HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Greater Houlton Christian Academy has decided not to require a specific brand, make or model of laptop to be purchased for use as part of our Laptop Initiative. We recognize that many students already own laptops, and since the requirement of purchasing and maintaining the laptop falls upon the family, we want to be as flexible as possible in what hardware and software we'll allow at GHCA. However, there are some minimum requirements that need to be met in order for your laptop to function properly with our wireless network. These requirements include:
- A modern operating system - Linux, Mac OS X, or Windows XP (or higher). We cannot support older operating systems such as Windows 98. The new iPad is acceptable as well.
- A good battery - One of the most important requirements is that your laptop has a decent battery capable of supplying power at least two hours before recharging. The battery can also wear out over time, so see "shopping tips" below for some advice on how to get the best battery.
- WiFi (wireless) networking - Your laptop must have wireless Internet capabilities. Most new laptops have this built in, and external USB and PCMCIA adapters exist for those that do not. Specifically, the laptop must have either 802.11b or 802.11g wireless mode. It must also support WPA encryption. See "shopping tips" below regarding wireless.
- Internet Explorer 7+, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari web browser - Older browsers such as IE 6 have security flaws and thus will not be allowed on our network. Both of these browsers are available for free.
- Antivirus / Antispyware - For the protection of the GHCA network and other laptops on the WLAN (wireless local area network), Windows-based computers must have this security software installed and running. If you do not own such software, GHCA can install this software for you for a small fee.
- Auto Updates - Most operating systems have an auto update feature that allows the OS to be patched with the latest security fixes. This software must be enabled and the latest patches installed. GHCA can do this for you as part of your initial setup (see below).
- Microsoft Office, Openoffice.org, or equiv. - You will need a modern office suite to write papers, create spreadsheets, and make presentations. Openoffice.org is FREE! Our system administrator can install this for you as part of your setup fee if you are unable to do so yourself.
- A GMail account - GHCA currently uses Google Apps for our staff, so we are requesting all students to sign up for a free Google Mail (GMail) account at http://www.gmail.com. This will also give you access to Google Docs, a free online word processor, calendar, and other tools. You may keep your other email addresses, but GHCA will use your GMail account to exchange important information with you.
SHOPPING TIPS FROM MR. SURRAN
UPDATE (04/18/2010) - Mr. Surran is currently doing a multipart review of Apple's new iPad. Many feel this device and others like it has amazing potential in the classroom. It's a bit early, at the time of this writing, to make a solid recommendation, but please follow Mr. Surran's iPad Review if you are in the market for a computer for our LI program.
When shopping for a laptop, there are some specific things you should be looking for. First, if you think you have found a laptop you like, go read a review about it. In fact, read two! I recommend searching for the laptop on Amazon.com. You don't need to buy from Amazon, but the user reviews are a great asset. Most are written by real people, and if a laptop only has 2 stars out of 5, then keep on shopping.
Once you find a laptop that has a good review, look specifically at two of the specs - wireless distance and battery life. These two things are more important than speed, memory, or even screen size. If a laptop has lousy wireless range, it may have a hard time sending a signal through the walls at GHCA. If the battery life is poor, then your child risks having her laptop die in the middle of class!
Also consider weight. Carrying a laptop around all day can become burdensome if it has much weight. That's why I like netbooks - they are very light and the size of a typical Bible! Netbooks are thus portable and comfortable to hold. Also consider how sturdy the laptop is. Nobody wants to see a student drop his laptop, but if he does, a lighter, compact netbook has a better chance of surviving than a large, heavy laptop. The obvious exception is if the heavier laptop is built with toughness in mind (a Titanium case, for example).
Invest in a good carrying case if you have a larger laptop with lots of padding. Laptops usually do not survive being dropped, but if kept in a cushy case, the odds of survival are much better.
Did I mention that you should read the reviews? The best way to know if you are getting gold or garbage is to read the review! Also, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE LAPTOP PROMOTION THROUGH THE BIKE-A-THON!!! You can help the school, keep tuition down, and get a free laptop that has already been tested on GHCA's network! HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG? This opportunity ends June 6th for the 2009-2010 school year.
INITIAL SETUP
At the beginning of the school year, students with new laptops make an appointment with the System Administrator to have their laptops configured for our network. A one-time $10 setup fee (these funds go to help maintain our wireless network). Students who had their laptops setup previously should be set for subsequent years. We'll notify you when this is not the case.
QUESTIONS?
There are bound to be questions about a project as ambitious as our Laptop Initiative. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page to see if your question has already been answered. If not, email me at laptops@ghca.com and I'll add your question to the list!
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