--- Forwarded Message from Ian Schuler <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 14:23:59 -0400
>From: Ian Schuler <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5140 i-Macs as main LLearning Center platform
>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>

------------------

        We just replaced our lab MACs with 8 iMacs this summer.  Although
the true test will start in about a month, we've had only 2 major problems
with the iMacs.
        First, they don't come with a floppy drive built in.  Students who
want to save work (i.e. a Japanese word processing assignment) either have
to FTP it to their university unix account, or we have to buy USB floppy
drives.  (We choose the later.)
        Second, you can only use USB devices with them and USB isn't fully
developed yet.  There are no slots to install additional cards.  You are
stuck with 2 USB ports, one of which you will probably want to plug a
keyboard into.  From one port you can chain over 100 devices, but that may
require buying a USB hub.  Also, it'll be a little while before you can
get everything for USB that you can get for SCSI.  250MB zip drives, and
video capture devices compatible with Adobe Premiere are currently
unavailable.  A comprehensive list of iMac peripherals is available at:

http://www.imac2day.com/periph.shtml

imac2day.com is an excellent source of iMac information/propaganda.  They
also have some nice message boards for getting help with your iMac.
Wintel lovers should be wary treading there however.

        All in all, I have to admit that iMacs aren't THAT bad.  I
complained at first.  Their limitedness frustrated me.  However, I can
see situations where they could be useful.  If all you want to do is run
presentation style applications locally or from a server, give internet
access, and either don't care about security or are willing to shell out
for OS10 or OnGuard, then iMacs are probably ideal.  You don't need all
that crap that a wintel comes with anyway.

        If you do opt for iMacs I would recommend holding on to some of
the old powermacs for a while.  Our problem was trying to move everything
at once.  There were things that we couldn't do right away on the iMacs
that we used to do on the powermacs.  For instance, our Japanese word
processor requires JLK which we only had on disk at the time, so we
couldn't install it on the iMacs.

        Right now we are looking at getting OS10 for our G3 Server, and
having our iMacs boot right off of that.  I'd be happy to let you know how
that works.

If you have any more specific questions feel free to email me.

Ian Schuler
Sr. Tech Specialist
Johns Hopkins University Language Lab
[log in to unmask]

On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, LLTI-Editor wrote:

> --- Forwarded Message from [log in to unmask] ---
> 
> >From: [log in to unmask]
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >cc: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
> >Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 16:17:25 -0400
> >Subject: I-Macs as main LLearning Center platform
> 
> 
> 
> Friends:
> 
> Although the American University Language Resource Center has almost as many
> Wintel PCs as Macs,  our "classroom computer center" is a Mac environment.  We
> are going to purchase 21 new desktops and a server for that "classroom" space in
> the near future.
> 
> We are vacillating between I-Macs and wintels.
> 
> We like the consistency, and true plug-and-play characteristics of the Macs.  We
> dislike that in our experience, identical wintel machines can behave
> differently, (eg sound).  Our university  is withdrawing support from Macs and,
> we're seeing more and more new students who are familier with wintels, and not
> with Macs.
> 
> We've experienced most wintel and Power-Mac (individual and network) problems,
> but the I-Mac, although an  enticing network connector and web surfer, is new.
> 
> Can anyone share anecdotes with us that would help our comparitive assessment of
> I-Macs and wintels.
> 
> I heard at a meeting today that a lot of folk are having, or have had problems
> with  I-Macs, and we would sure like to know your experience with them,
> particularly if wintel comparative.
> 
> Your help, advice, etc. is gratefully solicited...
> 
> Bill Caldwell
> LFS/LRC
> American University
> Washington, DC
>