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==**This wiki has been set up to allow the staff to discuss the pros and cons of each of the notebook options. I would encourage you to consider posting your opinion as many heads are better than one ! Please also focus your opinions around the educational benefits for our students. To add your comments, select the "Discussion" tab above and follow the prompts.**==

==In order to better prepare our staff for the upcoming deployment of portable devices to our students, we are considering purchasing notebook computers for the staff to use. This discussion is aimed at allowing you some input into the choice of machine that we standardise upon.==

Currently we are looking at three options:
Windows XPPro ||= A HP 550 running Linux ||= A Macbook running OSX 10.5 ||
 * = [[image:hp550.jpg]] ||= [[image:hp550.jpg]] ||= [[image:macbookAl.jpg width="311" height="176"]] ||
 * = [[image:xpPro.jpg width="201" height="133"]] ||= [[image:linux-penguin.jpg width="121" height="134"]] ||= [[image:leopard.jpg width="172" height="134"]] ||
 * = A HP 550 running

===There are numerous positives and negatives for each of the options, however we need to discuss as a staff which would best suit our needs. Currently we are leaning away from the Windows platform for the students for a series of reasons, some of which I have detailed below:===


 * ===Students will be taking their portable device (laptop/notebook/netbook - still undecided) home. This exposes them to potential security risks running Windows. These security risks (viruses, trojans, key loggers, etc.) can then be potentially passed onto other users via flash drives before connecting to the school network. It is possible (although unlikely) that the school network could be compromised as a result of this action. Mac OSX and Linux pose no such risk as they are both extremely secure operating systems.===
 * ===Windows XPPro is a less stable platform than either Mac OSX or Linux as both are built around Unix (most financial institutions use Unix or a derivative of it for their servers).===
 * ===The speed of a WIndows XPPro computer is diminished over time. This is due to many factors directly related to the operating system. For example, as new updates are installed more load is placed on the limited resources (RAM, CPU, Hard Drive Space) hence causing the machine to appear to run slower. As seen with the problems that plagued Vista, not all Windows Operating System upgrades will be supported by existing or older hardware. Using Windows as the Operating Software would limit the potential life span of the machine. With Windows latest offering (after Vista) - Windows 7, we are unsure what will be the minimum hardware requirements. Apple OSX 10.5 (the latest Operating Software from Apple) will run comfortably on an eMac that is 5 years old. Vista struggles on most machines older than 2 years (general standard specifications). Linux is the same as OSX - the latest offering will run comfortably on a 5 year old machine.===
 * ===In the next 3 to 5 years when the school has access to the Internet via a fiber optic link, students will be encouraged to use Web 2.0 applications exclusively. These applications are not platform dependent. Until then we will still rely upon applications to be locally loaded. All three operating systems considered come bundled with application software. The main differences between them lies in their sophistication. The applications bundled with the mac are far advanced than those bundled with the other operating systems.===
 * ===While the Windows and Linux options favour Open Office, the mac will use iWorks. The advantage of iWorks is that it is software written and distributed by Apple. This way, product support for both hardware and software comes from the same company. The one company manufactures the machine, writes the operating system and the software that we intend to use. This cannot be said for any other option.===
 * ===Support from the CEO currently is only available on the Windows platform for desktops/laptops. As of Friday 8th of May, I believe that this will all change as representatives of the CEO IT Support Team conceded at the Diocesan Principals Conference (ICT) that this model may not be the most educationally sound solution.===
 * ===Apple have been at the forefront of education for decades. They have a strong commitment in this field. A recent example of this is with iTunesU. This is a site where educational institutions (Universities and Colleges accross the globe) have made available educational resources to the public - all free.===