St. Francis Xavier University Makes the Switch to Mac Computers
St. Francis Xavier University of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, ranked by Maclean's Magazine as Canada's best primarily undergraduate university for several, years running, announced yesterday that it will standardize all of its campus technology on Apple computers, making the switch from Windows-based personal computers to Apple's Intel-based Macs with the launch of "The iXone."
In preparation for the new school year this fall, StFX has placed an order for 350 new Apple systems, including 250 iMac systems for campus computer labs and 45 MacBook computers for faculty members.
Once these are installed over the summer, students will be encouraged to use Macs as their personal computers, and will now be able to connect them to the new campus-wide wireless network service.
"This is as good as it gets in personal computing," says Duncan Macpherson, Chief Technology Officer at StFX. "The university strives to provide our students and faculty with the best environment for learning, and the Mac's performance and innovation is an important part of this mission."
Several factors prompted the switch, including an increase in the number of Macs students are bringing to campus each year. Making all computer labs Mac-centric helps ensure the academic environment is relevant to students, Macpherson explained.
The university's technology support staff believes standardizing on Apple computers is a way of enriching the educational experiences available at StFX today.
A key benefit to the switch to Apple is that students can take advantage of Mac OS X, an advanced operating system with a UNIX foundation, and have access to Mac-only offerings like iLife, Apple's suite of digital lifestyle applications, as well as run the Windows operating system.
St. Francis Xavier University is located in the nearest town (50 miles) to where I live here in eastern Nova Scotia, and is the alma mater of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and home of the highly respected Coady International Instutite. There has long been a strong Apple Mac "underground" at StFX, and I'm delighted that the university has made this leap forward.
For more information, visit:
http://www.stfx.ca/news/index.php/2007/06/20/stfx-makes-the-switch-to-mac-computers/
Given that this end of Nova Scotia is extremely Windows-centric (the nearest Apple authorized reseller is 130 miles from Antigonish) it will be fascinating to see if there is a spin-off effect in the surrounding area's general computing population.
For students preparing for the fall semester at StFX, the university's announcement coincides nicely with a current Apple promotion (until September 16) that combines the usual education discount on Mac systems with a full rebate on the purchase of a bundled iPod nano. Education prices start at $899 (CAN$999) for iMacs and $999 (CAN $1,149) for MacBooks.
To get your rebate:
1. Buy a Mac.
Buy a new MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, or Mac Pro using your education discount.
2. Add an iPod.
Purchase an iPod or iPod nano with your qualifying Mac and get up to $199 (CAN$229) back after mail-in rebate.
3. Submit your rebate.
After you receive your products, start your rebate online for fastest processing. Or download and mail the rebate form.
For more information, click here (Canadian)
or here (U.S.A.)
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Charles W. Moore
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