Macworld Forums

I must say, it's most refreshing to see a Mac with the lovely white Apple logo on the screen in the Computers for Schools ads -- is it Tesco? Obviously they must stock Macs? Do schools use Macs though

Roy P

royfp,

I don't know of a Tesco store that sells Macs. Many years ago they got a load of iMacs and sold them at considerable discount. I think Apple got upset about this. Perhaps they are using the new eMac in their adverts because they want to build a relationship with Apple. The all-in-one approach offered by Apple is probably better suited to Tesco's sales model.

zanc, Royfp

I think the Computers for Schools vouchers are actually issued in conjunction with Research Machines - a major supplier of IT to UK schools (their logo is on the bottom corner of the vouchers).

The interesting thing is that up to a year or so ago they were only trading their own branded Wintel boxes (if memory serves, prior to that they supplied Archimedes). There seems to have been demand from schools (and arguably a tacit acknowledgement from RM) for Apple machines as better and far cheaper video editing/multimedia solutions. As for the advertsing image - clean white eMac or ugly beige box?

Lemmethingabouthafo'amin...

royfp,

I'm installing a new lab of Macs for a school near me soon. I know there are a fair few schools up here that have them and the CLCs love them. A very nice CLC near me has a fair few iMacs and a really nice room with 6 G5 2.5s + 30" Cinema Displays. I really like that room

JP.

Apple Certified System Administrator

Xhris2210,

IMMIC, Research Machines made a bit of a fanfare some time last year announcing they now include Apple in their portfolio.

This, iThink, tied in with some announcement by the IT For Schools (that's not it's exact title, but summat similar) Programme.

Anway, the Texco add is good viewing!

(if you not yet reached your considered opinion on the matter that is )

J.P.,
I have just been made IT governor for my daughters school, I observed an IT class as part of my role, Nightmare!, of the 20 computers only 13 were working, and the teacher spent 30 mins of an hour lesson getting the 'working' computers actually 'working' (x windows users will understand the last bit!).
I would love to bin the lot and start agian but thats just not possible.As a stop gap I have secured two old emacs from work to use for multi-media type work, But I have to admit that there is very little software availible for macs for this schools age group (7-11), even though most of what I've seen is made with macromedia and could be easyly ported it just is'nt being. Most of my daughters software at home is OS9 only and she hates using 9 (she's 8!). Until more software that is integrated into the key-stage system for schools is made Apple is going to lose the Primary/Junior school market.
Which is a damn shame my 3 yr old enjoys using my G5 to play Cbeebies, and she has'nt a clue what a virus or a crash is...........just wait while she starts full time education...............

kernelpanic,

I too wondered about the use of the eMac in the Tesco computers for schools ads.
I mentioned this ad to Jonny our news editor he knows a lot more than me about the Apple in Education system. Maybe he can add his comments here too on the lack of Mac educational software for those age groups.
Does anyone know where to find statsistics on the use of Macs in school in the UK? By any chance?

gillian,

I would have thought that the Apple UK Press Office should be able to come up with some figures. IMO, the use of Macs in FE colleges & universities is a factor here, since any school Windows users who go on to use them will have to retrain.

Regarding Mac educational software - I'm sure Froggy (who is involved in education) has commented on this in the past - I will search for his posts.

gillian,

Found it - it was in this thread

http://www.macworld.co.uk/forums/msgs.cfm?msg=42391&forum=4

Cynic,

Yes probably but Jonny will have that data anyway I was hoping he'd pop to the forums today but it's press day so he's too busy

And thanks for the link Cynic.

gillian,


Cynic's right! I have commented on this in the past. I have to sya that there is no problems finding Mac software to meet the needs of the Key Stage 2 curriculum. I can supply a detailed lst of basic mac software needed. I had to prepare it for my school when we dumped PCs and bought Macs.

Research Machines (RM) are full Apple retailers. RM are starting to understand that people don't want to buy their Window Box solution.

You do have to be careful about putting Macs into Primary Schools to ensure that you can cover the National Curriculum. However, the three main suppliers of Interactive Whiteboards all provide Mac versions of the software needed to control the computer. The tricky bit is things like the Intel QX3 microscope, where finding Mac drivers means searching version tracker.

The earlier comments about RM and Tescos is right. RM have been the title sponsor of the scheme for a number of years.

Froggy,

I know this is shifting the thread a little, but if you are involved in education Froggy, I wonder if you managed to read the following article from The Register :-

MS UK locks in schools via 'special terms' sponsorship deal

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/11/ms_specialist_schools_deal/

The article is rather long, but explains how the British Government have 'bent' the rules of sponsorship funding for schools applying for specialist status, and the extra funding this attracts. And guess who the rule bending favours.....

"Companies sponsoring schools are barred not to supply the school for four years according to the sponsorship rules, which also outlaw loss leaders and discounts. But the Microsoft deal effectively subverts these rules, as the sponsorships clearly are in Microsoft's commercial interest, and the DfES has specifically made an exception to the rules for Microsoft in its guidance documents......... One consultant told The Register that any other company offering the DfES sponsorship on a similar basis would have its application rejected." (quoting from the article )

It must be very difficult for schools to consider Apple when this is happening.

Froggy,
Could you send me the software list?
Thanks

There are two ads in the series that I have seen - the one with the emac prodly showing off it's logo (a conversation-killer when it come on in my house - "LOOOK!!!!") and there's another with James Nesbitt doing the voice over saying something like "a different kind of Apple for the teacher...". Sounds like they're getting Macs in the classrooms then. Sounds like a good way of getting rid of all those EMacs if you ask me...

kernelpanic,


No worries. Give eme a day or two to update it to current versions as I notice that one or two companies that I originally used are no longer in business.

As soon as it's ready, I'll stick it in my .Mac public area.

Froggy,
Thanks,
You will help make many children very happy,
'why are PC's so ugly dad'.....out of the mouths of babes!
(pc world, needed ink desperately...honest!)