We have 2 iMacs (first generation, 233 MHz) and 4 iMacs (second generation, 266
Mhz) in our lab. Except for one hard disk failure - replaced under warranty -
the machines have worked well. All of them are running the suite of language
kits under system 8.5.1.
They are conected via 100BaseT to the network and provide video and audio served
via Appleshare 6.1 in excellent quality - in in full screen mode under QuickTime
3 (not really streaming!) - as well as a number of standard applications used in
a language resource center.
We have made a decision to serve video from the streaming QuickTime server
coming with OSX. Since we are beta testers for OSX, the streaming technology has
been available to us for a while. We have tested live video streams coming off
the air as well as coming off a VCR - and the results have been very good. Some
of you may have seen Steve Jobs demo at MacWorld in January with about fifty
iMacs showing different parts of the same video file simultaneously from a G3
server. It works on both platforms.
The only current drawback of this technology is its current inability to stream
MPEG1 materials - the format of most of our digitized video holdings. Apple has
promised this capability for later this year.
We do have a Microsoft video server running on our NT Server. This environment
works just fine, too (except for Macs, of course!) - but, without going into
details here, is fairly primitive in its capabilities when compared to
QuickTime. It has its problems with MPEG, too....
In the long run, the issues concerning computers in the lab will be very
different. Most regular services will be delivered via the network to end users
utilizing browsers on all kinds of platforms. The lab will be a production
point, delivery point, and testing point. Some of the the less commonly taught
languages will probably remain in a lab situation because of special
configurations required. Some controlled testing and research may also remain in
the lab. But the bulk of present services available in the lab will probably be
moved to the network and with that directly to the end user. Several
institutions are already in a state of what I call "parallel technonoly,"
i.e.conventional services are still available in the traditional language lab
situation, whereas full digital services are available simultaneously to those
users who have appropriate network connections and capable machines.
From a price/performance point of view the iMac is definitely a superior choice
for labs as well as end users at this time. The one thing I really worry about
is the level of software erosion in the Mac environment - the number of active
software developers and available programs is much smaller than in the Wintel
world. Apple will have to make enormous efforts to convince developers to
develop in "multi-platform" mode and consider browser type-of-environments the
ultimate vehicle of delivery.
This approach may be the solution to Apple's long term presence in the education
market.
Otmar Foelsche