<p>I'm not ditching my mac, I'm bringing it along because I prefer using OSX but for a laptop I am going to go through the myNotebook program because it is clearly a better deal than ordering a laptop from apple. To each his own though.</p>
<p>be advised that apple does give discounts to students</p>
<p>If I'm not mistaken they are approximately 100 dollars maybe a little bit more. Thats atleast how much I got off my iMac.</p>
<p>10% off is my recollection</p>
<p>That sounds about right. Which I still think has the MacBook higher priced than the ThinkPad. But I think its only a couple hundred dollars so maybe the difference is worth the price to allow yourself to use such a great operating system. I know that it was when I bought my iMac. I just really like the fact that the ThinkPads have on-site repairs including even accidental damage. Maybe I'm just a clutz and you guys don't really need to worry about anything happening to your notebookos.</p>
<p>eh on site is nice, they dont screw around if somethings broken they just give you a new one...no joke (as in hard drive, keyboard, etc)</p>
<p>haha that's fine, the computer through myNotebook should be one of top quality.</p>
<p>so soccerguy, do you think sending in the photo makes a difference?
I did not send it in until last week and so it was probably too late to matter. do they really look at that? someone on this site said that she thougth that helped her get in?</p>
<p>I don't see why a picture would play in decision making</p>
<p>This has been brought up before in a different thread. W&M has "added" a Mac option, but in reality it's the same system as before. You get a discount. W&M will not service the Macs on campus; you must go through Apple for warranty service. The only difference between last year and this year is that now there are recommended Mac models offered at a discount. Nothing else has changed.</p>
<p>In addition, the link you posted is full of wild misinformation. I can only assume you are the author since you have the same username on these forums as the blog's URL, and therefore you're going to catch the full force of the most irritated post I've ever made on these forums.</p>
<p>You preface your letter to the parent by indicating you worked in IT as a freshman. If that was true, and you worked in IT only as a freshman and not for the rest of your years, you spent your time answering phones and doing homework, not repairing computers. Since your subsequent comments seem to indicate a complete lack of knowledge regarding IT operations on campus, I can only assume you had limited involvement in the actual process of servicing computers, reinforcing my assumption that you spent your time answering the phones. I'm guessing you worked for IT for a month or two at most.</p>
<p>90% of IT's labor, at least in regard to the servicing of personal computers, goes into hardware repair, not virus removal. Very few machines become infected, and those that do are often so badly infected that they are simply reformatted (or as you indicated, drive swapped), a procedure that takes minutes. You greatly exaggerate W&M's use of drive swapping. Drive swapping is only done on computers that require a reformat. It is the exact same thing, only faster. Drive swapping is not a shortcut to avoid fixing a problem. Removable infections, as well as fixable software issues, are taken care of. Reformatting is done when fixing the problem is either impossible or otherwise not feasible.</p>
<p>Also, and if you ever worked for IT you should know this, W&M IT does not send laptops out for repair. IBM and Dell machines are serviced on campus by certified technicians. IT does not provide hardware support for other brands, but will provide a limited level of software support. </p>
<p>The example of identical computers creating an ideal situation for thieves is ludicrous. There is nothing remotely resembling a theft problem at W&M. Also, PCs can be protected with a BIOS password and can already be tracked on the campus network if stolen. Furthermore, computers are serialized and stolen computers will not be eligible for warranty repairs if the thief attempts to have the laptop fixed by the manufacturer in the future. The theft prevention measures you outlined are different, but offer no unique advantages. You can't say Macs would solve a theft problem when there isn't a theft problem to begin with.</p>
<p>I'm not going to comment on your price comparisons since the data are two years old and I don't have the documentation to do so. I hope you included the price of a 4 year, on-site warranty with accidental damage protection in your calculations. Most people complaining about the MyNotebook price fail to include the (fairly substantial) cost of an extended warranty with accidental damage protection.</p>
<p>To parents of incoming students, please don't make the mistake of purchasing a Mac beliving it will be fully serviced on campus. I'm not trying to steer anyone away from purchasing a Mac, but you should be aware of the difference in services provided for the Dell and for the Mac. Dells are serviced on campus by IT, Macs are not. As long as you understand this, feel free to purchase whichever you like. I understand it's completely personal preference, and that most people are set in their ways. I'm not trying to convert anyone. I'm just trying to alert everyone to the fact that despite having a Mac MyNotebook option this year, not much has changed in terms of levels of support on campus. Feel free to purchase the Mac, but be aware you're going to be more or less on your own to arrange warranty support.</p>
<p>Quick note from experience: My son purchased the WM MyNotebook when he entered in fall 2006. He has gotten great service out of the computer. It had one hardware problem that was fixed almost instantly under the service contract. (I realize there's a lot to be said for the Macs; I realize there are many less expensive options in the Windows world; but the MyNotebook option has worked out well for my son so far.)</p>
<p>In response to Javabytes87:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>The big differences this year over previous years is that parents are actively presented with the Macintosh option and that the FOUR YEAR Applecare option is available. Considering the fact that WM is a four-year college, this is a very attractive option that is not available directly through Apple.</p></li>
<li><p>My information I included about the program is the product of a discussion that I had with the WM IT Administration in the planning stages of the myNotebook program. I have included a paragraph relevant to the discussion here:</p>
<pre><code> "For the last three years, IT has spent over 90% of its labor resources as it relates to the student body on one thing: fixing PCs that have been compromised by virii, worms, trojans, spyware, etc. I was told by the head of IT that if the campus was switched to macs, IT would be out of a job."
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>I still stand by my claim that WM IT is self-serving. I know it as someone who worked in IT and someone who dealt with IT for four years at WM. Although it is true that IT is a diverse operation on campus, I was very disturbed by the comment from a top WM IT official that switching to a safer platform would put "IT out of a job." I am curious about what percentage of the IT budget would be affected if PC repair was removed from the equation, either by increased Mac usage on campus or by relying on direct mail repairs as through Applecare. I suspect it would be a significant loss.</p></li>
<li><p>In that same meeting with myNotebook planners from IT, one administrator said, "In my home we've got six computers. Five PCs and a Mac for my wife--it stays in her kitchen." I found this approach to Mac usage outdated and ignorant. Years later I found this same myNotebook director using an extremely expensive Macintosh workstation in his office with high end Apple monitors. I hope that his opinion towards Macs is indicative of a greater sea change in WM IT concerning the utility of Macs.</p></li>
<li><p>It is true, I did have a rant about the myNotebook theft risk involved with thousands of identical laptops on campus. At the time, I speculated that the fact that Mac laptops included a built-in iSight camera would deter more thefts. Who knows.</p></li>
<li><p>My post is two years old and was written with a good amount of vitriol, but I can express the fact that I am very pleased that Macs are now an official option on campus. As for pricing comparisons, I urge parents to ask their children what they want and compare what they get for the price. Apple's offer to educational purchases of a free iPod or iPod touch and a free Printer certainly sweetens the deal. For most students, I would sincerely recommend the 15-inch Macbook Pro which includes a $300 iPod Touch after online rebate and three years of the superb Applecare program for $2008.</p></li>
<li><p>To those about to purchase a machine, I strongly endorse the Applecare support program which is available for up to four years with the WM myNotebook offer, and three years otherwise. On campus support for the PC myNotebook program involves bringing the computer to the IT department on campus. Support for Apple products involves one of the following:</p></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li> Calling Applecare for assistance, and in the case of a repair, receiving an overnighted pre-paid DHL box for rapid repair at an Applecare center and overnight return shipment. All of my Applecare repairs amounted to a total of 3-4 days without the laptop. Besides, in my four years at WM, I never had a hardware problem that was so serious that it required a repair during the semester.</li>
<li> Bringing the computer to a local Apple Store, in Norfolk or Richmond for immediate consultation with a Mac Genius.</li>
<li> Consulting with one of the many students on campus who is adept at Macintosh computing is usually very helpful. Macs are much more secure and stable. Macs are not subject to the viruses and spyware and other slow-down problems of PCs.</li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you for this wonderful discussion, Javabytes. I would also refer readers to the following article about increased popularity of Macintoshes at Princeton:</p>
<p>"On-campus Mac users quadruple" - The Daily Princetonian
On-campus</a> Mac users quadruple - The Daily Princetonian</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Four year warranty is included with the Dell. Four year warranty with the Mac is an upgrade. Dell warranty includes accidental damage protection, Mac warranty does not. One tiny fall or a single spilled beer is all it takes.</p></li>
<li><p>IT is paid by IBM and Dell for each laptop serviced under warranty. This is called warranty self-maintenance. It's one of the reasons IT does not have to charge for services like almost every other institution does. Direct mail (aka depot) repairs would eliminate this revenue, as well as lengthen repair times to days or weeks, instead of hours.</p></li>
<li><p>What about thousands of identical Macs? How would that not pose the same theft risk? </p></li>
<li><p>Fair enough. I would also urge parents to ask their children which they would prefer when they have an upcoming paper or exam: getting their computer back usually within 24 hours of it breaking, often the same day - or being without it for a considerably longer period of time but being able to listen to music on their free iPod while they are waiting for repairs. </p></li>
<li><p>Macs are susceptible to an increasing number of malicious attacks. As their popularity grows, so does their attractiveness as a target. There ARE viruses for Macs, and I'm sure you recall the PWN 2 OWN contest held by the CanSecWest security conference in which the Mac was hacked in two minutes. (Macworld</a> | Gone in 2 minutes: Mac gets hacked first in contest) Mac's biggest safety feature until recently has been its small market share.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Javabytes, I think that we have reached a lot of common ground in this thread. Ultimately, I agree with you that parents should ask their students which computer they prefer and allow their students to balance the risks and rewards of each. It pleases me that the myNotebook program has chosen to present parents and students with more choices. This is especially important for students who would have received the myNotebook on scholarship, and would have not had a choice of Macintosh otherwise. I hope that this thread inspires parents to trust their students consider a budget and to make an informed decision.</p>
<p>Here are the two myNotebook purchase links:</p>
<p>Dell laptop: Dell</a> Purchase Program</p>
<p>Apple laptop: Apple</a> Laptop Options or [url=<a href="http://store.apple.com%5DThe">http://store.apple.com]The</a> Apple Store<a href="and%20click%20Educational%20Store%20for%20discounts">/url</a></p>
<p>Agreed. In the end, it does come down to personal choice, taking into account your own expertise level with both platforms as well as the services provided with each model. Hopefully everyone is fully informed of all the options available.</p>
<p>It is my understanding that students on scholarship do not have a choice, that they will receive the Dell. At least, that's the way it will work with the Gateway program.</p>
<p>Also, the link above for the Dell purchase site is invalid. The correct link is: <a href="http://www.dell.com/wmmynotebook%5B/url%5D">http://www.dell.com/wmmynotebook</a></p>