Student Name. WTL Research Paper Portable Computer Proposal. June 26, Mrs. Rinaldi

Transcription

1 Student Name WTL Research Paper Portable Computer Proposal June 26, 2011 Mrs. Rinaldi

2 The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. -Oliver Wendell Holmes Oliver Wendell Holmes was one of America s great minds. His writing and philosophy mirror the industriousness of America at the turn of the 20 th Century. What would he think of the direction of American education? I think he would be amazed at the advances in technology and how far we have come. Still, education is really about having access to knowledge. Using today s technology in classrooms is like giving students the keys to a car and setting their path on a road to learning. Today I am proposing the best and most affordable option for a portable computer lab for our school. This proposal is based on the best features for our students, the least amount of drawbacks, and the cost for this portable computer lab. Since computers have become a staple to the American household, the debate of whether Macs or PCs are better has been around. For our students, one of the reasons for choosing a particular make or model of computer will be the features that come with the laptop itself. Some of the features that have been compared are: Screen size, Memory, Hard drive space, Processor, Operating system, Battery life, Software, Weight, Customer satisfaction, and Cost. In comparing what already comes with an imac and a Sony Vaio, the imac won out on most of the areas over a PC. (see Image 1) Apples most popular laptop is the Mac ibook. What is most appealing about the ibooks are the software programs and the user friendly interface that all Apple/MacIntosh products are known for. However, most of the features listed above were those that were identified as important for our students use of computers in the classroom are not really an issue because they can be altered from computer to computer. For example, a certain screen size or desired memory capacity both can be custom made for the intended purposes of the laptop. A larger screen size can always be ordered and memory chips to both styles of

3 screen size memory hard drive processor OS battery life software weight customer laptops can be added. Therefore, the main focus of features to compare were the areas of Processor, Operating System, and Battery Life. According to Charles Gaba, of the Mac vs. Pc Shootouts on the internet, a consumer advocacy group, the difference between these two brands of laptops are virtually the same. The main difference being that the Mac comes with a multiple processors while the Sony comes with a dual processor; and the battery life of the Mac lasts up to 18 hours while the Sony only lasts four. The operating systems are comparable as well. Macs running under Mac OS7 have the capability to run windows as well. 5 0 Apple Apple PC [Image 1] In all current research of the two types of computers, the main drawbacks of each are not even comparable. For the Mac, the greatest drawback is the fewer amount of software titles in comparison to the PC. However, everyday more titles are being added to the list of software that is available to Macs. For the Sony Vaio, or any other PC for that matter, the greatest drawback is the susceptibility of viruses. For our purposes, though, the use of the internet and a word processing program are of utmost importance for students at our school. Because of this, the Mac would better suit our needs. We do not have to worry about having too few software titles when the internet provides most of requirements. Also, connecting to the internet can allow the computer to get viruses. According to the Tech Zone at Illinois State, Macs are generally easier

4 to use and cause a lot less problems than your average PC computer (Computer 1). Why go with a machine that is already more susceptible to viruses? In today s economy, the greatest single factor facing schools is the budget. It is obvious at looking at any source, that Macs will cost more than the Sony Vaio or any other PC for that matter. Although Apple computers appear more expensive on the surface, experts say that when you look at comparable PC computers, the difference isn't all that great"(mac 8). As you can see in [image2], there is a simple breakdown of parts to compare. As far as price goes, our twenty thousand dollar budget does not allow for the purchase of the Macs. We would be able to purchase 25 Sony Vaios ($17,500) along with a portable cart/plug-in center for $1,500 and still have $2000 left over to purchase some anti-virus software and other software needs for our program. [Image 2]

5 In conclusion, there are many pros and cons for both Mac products and PCs. However, because of the needs of our students and what the Sony Vaio offers in comparison to the Apple ibook, I see an obvious choice for our school. Based on the features of the two laptops, the drawbacks of the computers and the price, I recommend that our school board purchase the Sony Vaios for the portable computer lab. This purchase will make a difference in the accessibility of information for our students to have a greater educational experience.

6 WORKS CITED Computer Buying Guide PC vs Macintosh. Tech Zone, Illinois State University. Norman, IL Gaba, Charles. Mac vs. PC System Shootouts: Regarding Processor Speeds Mac vs. PC: Are Mac Computers better than PCs? Consumer Research: Love What You Buy