Laptops REQUIRED for College

[WolfmanNCSU]

Indiana State has become the first univeristy to require laptops as essential.

Indiana State University has selected the Lenovo ThinkPad as its preferred computer for students and faculty as the university moves toward becoming a notebook institution.

...

ISU will become the first public university in the state to require all students to have notebook computers, beginning with incoming freshmen in fall 2007.

The university is one of a handful of institutions nationally, including the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Clemson University, to institute similar mobile computing initiatives.

“When we announced the Notebook Initiative last September, we pledged that our students would receive high quality, business-grade laptops worthy of the investment they and their parents are making in an ISU education,” said C. Jack Maynard, ISU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The selection of the Lenovo ThinkPad fulfills that pledge.”

Source (http://www.tribstar.com/features/local_story_059211434.html?keyword=topstory)

I remember the people at Lenovo being happy about winning this bid not to long ago. Good choice for college laptops, being one of the most durrable ones made.

I personally don't think this is a wonderful move though. Laptops in class, does not equate to better grades/studying. I know its more access rather than actual use though.

[Eidorian]

Umm...the funny thing is that Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in *ahem* Indiana has required laptops for it's incoming freshman since 2003.

[Dorbin]

UNC has required laptops since 2000 to my knowledge.

You just read the article a little wrong; ISU will be the first public univ. in that state to do so.

[Eidorian]

UNC has required laptops since 2000 to my knowledge.

You just read the article a little wrong; ISU will be the first public univ. in that state to do so.Ah, public university. Yeah, that makes a bit of a difference. Still, I'm the kind of person that would just give out universal specifications and let the student buy their own laptops. It'll make it easier for the IT team just to go with disk images of Windows. I expect that to be the solution to most problems. Just wipe and put on the new image.

The guy in the room next door has lost his 20 GB music collection three times this year due to Windows re-installations.

[WolfmanNCSU]

Bleh, yeah, I left out the "in the state" part. I was fired up to post because I know Lenovo was fired up about the partnership and I missed a few words there.

Anyway, I still say that its the student's responsibilty to get the PC (desktop/laptop) of their choice with specs like Eidorian mentions. Let the university support the machines in labs on their campus, and the students to be responsible for their own. Provide educational discounts for those needing machines. Required.....bleh.

[Pro A.]

I use a laptop for a few of my classes, but they aren't required.

[Dorbin]

At UNC students have two choices: to either go through the IT department here and order one of two IBM models that get updated each year (one is slightly more advanced than the other, up to student which they want), or to get a laptop of their choice, any brand, and clear it with the IT department - it has to meet certain required specifications. Financial aid is available and is awarded to students in need, but this is determined by the Univ. - students who qualify receive grants anywhere from $500 to put towards the laptop, or they get the entire thing for free. This is good, since my laptop in 2004 (the slightly advanced model for the year) cost over $2800. I think the alternative was only a few hundred cheaper.

[Eidorian]

Bleh, yeah, I left out the "in the state" part. I was fired up to post because I know Lenovo was fired up about the partnership and I missed a few words there.

Anyway, I still say that its the student's responsibilty to get the PC (desktop/laptop) of their choice with specs like Eidorian mentions. Let the university support the machines in labs on their campus, and the students to be responsible for their own. Provide educational discounts for those needing machines. Required.....bleh.Yeah, I don't like being tied to just one company or model line. Just outline what programs students NEED to be able to run. I'd say Office and Adobe covers most university needs already. There are "official" options and free, open sources options for all of those on Windows/Linux/Mac. So as long as you can output the right format I don't see a problem with what machine you get.

[Benson]

They are just saying that it is a required part of tuition now, many schools offer laptops through tuition, but I've never heard of such a requirement. That is a mistake though because with a poliferation of laptops comes un-attentive students.

[Eidorian]

They are just saying that it is a required part of tuition now, many schools offer laptops through tuition, but I've never heard of such a requirement. That is a mistake though because with a poliferation of laptops comes un-attentive students.Yeah, if my school forced it into my tuition I would go there. I like having my OWN choices of hardware. I'm a Mac user and I have Office 2004 and Adobe CS 2. So scary. =-o

[IEatFriedPikmin]

I wouldnt like that. I dont need a laptop to do anything. I have a desktop computer that i paid for, and we have computer labs at school, which we are required to pay for to use. But its not nearly as much as a laptop.

[SuperLuigiBros]

I had to have a laptop for school since 2 years ago...

[Dorbin]

Laptops rock though. I like mine. It made me feel special when I got it.