1 / 23

Transforming Mobile Computing at Rensselaer: The Vista Advantage

Explore how the introduction of Vista operating system has revolutionized mobile computing at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Discover the selection process, hardware criteria, software compatibility, and student feedback.

ehouck
Download Presentation

Transforming Mobile Computing at Rensselaer: The Vista Advantage

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Vista – how the View has changed Pat Valiquette Manager, Help Desk Services and Mobile Computing Program

  2. Myra Williams Photo 1947-2008

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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/

  6. 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

  7. The package • Value • 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 iClicker • 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

  8. Hardware Criteria 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

  9. 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.

  10. 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)

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. High Hopes Windows 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 disappointing

  14. High Hopes • Students re-image their laptop -- 2,000 per year Hope: Vista will reduce the need/desire to re-image Reality - Vista has not reduced the students desire/need to re-image. No significant change from previous years. Some have downgraded to XP

  15. High Hopes Mutliple images needed for XP systems Hope: The new HAL technology enable a single image to work for all Vista ready laptops? Reality: • Will imageX technology replace Ghost?

  16. Issues • Long start up and wake up times for Vista student laptops. • 2 • 3 • 4

  17. 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 17

  18. Survey Results 97 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% male 15 inch 40% female 68% male

  19. Survey Results Hard drive - most popular choice 160 GB 7200 rpm 5400 rpm – 12 % 7200 rpm – 88% Battery – 68% wanted the 9 cell Female – 52% 9 cell, male 75%

  20. Survey Results Operating system that students felt would serve best for fall 2008: For Vista 24% female 21%, male 25% For XP 76% female 79%, male 21%

  21. 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 students Single model for 2008 -T5X series ThinkPad 15 inch wide160 GB 7200 rpm drive 9 cell battery RFP likely for 2009

  22. 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

  23. Discussion

More Related