Apple iBook Bundle Beats the Disciples of Redmond

1999–2004December 27, 2000Dana BaggettApple hardware
against all odds to become a vendor in Michigan Virtual University's Teacher Technology Initiative, according to Apple's Education web site. Here are the laptop specifications for the initiative. Count how many of the specs contain elements designed by the Disciples of Redmond to cut out Apple's iBooks and PowerBooks:

1. EXPANSION CAPACITY. - The device should have expansion capabilities (storage, processor and video memory) to accommodate a broad range of users and uses (no uncertified consumer level systems should be included).
2. CPU - 400 MHz processor or faster (or equal)
3. RAM - 64MB SDRAM
4. HARD DRIVE - 5 GB minimum
5. CACHE - 128 Kb L2 Cache integrated into the processor cartridge
6. VIDEO - Color active matrix LCD minimum of 12" SVGA (or equal)
7. GRAPHICS - 2X AGP, 4 MB Video RAM - System must be capable of allowing both the laptop screen and a remote monitor or data projector to be viewed simultaneously. (or equal)
8. AUDIO - 3D Positional Sound with Wavetable
9. BATTERY - 2.5 hours min. operation (Lithium Ion or NiHM)
10. FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER - 3 1/2" floppy drive, internal preferred alternate removable floppy diskette drive support with a 3.5" 1.44 Mb diskette drive (or equal)
11. CD-ROM - 24X, IDE (or faster) required
12. MODEM - 56K V.90 Modem PCMCIA or integrated
13. 10/100 Ethernet card, PCMCIA or Integrated; preference is PCMCIA with network software installed. (optional)
14. PORTS - External ports required: mouse/keyboard, VGA out (optional), serial, parallel and/or USB. Built in multi-media: on-board sound capabilities, stereo audio input and output, microphone-input (optional), or equivalent combination of capabilities (or equal).
15. Open slots - (2) for Type 1 or Type II or (1) Type III PCMCIA card slots (or equal)
16. Open Sockets - (2) open user accessible DIMM sockets (or equal)
17. SECURITY - Security cable connection
18. POWER - AC power supply
19. KEYBOARD - "standard" QWERTY keyboard (numeric keypad not necessary.)
20. CARRY CASE - Carrying case (optional)
21. WARRANTY - 3-year mail-in warranty required

How about 1, 8, 10, 14, 15 and 21? Ask yourself, just how many of them are essential for a teacher--exactly NONE. Fortunately, intelligence prevailed over blind stupidity and the Michigan taxpayers, teachers and students are big winners over the Disciples of Redmond. [Dana Baggett]

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