[Macworld]

Post your comments for Maine to put a MacBook on every student's desk here

[Showman]

Now if they can get all the text books in digital format, they can actually save money.
Paying $100 for a math book and then having to buy a "New edition" every couple of years because they changed the numbers in a few of the examples is the biggest rip off in education.

[tewha]

$242? Even with a mass order discount, I imagine this is a customized model of the plastic MacBook. Apple could easily use cheaper, smaller hard drives or drop the optical drive, but I'm not sure what else...

[spiderbat]

I hope the notebook model will not be of the superglossy-display-type. Otherwise, ophthalmologists in Maine will have many. many patients in the next years!

[Chief10]

That $242 is ANNUAL cost, not actual cost. I imagine they expect a minimum of 3-year lifespan, if not more. I agree with you about using a smaller HD though to lower costs, 160gb would be completely unnecessary, but then again, 160gb HD's are really not that expensive.

[Chief10]

Sorry, 120gb stock...not 160

[icerabbit]

At no additional cost, but is not like Maine has a budget surplus. There is quite a bit of debate going on whether this is a good initiative or not; given the other cost cutting measures that have been required due to budget shortfalls.
For the Apple user base I think it is a good thing.

[RickinMaine]

As a Maine school librarian, I have been a beneficiary of this program from when it started about five years ago. The kids started out with modified 12" iBooks and are now using 12" MacBooks. They are good machines and have most of the bells and whistles as well as some unique software. Yes, they are locked down a bit. No email for example.
But they can do most of what we all do. And the kids and teachers are using them well for a variety of work.
There are some glitches, but not many, from my point of view.
It's great to see this program expanded into the high schools.
Rick in Maine

[Rhywun]

I'm from the Dark Ages too. I remember typing college term papers on an electric typewriter, in 1993. In high school and college, computers were for computer science class only. The sight of a modern classroom with all the students typing away into a MacBook is very strange to me--can you really take notes that way??

[mattd313]

Is this another instance of school districts abusing stimulus money granted to them?
rolleyes

[trip1ex]

Might as well just teach class online now.
No schools.

[trip1ex]

Netbooks are $300 to own instead of $240 per year to lease.

[ScarCrow28]

mattd313 said:

Is this another instance of school districts abusing stimulus money granted to them?
rolleyes

Wrong. You fail. This program was put in place in 2003. Gov. Angus King himself came up with the idea, and it was a damn good one. How can the U.S expect to compete in the global market dependent on technology when our students barely have any interaction with computers in school? Putting laptops in the hands of every student is a no brainer if we want to advance education in our country. It angers me that you think this is a waste of money. IMO, more technology in schools and laptops in students hands is something we can't afford NOT to do. In the long run, it will pay off immensely.

I interned with the company that documented how this program first came together back in 2002/2003 and I was fortunate enough to sit in on the interviews with those involved, including Governor Angus King.

I am damn proud that my native state of Maine is leading the way on this one, and have been for years. What is abusing, is the nation's track record of leaving public education to our future generations in the dark ages for so long, underfunded, and on the back burner to fend for itself, so to speak. Talk about a national security matter... Our future economy depends on high quality & highly creative education starting at the kindergarten level. Not just in Ivy league colleges and universities.

[xStep]

Can somebody point to any study that compares the value of students having a computer or not having one?

Besides becoming comfortable with the technology, is there any concrete reason for the education system to supply this level of access?