By Dabari Morgan
The popularity of Macs on campus might seem surprising, considering that
Apple holds only 4.8 percent of the U.S. market share for computers, according to the July 2006 issue of Macworld magazine. This figure has risen 16 percent over the past year but remains dwarfed by PC producers.
Though Macs are far less used than PCs, some universities, such as Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, have switched completely from PCs to Macs.
The University has both IBM and Apple computer labs.
Laurie Harvey, the director of student computing services and help desk, said, “There will be no preference. The goal is to provide a network that is accessible to everyone, no matter which they prefer.” Harvey went on to say, “Macs are essential to film and video students just like PCs are essential to the business world. There are even some Linux users on campus.”
Currently, there are 300 Apple computers offered by the University, 65 of which are in the fine arts computer lab. “There are also Macs at the School of Communications and in the Math Lab.” Harvey went on to explain that there is a special program for faculty members to purchase Macs or PCs if they desire. “So far 125 faculty members participated in the program.”
The number of Macs offered by the University has not greatly increased, but they are replaced as needed and “upgraded on a regular basis,” according to Harvey.
Harvey said Macs are user-friendly, but there is a problem with network updating on an Apple computer.
Harvey said faculty members complain about the Novell Network, which connects all campus computers to the same server. “Novell does not keep Macs and PCs up to date,” she said, and mentioned the possibility of switching the network. “We are currently looking to switch to a Microsoft Network, which is also compatible with Macs.
Unlike other computer labs on campus, the fine arts lab in Calkins Hall is full of Apple computers. Some colleges have made the switch from PCs to Macs, while the University is sticking to keeping a mix on campus.