January 15th, 2008
Nothing new for Ed Tech at Macworld?
Well, sort of. If you were looking for a new entry-level headless desktop, then no. If you were looking for a UMPC-style low cost Macbook, then no. A brilliantly-executed OLPC competitor for Steve Jobs’ “One more thing” (that never happened)? No, nothing like that, I’m afraid. However, Apple did bring us a couple of particularly slick items that just might make their way into quite a few districts and universities.
Also of note is something that didn’t happen. A few rumors had been flying around pre-Macworld regarding a Mac Mini replacement or refresh. Alternatively, a few bloggers were hoping for an entry level or midrange desktop. Since these didn’t happen, we can probably assume that the Mac Mini isn’t going anywhere. It’s a pretty handy little computer that makes the Mac OS almost attainable for quite a few schools and allows you to recycle old monitors, mice, and keyboards (of which most of us have plenty). If I can’t have an OLPC killer, then I’m glad that an almost entry-level option still exists (I say almost entry-level since it doesn’t take a Core 2 Duo to run Ubuntu; most Linux distributions, and even Windows XP move along fine on a Celeron at much lower cost).
In terms of what did happen, I have to say that the Time Capsule was the most exciting bit of kit to come out of Macworld today, from an Ed Tech perspective. Imagine cheap, bulletproof, wireless backups for all of your users. Teachers might actually back up their files if they could do it as easily as the Time Capsule promises. Plug this in in your teachers’ lounge and you not only have a Draft N access point, but you have a terabyte of backup for $500. Sweet!
The Macbook Air really is very cool and I think we’ll see them in the hands of a lot of college students. However, while the price is actually quite aggressive, it’s just too high for most educational settings. I also can’t imagine letting anyone under the age of 18 touch one of these things. Recyclable aluminum case or not, it’s so bloody thin that I see it folded in the bottom of backpacks. If I do decide to jump on the Mac bandwagon myself, I think a plain old Macbook would be a better choice - I’m just as mean to my equipment as most high schoolers are to theirs. The lack of Firewire was also a turnoff, ruling out the use of most current DV cameras with iMovie (certainly a slick application for school media labs).
It looks like we’ll need to wait for the next Macworld for Jobs to announce that Apple will be the US OEM of choice for Intel’s Classmate PC, of course available in some incredibly stylish configuration. Is it too early to start the rumor mills for next year?
Follow Chris Dawson on Twitter! Christopher Dawson is the technology director for the Athol-Royalston School District in northern Massachusetts and a member of the Internet Press Guild. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations, but always keep in mind that the opinions expressed here are his own and not those of his daytime employer, even if he talks incessantly about his day job.
Subscribe to ZDNet Education via Email alerts or RSS.
