Transforming Mobile Computing at Rensselaer: The Vista Advantage

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