So I went to Apple's Chicago Executive Office and took some pics.

[Directed]

I am the technology director for a Catholic High School. We just got a very large dollar grant to redo our computer systems, with the stipulation we use Apple. I found their office interesting so I took a few pics. Hope you like them.

[Directed]

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02724_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02724.JPG)
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02725_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02725.JPG)
This is a view out of the window

[Directed]

Here was a collection of their laptops.
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02726_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02726.JPG)

All of them are Duo-Core with a clock speed of 1.83 GHZ or higher (up to 2.13 GHZ). Even the small 13 inch screens are nice.

[Directed]

Here are various G5 (no longer sold) and Duo-Core Apple workstations with Cinematic screens from "23 inch to "30 inch:
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02727_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02727.JPG)
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02728_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02728.JPG)
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02729_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02729.JPG)
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02730_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02730.JPG)

[Directed]

The 3 display system on the bottom was used to run a giant HDTV projection screen which can play Tv shows (I tested it with the tech guy for fun), but is used for Apple executive presentations. Here is the HDTV projector. The screen is Huge.

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02731_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02731.JPG)
In the picture you will notice the attached fire extinguisher. That is because there is a possibility of something in the room catching fire due to the intense heat generated by the projector. It is a $50,000 US projector that projects over 6000 lumens of light.

[Directed]

Here are the Apple Servers. There is a G5 configuration on top and Xservers with Raid on the bottom.
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02732_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02732.JPG)

[Directed]

And now for the IMACS. There is an IMAC mini with a "23 inch Cinema display, 2 IMAC "17 inch, one slower, the other beefed up and with a superdrive, and a maxed out "20 inch one. Nice view behind them, too.

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02733_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02733.JPG)

[Directed]

Here are a couple of pictures of the Executive Presentation room. Now you get a chance to see how huge that screen is. It is also VERY bright, something the picture itself may not show. It looked great. Notice the 3 mac workstation location to the left that was pictured above. The screen was roughly 8 feet by 3.5 feet displayed. (Screen itself is larger)

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02735_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02735.JPG)
http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02736_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02736.JPG)

[Directed]

And Finally, here is their training center:

http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02738_thumb.jpg (http://www.zgeek.com/forum/gallery/files/8/2/9/3/DSC02738.JPG)

[Directed]

They are pushing an educational model where every student and teacher has a laptop, and all books and homework can be delivered to and from the laptop itself. I don't think our school is quite there in our ability to afford and support that, but the presentation was VERY interesting. We are making a decision on what we are going to do this week.

[KrisEz]

looks alright. i didnt see firefox anywhere. 2 thumbs up.

[pinchy]

They are pushing an educational model where every student and teacher has a laptop, and all books and homework can be delivered to and from the laptop itself. I don't think our school is quite there in our ability to afford and support that, but the presentation was VERY interesting. We are making a decision on what we are going to do this week.

I went to a school in Tassie which has that. Every student and teacher has their own mac laptop. Assignments are handed out over airport (mac wifi) and printed out on the shared printer in the classroom.

When I went through (1990s) only the high school got laptops (I had a powerbook 45) now all years from year 4 through to 12 have them and they're compulsory. They get a brand new top of the line laptop in year 4 which should last them up until year 12. The school is the largest Mac customer in the southern hemisphere.

[EvilMuppet]

they want then to use 8 year old laptops in year 12???

[PVD]

That was pretty cool, thanks for the share!!

[Directed]

Thanks for taking an interest in it, guys. I am leaning towards buying 30 Imacs with either the 17 inch or 20 inch screens for our computer lab. We will also be buying Adobe CS2 premium for each workstation and getting a couple of Canon EOS 350D-XT (digital rebel) cameras and a Canon GL2 video camera to do multi-media work with. I am getting 5 wacom 6x8.5 inch tablets for drawing and art and a nice scanner as well. I am going to get an X-Server to manage everything, 5 external hard drives for a little backing up ability and a gigabit ethernet for the computer lab only.

The idea is to have a professional-level multimedia and computer arts lab. I will be instructing the students in the use of Adobe Photoshop CS2, Adobe in-design, and possible Adobe Go Live. I am considering learning Adobe Illustrator to instruct on that as well. Any input or suggestions?

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Macs are cool. Those who disagree have never properly used one.

[PVD]

Unfortunatley, i couldn't really offer any more imput purely because its not really what i use my mac for but must have been a little beauty of a grant to go on a shopping spree,

So are you setting up a new network, or are you adding on to an existing network? If existing what else do you have to work with (ie say a small music studio) and possibly hardware/software to upgarde what you already have?

In terms of Imacs probably go for 17inch, just because of the fact that will allow you to have some extra dow left over to spend else where

It really depends on your supplier, but see what programs they could bundle for you in terms of what your looking for and maybe an experimental program, that once you are settled with your previous acquistions you may look to implement say 1 term down the road

[Directed]

I have an existing 100/T network that has Cat 5e wiring (good for 1000/T), and the goal is to use the macs as photo/video editing workhorses in addition to any class work they would normally do. I can get Microsoft office 2004 for $50 per seat, and Adobe CS2 premium for $220 per seat, which is quite a good deal. My budget is around $120,000 US. I'm going to buy 30 Imacs, 17 notebooks (13 inchers), possibly 2 macbook pros, around 15 projectors, a few printers including 1 nice color one, a gigabit ethernet switch for the lab and an x-server. I also am planning on buying 2 canon digital rebels and 1 canon GL2 video camcorder. I should be OK budgetwise, and I'm damn proud I've been able to finagle all of that and keep to budget. I also am adding several whiteboards and redid the furniture in the computer lab and around the school to prepare for this. I am a master of finding free and discounted things. But I want the computer lab to be nice, and capable of professional things, because I think the girls in this school deserve it.

[SirTwist]

Sounds like an amazing lab. I'm catholic. Can I enrol?

[vladi]

Macs are cool. Those who disagree have never properly used one.

IMHO, Macs are great if you want Windows without the problems and dont assemble your own machines.

[rayjayjohnson]

that was pretty cool.

while i'm pretty disheartened with apple for the following:
- they're shamless pimping of ipods (which are good in their own right, hey, i own one) is making them forget that they used to make superior computers about 10 years ago
- their ads. especially the "macs are now twice as fast" after switching to intel ones that basically said "fuck you" to all the old mac users with powerpcs, who for years were told they were better than intel and that intel was the devil
- their customer support, which in australia simply does not exist.

i still reckon apple have it in them to make some functional, nice looking stuff. overpriced, but functional and nice looking. i'm no tech head, which is why apple computers are good - i can't fuck them up.

[Scumbag]

Any input or suggestions?


Adobe CS2 runs in emulation mode (much slower) on Intel Mac's. Wait for CS3 to come out before forking out all that money for licenses.

[gunsella]

is there an electronic music lab? or can these computers be used for that too?

you'd need to get headphones/monitors, midi keyboards, software (reason, cubase/logic etc), audio interfaces, a mixer or two.....


or do the music students get told that they're not as important as the visual arts students?

[Directed]

We are going to have a midi lab. Our school unfortunately does not have a very strong music program, except for a choir. Our visual arts program is very strong and has a lot of participation. I am getting a midi keyboard and will have some modest audio-editing capabilities. I unfortunately do not expect it to be used by the students as they don't show a strong interest in that. They are very excited about the video-editing and photo-editing capabilities, however.

[Directed]

Adobe CS2 runs in emulation mode (much slower) on Intel Mac's. Wait for CS3 to come out before forking out all that money for licenses.

I so wish I could do that. Unfortunately I have to make my purchase by October at the latest. Fortunately licensing for Adobe products when you are a academic institution is not that expensive. I'm only paying $220 US per seat. Unfortunately I will not have a budget for CS3 at any time in the near future. I will be getting 2 gigs of ram in every imac I buy, so hopefully CS2 won't crawl. Ihave a friend who uses Adobe CS2 in emulation, and he says its almost as quick as a G5, and no big deal, really.

[jambo]

I so wish I could do that. Unfortunately I have to make my purchase by October at the latest. Fortunately licensing for Adobe products when you are a academic institution is not that expensive. I'm only paying $220 US per seat. Unfortunately I will not have a budget for CS3 at any time in the near future. I will be getting 2 gigs of ram in every imac I buy, so hopefully CS2 won't crawl. Ihave a friend who uses Adobe CS2 in emulation, and he says its almost as quick as a G5, and no big deal, really.

It's 1/2 as quick but don't fret. I hear that the next major software update will improve rosetta's speed. Nice pics btw.

[Directed]

Thanks. We just have finalized our deal with Apple. We will be paying them next week, and should get delivery in a couple of weeks or so. Look for the pics of my lab soon!

[Scumbag]

Fortunately licensing for Adobe products when you are a academic institution is not that expensive. I'm only paying $220 US per seat.

Youre getting a good deal, from memory I paid $310 AUD a seat. which is roughly $260 US (im a techonology director at a school in a University)

[Directed]

Youre getting a good deal, from memory I paid $310 AUD a seat. which is roughly $260 US (im a techonology director at a school in a University)

I'm a bastard when I negotiate. All my vendors hate me. LOL.

[Scumbag]

Oh I cant negotiate my own deals :(

I have to deal with central IT's licensed software administration team - who negotiate with Adobe.

(were the biggest university in Australia, weve got departments for just about everything)

[Directed]

Oh I cant negotiate my own deals :(

I have to deal with central IT's licensed software administration team - who negotiate with Adobe.

(were the biggest university in Australia, weve got departments for just about everything)

That is why your costs are higher then. I've found big places almost always over pay. BTW, I pay $50 per seat for MS office 2004. :P

[Glompbot]

I went to a school in Tassie which has that. Every student and teacher has their own mac laptop. Assignments are handed out over airport (mac wifi) and printed out on the shared printer in the classroom.

When I went through (1990s) only the high school got laptops (I had a powerbook 45) now all years from year 4 through to 12 have them and they're compulsory. They get a brand new top of the line laptop in year 4 which should last them up until year 12. The school is the largest Mac customer in the southern hemisphere.

Nah, they're not the largest.
But they're a good model of how well the apple machines can work in an educational environment.