[OPLINTECH] MAC in Wndows environment

[Karen Perone]

But then, you have the schools. At least in Alliance, Macs reign with 
homework assignments. We support the schools with our mission and offer 
4 macs in our children's department for educational games and school 
assignments. They are used heavily and require basically no maintenance.

They are only connected to a CD server (wired LAN) and do not connect to 
the Internet. By not connecting them to the Internet, a child who has an 
assignment to do but does not have an Internet access card can still use 
the computer to write their paper. The Macs are locked down so that the 
programs can't be destroyed.

--Karen Perone, Rodman Public Library
Mann, James H. wrote:

> I agree. What has killed me the last few years is the cost and the need
> to replicated all my software.
> Networking a Mac is easy, but the question is why?
> Westerville has a wonderful public Mac lab for digital projects...if
> letting the public convert from tape to CD is what you're trying to
> accomplish than a Mac is a good option.
> IMHO
> 
> Jim Mann
> Technology Coordinator
> Greene County Public Library
> Xenia Ohio 45385
> (937) 376-2996 x210
> mailto: jmann@gcpl.lib.oh.us
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-admin@oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-admin@oplin.org] On
> Behalf Of JKENZIG
> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 7:54 AM
> To: 'Roger O. Young'; 'oplintech@oplin.org'
> Subject: RE: [OPLINTECH] MAC in Wndows environment
> 
> Unless you are putting them out with Itunes so people with Ipods can
> dowload
> and listen to music or buying G5's for people to do desktop publishing
> or TV
> production(the only things an Apple Computer is really good for) I
> really
> see no inherent reason or benefit of having them.  They can be easily
> networked and made wireless(any usb wireless nic will work) and locked
> down
> in a Windows environment but unless you have a multitude of patrons
> asking
> for Apple products they would just be another thing that your staff
> would
> have to learn and support that really isn't necessary.  There really is
> no
> cost savings over PC's or thin clients and there are plenty of mac
> viruses
> and spyware also so those arguments are not really valid. 
> 
> Now if it were your AV or graphics department asking for one I wouldn't
> hesitate.... I'll be waiting for all the flames from the 3 or 4 mac
> fanatics
> in the world....till then I suggest you get a Dell. ; )
> Regards,
> Jim Kenzig
> Network Manager
> Cuyahoga County Public Library
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger O. Young [ma 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 5:11 PM
> To: oplintech@oplin.org
> Subject: [OPLINTECH] MAC in Wndows environment
> 
> Does anyone have any thoughts on using a Macintosh in a Windows 2000
> server
> environment.  Someone on our public service staff had the idea that a
> Macintosh might be something we should install for public use.  Can we
> network it in our Windows 2000 environment, and keep it as locked down
> as
> the other public PCs?
> Can we go wireless with it on our network?
> 
> I am supposed to "review the technical aspects of installing a Mac in
> terms
> of either a stand alone machine, a networked machine, or a wireless
> standalone or networked machine..."
> 
> Anyone have any thoughts and/or experiences they would like to share on
> that
> front, as well as on whether there is any great need and/or benefit for
> doing so?
> 
> thanks.
> 
> Roger O. Young
> I T Coordinator
> Washington County Public Library