative they are with their pricing. You want a
standardized environment that can be centrally managed to save on
personnel resources and frustrations.

Also, your software applications needed for the business side of your
school will determine the platform you need to run. Most robust student
record/financial database applications will need Windows/Windows Server
(read: Blackbaud). Mixed environments require more and more resources
to maintain them, you'll need an expert for every differing system.
Keep it simple..

Hope that helps some.

Jomar McDonald
Director of Technology
The Frances Xavier Warde School
751 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60610
W: 312-798-4064
F: 312-337-7180

-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of David Liebmann
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 8:43 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Best Platform for a New School

I am the founding head-elect of Greenwich Village High School in NYC,
which will open in September 2009. Of the many tasks before me, one is
choosing between Mac and PC. I am sure there are strong opinions on
either side, but I am curious to hear from those who might have insights
into the best choice to support the majority of school operations,
including the business functions of the school.

David Liebmann

[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons,
attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L

[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons,
attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L

[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=3DISED-L