vista – how the view has changed

ThinkTank – Wake Forest 1

Vista – how the View has changed

Pat ValiquetteManager, Help Desk Services and Mobile Computing Program

ThinkTank – Wake Forest

Myra Williams

Photo

1947-2008

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High Points for Discussion• Selection process for the Mobile Computing Program (MCP)

– Hardware • Leading technology• Form factors

– Software• Operating system• Applications

• Student feedback– Survey

• Discussion


Rensselaer Overview• Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically

based careers• Private institution founded in 1824 • 6,200 resident students – 5,000 undergraduate, 1,200

graduate • 450 faculty, 1400 staff• Schools – Architecture; Engineering; Humanities,

Arts, and Social Sciences; Management and Technology; Science; and IT program


Mobile Computing Overview• Laptop required for undergraduate students• Single standard high end T-xx model including

software at an excellent price• Students can purchase, lease to own, or bring own• Laptop used inside and outside of class• Over 6,000 laptops on campus• http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/


The package• Value

– Working with Lenovo and other partners we offer our student an outstanding laptop package at a good price

• Appropriate – The laptop image has much of the software that students need, backpack,

and security and ethernet cables,• Commonality

– Classmates and faculty are using the same platform and software• Service and support

– With a single platform we are able to wrap outstanding user assistance and repair around the MCP


The packageValue

Working with Lenovo and other partners we offer our student an outstanding laptop package at a good price Appropriate The image has much of the software that students need, backpack, and security and ethernet cables, and iClickerCommonality Classmates and faculty are using the same platform and softwareService and supportWith a single platform we are able to wrap outstanding user assistance and repair around the MCP


New –Are students excited when they

open the box–What is the expected end of life for

the selected model–Is this years model/hardware

significantly ahead of last year

Hardware Criteria


Availability–Can we get the number of systems

delivered when needed –Distribution is done on campus the week

before classes begin– Distribution is a coordinated effort with

assistance from Residence Life, the Office of First Year Experience, and many volunteers from around campus.

Hardware Criteria


Hardware Criteria Form Factor – 2007 Ranking features

– Laptop Size (screen size):14in standard, 14in wide15in standard, 15in wide

– Hard Disk: 100 GB 7,200 RPM,120 GB 5,400 RPM, 160 GB 5,400 RPM

– Battery: 6 cell, 9 cell– 164 Respondents (132 male, 28 female)

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2007 Survey Results• Screen Size: All students clearly preferred 15in models,

males clearly preferred wide, females preferred standard• Hard Disk: All students preferred 100 GB 7200 RPM,

males preferred fastest, females split between fastest and largest• Battery: All students clearly preferred 9 cell battery,

males clearly preferred 9 cell, females clearly preferred 9 cell• Fall 2007 Model (what the adults decided)

T61-15in wide screen160 GB 5400 RPM hard disk9 cell battery


Software criteria• Vista operating system - Fall 2007

– Latest and greatest– Classroom deployment– Student pilot program

• Office 2007– All MCP participants can upgrade to Office 2007. Very little feedback from students – they just

accepted the new Office product and used it. Many faculty and staff encountered a steep learning curve with the change to Office 2007

• Compatibility with other applications– Were applications Vista ready

• For the most part - yes


High HopesWindows Vista would be a new and exciting operating

system that would quickly become a campus standard.

Reasons for this Hope: Vista deployed in our public labs Student pilot program technology

Reality: Early Vista experience was disappointing13


High Hopes• Students re-image their laptop -- 2,000 per yearHope: Vista will reduce the need/desire to re-imageReality - Vista has not reduced the students

desire/need to re-image. No significant change from previous years. Some have downgraded to XP

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High HopesMutliple images needed for XP systemsHope: The new HAL technology enable a single image

to work for all Vista ready laptops?Reality: • Will imageX technology replace Ghost?

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• Long start up and wake up times for Vista student laptops.

• 2• 3• 4

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Issues


2008 Student Survey• Form Factor Survey

– Screen size (weight)– Disk drive size and speed (cost)– Battery, 6 vs. 9 cell (weight, cost, time)– Operating system, Vista vs. XP

• Interest in Tablets and light weight laptops– Yes, it fits in an mailing envelope

• Campus demographics– Gender, undergrad vs. grad, current laptop and OS

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Survey Results97 students – 25 female and 72 male – campus xx

female and 100-xx male

Screen size 14 inch 39%15 inch 61%

Break down 14 inch 60% female 32% male15 inch 40% female 68% male

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Survey ResultsHard drive - most popular choice 160 GB 7200 rpm5400 rpm – 12 % 7200 rpm – 88%

Battery – 68% wanted the 9 cellFemale – 52% 9 cell, male 75%

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Survey ResultsOperating system that students felt would serve best for

fall 2008:

For Vista 24% female 21%, male 25%For XP 76% female 79%, male 21%

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What will we do this year?Vista – we have past the critical points and feel this OS

will serve our campus best.Office 2007 - not an issue for our studentsSingle model for 2008 -T5X series ThinkPad

15 inch wide 160 GB 7200 rpm drive9 cell battery

RFP likely for 2009

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What will you do?• Vista, XP, Linux• Office 2007• 14 inch, 15 inch, tablets, light weights, combination• Multiple hardware options• Large complete image, base image with student software

download options• Distribute on campus, home delivery, CTO


Discussion

vista – how the view has changed

Documents

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mcpthinktank wake forest

mcp thinktank wake forest

resident students

students excited

outstanding laptop package

students white water

computing tools