Quite often I am asked to justify why Rockingham County Public Schools continues to buy Macintosh computers. While the standard for business may be the Windows PC, the standard for education in RCPS is still the Apple Macintosh. Historically, Apple has a substantial market share of the education market. But we don't buy Macs just because other schools do. Here are my top reasons why the Macintosh platform is the best for Rockingham County Public Schools:

1. Price. Apple has traditionally given substantial discounts to the education market. The total cost of ownership for educational computers from Apple, including purchase price, technical support, maintenance, setup time, training time, network management, years of useful service, etc. is MUCH lower than that of Windows.
   
   
2. Service. Rockingham County Public Schools employs several Apple-certified technicians. Our technology staff has exceptional ability to service Apple products. RCPS is also an authorized service center which means our staff performs all repairs including warranty work for which Apple reimburses us.
   
   
3. Apple's commitment to education. Unlike other vendors, Apple frequently provides training and consulting to schools at no cost. Apple has a full-time Virginia educational representative and a systems engineer who keeps school divisions informed of new products, discounts, solutions to problems, etc.
   
   
4. Management tools. Inexpensive software available from Apple makes it easy to set up menuing/security software for workstations. MacManager and Workgroup Manager software makes it easy for students and teachers to launch applications and retrieve files but impossible to destructively "trash" files. Other software including Apple Network Administrator Toolkit and Apple Remote Desktop allows labs to be quickly set up and easily managed. Timbuktu software allows all RCPS LANs to be managed from downtown Harrisonburg or from home. Individual workstations' screens can be viewed from remote sites.
   
   
5. Fewer hacking issues. Macintosh servers are more difficult for malicious users to damage. High school students are notorious for beating security systems installed on PC's but are more adept at hacking them than Macs. We have experienced this frequently in our high school (Windows) business labs.
   
   
6. Fewer virus issues. Nearly all viruses are directed at, and only affect, Windows computers. RCPS spends almost no time nor money on virus protection for Macs whereas we spend lots of both for our Windows computers.
   
   
7. Years of useful service. We have eight year old Macs that still work fine on our networks.
   
   
8. Compatibility to Windows Macintosh computers can read media formatted for Windows. So a student can create a Word, Excel, or Powerpoint file at home, bring it in to school on a USB memory device, CD, or via the web-based digital lockers provided for students and the school's Mac can read it without an issue. It can be edited using the Mac version of Word, Excel, or Powerpoint and saved back to the Windows media.
   
   
9. Uniformity. Apple was the early leader in education and all school divisions, including Rockingham, purchased Apple products. By staying with this platform, uniformity is ensured from school to school. This greatly helps in providing support and training. In Rockingham County, instructional computers at elementary and middle school are 100% Macintosh. High school networks are cross-platform. This uniformity saves us money because, for example, where we have already purchased district licensing for instructional software, additional workstations can use this software at no additional cost.
   
   
10. Durability. Apple products are long lasting. There are over 4500 computers in Rockingham County as of 2009. If exactly 99% work great each day, that still means 45 per day would require service. And a staff of eleven technicians cannot support 45 per day requiring service. So, our Apple products are running at better than 99% efficiency, superior to our experience with other brands.
    
    
11. What our teachers ask for.Thanks to the support and training we've been able to provide, teachers are now comfortable with the Mac and with the RCPS network. RCPS employs two former teachers as Technology Instructional Specialists and seven more as Instructional Technology Resource Teachers who ensure that teachers are trained in using our hardware and software. What better situation could we have than the type of computers in classrooms and labs which teachers requested and nine exceptionally competent professionals on staff to show them how to use them?

But shouldn't students learn how to use the Windows operating system?

Of course they should. Car owners should know how to drive Chevrolets and Hondas. That's why all of our high school business and technology education labs have Windows workstations. But it is MORE important for all students to learn basic keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheet, data base, and internet skills. Remember, all of our Macs are outfitted with Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and a web browser. These skills will last far longer than a particular operating system like Mac OS X or Windows XP. And those skills can be taught on any computer...our preference is Macintosh.