Sounds like a good setup. I've always been worried, though, about the setup time for a fifty minute class for these mobile laptop stations. Assuming it takes five minutes to get everyone situated at the beginning of class, and then five minutes to get everyone to put their latops up and have the teacher check them all in at the end, could significantly cut into class time in comparison to desktop setups.

Also, I wonder what the price is on this? While granted, it's not practical to setup computer workstations in some classrooms, I wonder if the price of such media stations is double, or even triple the cost of setting up a class with desktops?

So maybe this is optimum for classes which only use computers on occasion, or for classrooms where it's not possible to setup workstations, but for a writing classroom, where computers could be used almost, if not every, day, I wonder which is the best?

I'm sure we'll see more of these in the next year from the PC world with PC tablet loaded carts instead of laptops.

Yeah, these seem set up for the el-hi environment. However, I'm not sure the setup time would be so bad as you might think. Students tend to trickle in, and so they could be issued computers as they walk into class. Also, with Mac OS X, computers can just be put to sleep, rather than completely shut down--startup time is literally one second.

Regarding cost, iBooks are currently priced at $999--plus an additional $99 for wireless. A typical Dell desktop setup might run $599, but there would be an additional investment involved in hardwiring a room, more expensive desks, etc. I think the cost might actually be competitive--particularly if you're talking about equipping a new room rather than upgrading an existing computer lab.

Also, I disagree that computers must be used almost every day in a writing classroom. I would much prefer to use computers every other day with a setup like this than to use them every day in our regular computer classrooms (though I know you've got better computer classrooms at FSU, Charlie!). If two [or more] writing instructors could share one of these carts, you'd have another 50 percent savings.

If the units started to get VERY heavy use, you might run into another problem, though--batteries would start to run out. I saw a thread on Slashdot on this very problem.

Another advantage of this type of setup in the college environment is that students could choose to get wi-fi cards for their own computers, and then they could easily work on their own computers (even Windows PCs--or Linux boxes) in class.

"Regarding cost, iBooks are currently priced at $999--plus an additional $99 for wireless. A typical Dell desktop setup might run $599, but there would be an additional investment involved in hardwiring a room, more expensive desks, etc." The wiring can be avoided by also using wireless for the desktops, adding $50 for a wireless pci card. But it's not just the ibooks i was thinking of in terms of cost, but also the cart, etc. This is, of course, countered by a couple of hunderd dollars a piece for the furniture (as you have said), but then again, furniture is a one time acquistion which could be used for many years.

"Also, I disagree that computers must be used almost every day in a writing classroom. " Not must be, but many teachers in our computer classrooms do use them every day, if for nothing else other than freewriting. And when I don't use them, students do use them to check email, post assignments, etc., before class. Also, there's the question of how much more they do get used when they are already sitting there, versus the teacher having to go get the cart, etc. I know that sometimes, I decide to use the computers on the spur of the moment, to enhance an exercise or discussion, and on some occasions, to move to a new lesson when the planned ones have not taken as much time as I had hoped.

"if the units started to get VERY heavy use, you might run into another problem, though--batteries would start to run out. I saw a thread on Slashdot on this very problem." Hadn't thought about that, although seems like i remember that ibooks have very good battery life. But then there's the problem with battery maintenance. How long before the batteries have to be replaced?

Maintenance also comes into play, too, in terms of the ruggedness of the laptops. Given frequent use, I could only imagine that the laptops might not hold up as long. And if a keyboard or mouse wears out, the cost of replacement is much higher.

The wiring can be avoided by also using wireless for the desktops

But it's not just the network wiring--the additional 120V electrical wiring is probably even more expensive than Ethernet. I still think cost ends up being close to a wash here.

I know that sometimes, I decide to use the computers on the spur of the moment

Good point. I hadn't thought of that. Still, I find the current configuration of our computer labs to be so bad that I choose not to use them at all. I would certainly use the laptops more often than that! (though again, as you have pointed out in other discussions, desktops can be arranged in ways that promote better F2F instruction)

But then there's the problem with battery maintenance. How long before the batteries have to be replaced?

They do need to be replaced. I just bought new batteries for my iBook and Powerbook after about 2 years of use--about $100 each. I wonder if the lower power consumption of portables makes up for that cost--particularly in a lab setting where the computers would be on all the time.

Maintenance also comes into play, too, in terms of the ruggedness of the laptops. Given frequent use, I could only imagine that the laptops might not hold up as long. And if a keyboard or mouse wears out, the cost of replacement is much higher.

iBooks are *very* rugged. They are designed to be able to withstand a drop from waist-height. The keyboards are replaceable, and I doubt they cost more than a desktop keyboard, since they don't require a separate housing. The trackpad is much more durable than a regular mouse, but I don't know what the replacement cost would be if one was damaged. Overall I'd guess that maintenance costs would be about the same, except for the battery issue discussed above.

"But it's not just the network wiring--the additional 120V electrical wiring is probably even more expensive than Ethernet. I still think cost ends up being close to a wash here." Hadn't thought of that. Would depend on existing wiring, though. Only need a few outlets and some power strips in a room to run workstations.

"The keyboards are replaceable, and I doubt they cost more than a desktop keyboard, since they don't require a separate housing."

Here's a link to a replacement keyboard for a compaq. Looks similar to the keyboard in my wife's sony laptop (had to take it out to install memory). My guess is that it's pretty basic. The price: almost $120. All laptop parts are much more expensive than desktop parts. If the hardware fails outside of warranty, it'll be extremely expensive to repair in terms of parts and labor.

Then there's the question of performance. The $1000 iBook quite possibly does not outperform the $520 Dell. My guess is that a 700mhz G3 processor with 128 mb of ram is probably not going to be as fast as a 1.8ghz Celeron with 256mb of ram. Plus, once you have the monitor, it won't be necessary to upgrade it the next time around, saving in the long haul.

Admittedly, the latop cart sounds nice, but I think that educators have to be very careful at assuming that the mobile laptop solution is always going to be the best economically and pedagogically, all things considered.

My guess is that a 700mhz G3 processor with 128 mb of ram is probably not going to be as fast as a 1.8ghz Celeron with 256mb of ram

I agree that it's fairly pathetic that these machines come with only 128 MB. However, memory is cheap, and you can usually find a deal that will get you a free upgrade to 256. Other than the RAM difference, I think this is a closer race than you might guess, due to the different processors being used. My 2-year-old 400 mhz powerbook holds up pretty well against the brand new Dell desktops we have at school. More to the point, though--who needs a smoking fast PC for a writing class? If it can run a word processor and a Web browser, what more do you need? For the few specialized labs (engineering, biology) that require high-powered computers, desktops are probably a better bet, but certainly for the writing classroom, laptops make an awful lot of sense.

A few comments from a public h.s. teacher currently using an iBook mobile lab. The setup time quickly becomes a non-issue as students get used to the routine. Yes, it takes a few minutes but it's not much. We have Airport hubs in several locations in our very small school and I can catch a signal everywhere. In a small building where there's no more room for computer labs, the iBooks make computers available to more students. We simply can't create another lab.

As a classroom teacher, I do see other benefits. I vastly prefer teaching a class of teenagers sitting around tables in my classroom with laptops to students hidden behind desktops in the lab. There's much more interaction between students and it's easer for us to stop for a minute and talk as a class. Our labs are very large rooms and I have to yell to make myself heard.

As for durability, we've had no problems in the one year we've had our iBooks. They're used on a daily basis this year so we'll see how they hold up.

Yes, the iBooks are more expensive but I think they're a worthwhile investment. We're undergoing substantial budget cuts here in NYC right now so we may not see any new computers of any sort for a while.

we don't have the traditional computer lab set up with students sitting in rows with desktops facing the students and the teacher at the front of the room. admittedly, in that situation, i would much rather have the laptops. instead, the machines are placed around the perimeter of the room in a horseshoe with a media station and white board at the front and seminar tables in the center.

it works well for the teacher because it creates a space for conversation separate from the computers. it's also easy for the teacher to move around the center of the room and see who's using aol im and sending email instead of staying on task, as well as see who needs individual attention. with a quick glance, i can see if everyone's found the web site we are surfing, see who still needs more time to complete a writing assignment, or notice if someone's struggling with loading their first web text to their website.

meanwhile, students seem to like it because we spend time at the seminar tables, then they get to roll across the floor in their computer chair to their workstation :)