HIT>Networking PC vs MAC

[Denise Miller <dmiller@CPCNET.COM>]

Thanks to all the lm_netters who responded to my request last week.  A
number of people expressed interest in any replies I might receive so I'm
posting a summary followed by the actual responses. Hope this helps some of
you as much as it helped me. In general, Macs seem to be the most popular.
Users say they are easier to set up, configure, and use. Out of 15 responses
11 were pro Mac, 1 was pro PC, and 3 were undecided.  Full text of replies
follows:
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REPLY 1:

I have set up a network in our library with a PC Server running Microsoft NT,
and it runs both Mac and PC's with equal reliability.  I believe you don't
have to have one or the other. I will say, the Macs on the network are much
more popular than the PC's, because they are so much easier to use. Our kids
who have little computer experience do not have problems on the Mac, while
they don't know how to begin on our PC's (we're not running a Windows-based
program yet).

Hope this helps.
Katie Williams
Los Cerros Middle School
Danville, Ca 94526
kwillia@aol.com
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REPLY 2:

I have to agree with Macs.  I have both and the macs are use more because
they are more friendly to use.  I have more trouble with my PC.

I'm a mac fan.
Janie Halaiko
NL_JHALAIKO@SEOVEC.OHIO.GOV
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REPLY 3:

We have networked our school with Windows NT Server which supports both PC
and Macintosh.  We use both.  Our experience has been that the Macs are
easier to set up, configure and support for network use.  Our teachers with
Macs access network services more readily than do the PC users.
Although PCs are far more prevalent among business and home users, in the
schools the opposite is the case.  Consequently we have had difficulty
getting Windows versions of some of the educational and teacher
productivity software that we use.

Henry Gordon (hgordon@telis.org)
Librarian-Media Teacher
Samuel Jackman Middle School
Elk Grove Unified School District
Sacramento, California
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REPLY 4:

We have a mixed platform Novell 3.12 network in all of our media
centers.  The bottom line is that not only do Macs do great on the
network, they are the easiest to configure, as well.  The problems
with the Windows, DOS, etc. world is that there are so many variations
in sound cards, network cards, video cards, monitor cards, etc.  With
Macs things are standardized.  We are usingmultiple CD ROM drives on
the server (DOS server) and have Macs in some, DOS CD's in others, and
some with MAC/DOS both CD's.  We have the search software for both
loaded onto the server.

I am not a Novell person, so I don't know the specifics of all this.
I do know, however, that our Novell CNE who did the orginal
installation had his first experiences with the Mac world with our
networks.  He went home and bought a Mac.

*****************************************************************
Paula Galland - Glynn Co. Schools - St. Simons Isl., GA
                     paula@freenet.fsu.edu
*****************************************************************
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REPLY 5:

From: dalliso@cello.gina.calstate.edu (Dan Allison)

Macs are much more reliable on networks than are PCs. I've managed the
computers at two schools, one is exclusively PC, the other mostly Mac. I
have spent countless hours on the PCs, trying to get them to work on the
network. The problem is that every new piece of software installed on a PC
modifies the autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.ini, and system.ini files, and
the network stops working until you put things back together. Mac software
on the other hand either leaves the system alone or places clearly
identifiable extensions in known places. Sometimes I'll have problems with
a Mac after installing new software, but not usually. PCs have narrow
memory limits because DOS and Windows 3.1 which is based on it cannot
effectively manage memory and interrupts when there is a network card and
network software installed. Macs on the other hand have dynamic memory
managment. It is possible that Windows 95 changes this equation, but you
are going to pay a lot for a PC that can effectively run Win95.

I don't have enough experience with CD-ROM towers to make a clear statement.
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REPLY 6:

I sys op 80 networked Macs at Country Day School in Escazu, Costa Rica.
This was the first network I had ever seen and used. Stumbling and bumbling
I put this network together. It has 7 zones, (3 ethernet and 3 localtalk
), 16 printers of all descriptions and 6 single speed CD-ROM players. It
may be a little slow, but everything works fine AND it it so easy to
maintain, you would not believe it. We have not had an hour of downtime
in 9 months. I am the only person who cares for this network, and I also
do a FEW other things since I am technology coordinator for a school of
800+ potential users.
Paul Shepard
codasch@sol.racsa.co.cr
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REPLY 7:

   I feel for you--we have been in this situation for several years.  I
have decided it is not a decision made on facts and/or logic.  We have
finally moved from all one or all the other to setting up pc's on the
token ring which is part of the cd-rom network and using Mac's when
requested.  Kids can learn to use both really easily and will probably
have to do so.  I did read that 70% of the cd-roms are made for pc's.
Hope this helps


Lynn McCree, Librarian
Martin Junior High
Austin, Texas
Lmcc@tenet.edu
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REPLY 8:

I was scanning through my LM_NET mail and happened to read your
message concerning establishing a PC network. I don't know if I
can be of any help but I can relate my experience putting a
network in my school.
I am the librarian in a elementary school in Pasco, Washington.
We have about 450 kids and 30 classrooms.  In the Fall of 1993 we
pulled level 5 wiring for an ethernet network throughout our
school.  We put a MAC in every class room and the office.  We have
a total of about 35 LClll and 475s attatched to the network.
The server we are using is a quadra 630 and it has appleshare
version 4 installed on it.  I have never had the network down or
had a problem that I couldn't easily solve myself. I am a
definite beginner when it comes to networking.  I could put a
CD_ROM (such as groilers) in the quadra and distribute it
throughout the whole school without a problem.  The quality was
perfect.  Assigning rights, passwords and putting new machines on
the network has never been a problem. This fall library
automation came to my library. I was given a DOS file server,
CD_ROM tower, 2PCs and a novell network to do the work of library
automation.  The experience has made me appreciate the MACS.  I
have found the novell network very complicated and awkward to administer.
Assigning rights and passwords is not the clean easy procedure
with the PCs as it is with the MACS. The CD_ROM tower has been
something of a challenge to get up and running.  We have found it
necessary to rename the CDs so they can be accessed by the MACS
in the classrooms.  We took the same groilers mentioned above put
it in the tower and found it could be accessed by only one
machine at a time.  It has taken many many visits by the
technician to get the two PCs and the CD tower up and running.  I
suppose I have heard all the arguments about needing novell and
PCs because novell is a powerful network and PCs fast powerful
machines but I will take the MACS, especially the PowerMacs, and
appleshare anytime.  It is just a cleaner network, in my
experience.  It may even be less expensive to get a MAC network
up and running considering the extras needed for the PCs such as
sound cards and windows if you want that MAC-like interface ;-).
I'm sorry this turned out to be so long, I've left out some of
the details, but from my experience I'll vote with your principal
and superindendent anytime.  Good luck in your project.

Kori Pollington
Captain Gray Elementary, Media Specialist
Pasco, Washington
pollington@pasco.wednet.edu
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REPLY 9:

While we haven't used them with a CD-ROM tower, they are eaiser to
attach, but VERY slow compared to the IBMs on a Novell network.

Ron McAtee
Kankakee Valley High
Ron.McAtee@bbs.nitco.com
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REPLY 10:

I thought I'd add my $.02 worth to this debate.  I'm sure you'll receive a
lot of information and opinions.  Where all this information will help or
hinder your final decision is another matter.

First of all, I'm approaching this situation as a teacher librarian, not as
a computer expert or networking specialist,  although I have had a lot of
experience in both areas.  As a teacher librarian and as a staff member
within a school, my guiding principal has always been the KISS principal
(KEEP IT SIMPLE STU...).

It's been my experience that school districts often have money to buy fancy
equipment because that's a finate/fixed cost.  What never seems to be
addressed are on-going costs such as maintance, support, training, repairs,
up-keep, up-grading, etc. .  More often then not, the "stuff" gets dropped
of at the school, maybe gets hooked up and that's it.  The school/librarian
are on their own to get the "stuff" working, learn the programs, do minor
trouble shooting, etc.,.  Perhaps your district is different.  Perhaps they
have an adequate maintance staff and lots of support.  If so, that is not
typical.

The scenario I'm used to is me doing most of the minor trouble
shooting/maintance chores.  In that scenario, I'll take Mac's over IBM's
every time.  Mac's are easier to work with because there is not the wide
variety of products and accessories available.  There are less "issues" to
contend with - does this brand of CD-ROM work with that computer,  does
this video card have a driver for Windows 3.11, etc. etc.  Secondly, Mac's
are easier to network.  The operating system has the necessary software
built-in and many Mac's come with ethernet ports.

Yes, I've heard all the arguments for IBM/Compatibles.  Yes, they are
cheaper.  Yes, there is lots more stuuf/accessories available for them for
less money.  Yes you can do more with them.  But, it takes a person with a
fairly high level of computer knowledge to make it all work.

For me, that's the bottom line.  Will the network make things better for
the librarian and the library program.  Will it benefit students.  Or will
it mean one more set of tasks for a person - you - who probably has far too
many tasks already.  Will it mean more time spent on stuff and less time on
students?

If you or some other teacher within the school is going to be responsible
for the network and you are not "computer experts" - keep it simple - go
Mac.

Hope this helps.



John Goldsmith  (jgoldsmi@rainbow.fvrcs.gov.bc.ca)
Fraser Valley Distance Education School
49520 Prairie Central Rd.  Chilliwack, B.C. (Canada) V2P 6H3
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REPLY 11:

We have a WAN (30 schools in district) and use a network that is mostly MAC
based.  Any machine whether DOS or Window or MAC can operate over the
network because of the ethernet wiring. (Dos machines have to have a
network card).  At my school we have a  MAC file server with a CD ROM tower
which serves as our reference base.  There are about 130 MAC's in our
school (both labs and classrooms) and all of these machines can access the
network and use the CD ROM's that are loaded on the tower.  Works
great...not a lot of admin duties....no down time...kids love it...can be
used in media center or anywhere in the building.....we use text only  CD's
which are fast and dependable.  Hope this helps!

**********************************************
                             Donna Helvering
                   dhelveri@esu3.esu3.k12.ne.us
                         Millard Public Schools
                               Media Specialist
                          Russell Middle School
            5304 S. 172nd St.  Omaha, NE  68135
                                  402-895-8506
*********************************************
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REPLY 12:

Here at Pleasant Valley High in Chico, CA we have both IBM and Macs
networked and we have many more problems with the MAC network.  Everyone we
talk to indicates this is true overall.  We even have trouble finding a tech
who can help us, as they are few and far between.

Linda
lelliott@wombat.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us
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REPLY 13:

Denise:  We have a networked Mac lab and it works beautifully.  MOst of
the labs at UT-Austin are Mac because the techies say they take so little
time for maintenance.  The PCs are their problem.

Patsy Small, psmall@tenet.edu
Bandera (TX) H.S. Library
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REPLY 14:
        I have an optinet tower and I only use the DOS side of the network
with my powermac's.  I do not find that the tower can support both sides
but think the new towers are made to do this.  We have had few problems
with the MAC side except that they only emulated a 286 until we upgraded
our SoftWINDOWS.  I can not tell you how that works as I have not installed
it yet. Tomorrow.  The students can access anything on the tower that will
run on a 286 at this point and occasionally without reason they get into
the Groliers without a problem even though they are not suppose to be able
to.  Explain that to me.




Pat Walker  Library/Media Specialist       Richmond R-XVI A+ High School
451 South Street
Richmond,Missouri 64085                    pwalkeri@cyclops.pei.edu
816-776-2226 (voice)   816-776-8748 (fax)  or meg000@more.net (email )
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REPLY 15:

We have an Appleshare network with 6 servers and about 200 LC IIs
accessing the servers. We have no problems with the network going down. I
do not know if there is a problem with a CD tower since I am using single
CD ROM drives.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]

Carole Perla
Library Media Specialist
Dr. An Wang Middle School
365 West Meadow Road
Lowell, MA 01854
perla@meol.mass.edu
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