What Software Works With What Hardware? (on the Mac)

Schools are buying new software and that is great news. I was especially happy to hear that some schools have (finally) dropped the old AR and gone to the new web-based AR. Yay! However, we at the tech department now have much-increased workloads due to ‘Minimum Requirements’ of such software. We realize schools are eager to start taking advantage of these programs (which we know are not cheap!), but we need everyone to realize that on average, this district’s student computers cannot handle this new software without some time-consuming updates. I am sure it is frustrating to invest in technology only to realize it won’t work with what you’ve got. The system requirements of all software purchased should always be included in the Mandatory Reading List of buying new software before taking the plunge to make that investment.

Which parts get replaced by whom?

Stuff we supply/replace

Stuff schools provide

Old non-working student computers (teals, indigos, or eMacs) will get replaced with working old indigos Mice & keyboards for students Individual keys on keyboards, only if we have some extras Power cords for desktops & printers Ethernet cables Switches Printer fusers Laptop CD drives (temporarily unavailable) Laptop hard drives JetDirect/NIC cards

Relocation of equipment [please contact your campus maintenance staff] Power cords for laptops – options for purchasing [School Admin(s) put in the work order for these]: sold at the Apple Store for $79 district warehouse: Item # 0140254.06 Description: MagSafe Power Adapter Apple 60W Cost per unit: 86.3500 Laptop Batteries – options for purchasing [School Admin(s) put in the work order for these]: sold at the Apple Store for $129 warehouse info: Item # 0140260.00 Description: Battery Macbook 13″ Rechargeable White Cost per unit: 79.1485 Printer toner cartridges [view the printer info page for cartridge model numbers] Printer USB cords (unless we happen to have one here; ask your tech first) VGA adaptors VGA cords  – warehouse #0140254.01, $5.40 for a 6′ cable Projector bulbs Other equipment to connect to devices beyond what the tech department can provide — AC adapters for doc cams, airport cards, surge protectors, extension cords, etc. Software that we don’t have multiple (or enough) licenses for. Examples: Comic Life, online AR program or other similar programs, iLife ’11, Mavis Beacon, etc.