stories by Anna Bauman and Libby Hyde

This year all freshmen, juniors, and seniors received brand new Lenovo ThinkPads to replace the Dell netbooks used in previous years. Last year, the Class of 2016 tested out the Lenovo ThinkPads, which they will keep from last year. With funds available from the technology budget to purchase new student laptops this year, technology coordinators Jeff Zimmerman and Matt Stewart chose the Lenovo ThinkPads because of the successful trial run they had with them last year.

The Lenovo trial run proved that the new laptops were stronger and had less issues than the Dell netbooks. The Lenovo has a significantly larger screen and is faster than the netbooks.

So far, Zimmerman has had fewer technical problems to fix. The most common problems he has dealt with are hard drive failures and printer installations, as well as the normal random hardware issues.

“When you order such a huge shipment, you’re bound to have some failures,” Zimmerman said.

So far students have been pleased with some aspects of the new netbooks and unhappy with others.

“I like the bigger screen but I don’t like the mobility of the mouse,” junior Grace Sly said.

Several other students added that they like the battery life of the new netbooks compared to the old ones.

“I like how you can see how much [battery] you have left,” junior Allison Bresette said.

St. Teresa’s Academy’s Jeff Zimmerman

The cost of the netbook is around $540 each. That is before the cost of software, powerschool, wifi access and all the other items that are required.

STA has 12 student loaner machines that are ready to be used at any time which students require it.

The administration plans on sticking with these new netbook for at least three more years before they may need to switch them out. They will evaluate the netbooks each year, and make any considerations as needed.

The administration budgets $12,000 a year for netbook repairs and insurance for all student netbooks. That does not mean, however, that they spend that whole amount each year. That is just what they budget for.

The comprehensive technology fee is $650 for each student. This fee includes the cost of the netbook, software (Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office etc), wifi, printer access, databases (such as the library uses), and online textbooks.

Rockhurst High School’s Mark Bayhylle

There are 84 Rockhurst High School students participating in a test program in which each of those students can use their iPad for 2 or more classes, if instructors permit it.

They are in the final stages of a 4 year role out process, and are hoping to go completely digital during the next school year.

About 2/3 of Rockhurst students have an iPad outside if school, so Rockhurst does not plan to distribute iPads to those who already have them. The administration is suggesting that each student who does not already have one purchase an iPad before next school year.

The administration plans to pay for each student to have 3 applications provided for school: keynotes, Pages, and Notability. The administration will pay for any applications that need to bougt in “bulk” for any classes, according to Rockhurst systems analyst, Mark Bayhylle. However, aside from that, students will be responsible for purchasing their own applications.