Not really .. Macintosh computers can now be easily configured to dual boot with Windows XP and Max OSX so your staff can easily pick and choose when they start up the computer. I have even seen them configured at Monash Uni to run any of Mac, Windows or Linux applications. Took me less than a min to figure out the Mac keys and mouse, you can easily write this up on a crib card and post nearby. Most good opensource softwares (Firefox Inkscape Gimp Scribus etc) will run independent of the software platform so you can easily coinstall and configure. Once you have a machine correctly configured, it is now easy to deploy the image to all the other Apple Mac computers. I would encourage you to consider a 3 year lease with a next day repair option. Robust hardware certainly worth considering. <br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_boot">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_boot</a><br><br>Regards Roland<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 25/02/2008, <b class="gmail_sendername">Mclean, Rachelle L</b> <<a href="mailto:Mclean.Rachelle.L@edumail.vic.gov.au">Mclean.Rachelle.L@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Hi All,</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">We are considering replacing a computer
lab of 26 machines with Macs and are trying to weigh up the benefits and costs.
This isn't in the art wing, so significant PD will have to go into
skilling up staff on Macs if we do decide to go down this path.</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Has any of your schools looked at this
option?</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Cheers,</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> </span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Rachelle McLean</span></font></p>
<p><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">Karingal</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"> Park Secondary
College</span></font><font color="navy" face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;"></span></font></p>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead