GCSU gets its Mac on

     This summer, three computer labs in the Arts and Sciences building were changed from PCs to Macs.
The reason for the change?
     Jeff Delaney, the manager for tech support services, tells us that the new Macs are a lot easier to use than the PCs. The Macs in the new lab are “dual-boot,” meaning that they have an Intel chip inside of them that lets the user choose between using Microsoft applications or the Mac operating system. They can be used as a PC or as a Mac.
     This is helpful for students who are not used to, or do not know how to use, a Mac.
     The Macs are practical because they have an integrated monitor and CPU.
     It is one piece of equipment with only one plug-in.
     “The Macs also look a lot nicer” Delaney said. 
     In addition, Macs have a lot of applications that PCs lack. The Garage Band application makes it possible for students to record their voices or music for a class or just for fun.
     The Macs also have a photobooth, which allows users to take a picture of themselves using different photo settings on the computer.
     Macs are also less prone to viruses than PCs.  A second reason that the school is so proactive about adding more Mac labs to the campus is that, with the amount of labs before, teachers were having a hard time reserving them for their classes.
     In order to use any of the labs, a teacher must schedule a time with the dean.
     Many students at GCSU are becoming fast Mac fans. Freshman Heather Luyk is enjoying the benefits of Macs.
“I went to the Mac lab with my math modeling class and we learned how to use Garage Band for an assignment,” Luyk said. “We had to describe a graph and make a recording on the Garage Band program. Learning how to use Garage Band was really easy, and I could do things on the Macs that I cannot do on a PC.”
      Elliot Holmes, a sophomore business major agrees and believes that Macs are more user friendly.
     “Macs are friendlier for people who want to play with graphics and the software is more convenient for editing photos,” Holmes said. “Also, when I am directing a short film, I generally tend to use my Mac because the video editing software is superior to any PC’s editing software.”
     The new labs, which house about 25 computers each, are located in A&S rooms 1-41, 2-50 and 2-55. There are also two more PC labs in the A&S building that will be converted into Mac labs at the end of the semester.  GCSU is planning on adding four more Mac labs to the campus.
     The labs will be converted at the end of the semester and will be located in Herty Hall room 3-08, A&S room 2-71,  Chappell room 2-07, and Atkinson Hall room 3-07.       
     The school is not converting completely to Macs, though.  As far as labs go, they will end up being about half Macs and half PCs.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 21 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry