To Mac or Not to Mac

That really is the question.
We all know them, we all see them, we all are attracted to them but are they fit for education?
The general terms used for why Schools get them:

• They work from the get go
• Software
• Reliability
• Fast
• Powerful
• Industry standard

The only actual fact in the above, is industry standard but beware with that term - people in Music, Art and Design still use Windows PCs.  Before I get in to the main reasons why I am not convinced I will start with the basics:
Are they more reliable? Yes but let's face it there is a reason why, to compare a car that is reliable doing 3000 miles a year and never going over speed bumps, kurbs or pot holes is very different to a car doing 10,000 miles a year while hitting pot holes constantly. 
What does this mean? A windows PC in my current job can have a dozen software, updates being installed and that doesn't include windows updates.  Our windows PCs are used all day every day.  The Macs? Will not have any updates, new software being altered throughout the entire Year in fact my current Macs here have had about 4 software updates in 2 Years.  They are also being used around 2 Lessons a day.  Compared to our IT Suites which are fully booked out nearly every single day plus the after School sessions.  Is that a fair comparison?  Our IT Suites also have endless amount of USB sticks being used, keyboards/mice being broken and being replaced - wear and tear.  They are also left on when not in use until our late auto shutdown.  The Macs, are gathering dust and not left on throughout the day because they don't get used.

Again, is that a fair comparison?
Powerful/Fast - The inside of a Mac is no different to PC, they are generally made by the same company simply put together in a different warehouse in to a different body.  That's it.  You spend £1200 on a Mac, that same spec PC will cost around £500.  BUT how much of that power do you actually use?  I've seen a high spec PC costing £500, last just as long as a £250 PC and the difference after 7 Years is barely noticeable.  Worth the cost?  Generally most Student work doesn't require power hungry machines.  How do I know?  We have Intel i3, 4 GB Ram machines that other Students are using without any issues even with Adobe Premier.  How old are they? almost 3 Years old.  How much they cost, well let's just say under £250 each.




There is a reason why Professionals such as my self get a head ache with Apple Macs.

1. Are they planned in to the curriculum - No
2. Notice given to install, setup and test - No
3. Is accurate information presented to management - No
4. Who will be blamed for anything that doesn't work - IT Support

My first ever encounter with Macs, was ones that worked, logged on and got what was needed.  We rarely ever had to touch them, until they were pulled out in place of PCs - choice of department not IT Support.


The second encounter was the nightmare.
The Head of Music who was new, came along with a few nice things designed by a relative.  Showed the Head Teacher everything he could do with a new setup of IT.  He didn't have to involved us, he could get it all done for a fraction of the time/money and effort.  Unfortunately his Windows PC setup, were custom built machines, cable networked and all done by a single guy as a "private" personal job.  As a result, these PCs were poorly installed, driver issues, music equipment not working correctly and turned in to an effective nightmare.  Wait these are Windows PCs? 


Correct.  Now came - let's go to Macs by the Head of Music because of all the "Windows" issues.  It would make him look bad to admit that it was his mistake on why those Windows machines had nothing but problems.  The Macs, again he went alone, purchased and asked us to simply "pull out the box, plug it in and turn on it".  There was no planning to what he wanted, how they were linked, setup or installed.  So after a few months we assumed everything was perfect.  Unfortunately again, this wasn't the case.  Turns out, he wants them to logon with their Windows Accounts.  So we managed to get this sorted out - all last minute.  As time went by again it turns out he now wants them to be permissioned, get the software they needed, access to the drives they need etc.  Effectively turning them in to Windows PCs - again all last minute.  Now the above pretty much sums up why IT Support Staff are angry over the Mac situation.  There is this constant denial generally by Staff, they don't admit to management the issues they have but place the blame on IT Support.  Along this entire path management were being told reasons why the above issues existed, all because of general IT problems - not poor decisions made.  So the final solution was to hire an on site specialised in Macs to set them all up, again last minute.  This didn't work either.. and it turns out the Mac specialised had very little clue about Windows Servers and a key piece of Account information was missing to get it all working.  As time went by though this still wasn't good enough, no imaging, alterations to drive access needed and still the Head of Music wasn't getting what he wanted because no one knew.

At the end, there is always light because the Head Teacher had begun to realise we was right and his view on the Head of Music was wrong.  We sat down and worked together to sort out what needed to be done.


The Head Teacher pretty much chewed the Head of Music apart, IT Support would look at setting it all up correctly and take full control over the Mac situation to again be responsible for being Pro Active instead of the Head of Music's Reactive attitude.


The result?  A Mac setup in two areas that could be imaged, maintained and get everything that was needed.  Although it took some months to fully learn the setup, one technician spent the time doing it.


What do we learn from this?  Mac's are not generally the problem  It's those who push for it without planning or future thinking.  You also have to remember the cost factors involved.  Like it or not Schools are having their budgets torn apart.  Every year a School can potentially lose £100k every Year.  Even though the Government will claim otherwise.  Every £10,000 really does matter in a School and the term "Industry Standard" is an excuse poorly used.  After all the discussions I've been involved in, it comes down to one actual factor - Preference.  That's it, preference.  Of course, if you have a system already Apple Mac built - there is no point switching to Windows costing a lot of money but likewise if you are Windows based.  There is no point spending three times the budget for a Mac setup.  Windows PCs after all can use Adobe which may not be the most used Music/Film/Art packages it is how ever used enough to be classed as one of the top?  After all how many Students in Music actually will have a career in Music, likewise for Art Students and Film Students.  How many of them will be using something very different when their careers take off?  If we really want to use "Industry Standard" in Teaching, there is a lot that should be changed because Students are being taught what is in the curriculum not necessarily what is "Industry Standard".
The above is my own experience though, others may have had hard times or easier times.


Don't agree? Suffer the same? don't be afraid to comment!