Hello, All,
Thanks to all of you who sent comments regarding whether to use wireless
computers in the library for most of the research in ournew middle school.
Basically, it seems that while some people have had problems over the last few
years, the wireless version is getting better as time goes on. I am posting
the responses I received since several people are in the same dilemma as me
and requested I post the hits.
I am in a large elementary school, and we purchased two 15-unit wireless
iBook labs for Grades 4 and 5 last year. However, I also used them during
media time for research projects and primarily Internet-based lessons. I
did not find any problems with speed, and believe me, our quasi-network is
by no means top of the line. Internet access on the iBooks was much quicker
than on our iMacs or G3's in the labs and classrooms. Our school is really
focused on integrating technology into the curriculum, stepping away from
viewing it as a separate entity. Laptop style computers can allow for this
type of spontaneous use, but the staff (including classroom teachers,
administration, and you) needs to support this theory and be willing to
recognize new ways of utilizing it. It certainly won't happen overnight,
but you'll need a solid foundation of support to start it. Best of luck.
Here's my 2=A2 worth on the wireless subject... We have 38 Apple iBooks in our
K-5 school, and we all are in love with them! Granted, they are slower than
new desktop models, but we don't have room for a lab, and this way we can
easily bring the computers to the kids when they need them. We mostly use them
for Internet access.
I've just come across these 2 references.
http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=3Darticle&articleid=3DCA2
32340
Marshall Breeding has an excellent article on wireless and libraries in the
same issue of netConnect at:
http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=3Darticle&articleid=3DCA2
32339
Use the whole URL including any that has got on the next line!
We lost our computer lab last year and in return got
30 wireless laptops. First of all you have to contend
with the big cart that you have to store them in. You
will be constantly charging them. Ours only hold a
charge for 4 hours, so you can't even set them out in
the AM for the day. They are pretty slow and they are
brand new. Oh, and the biggest part. If the Board
mentions Gateway laptops, run like the wind. They are
horrible. Gateway talks a good game, but does not
follow through. We are still fighting them about
stuff they were supposed to do---a year later.
I guess, what I am trying to say is, I would not want
them in my library.
You didn't say anything about the needs of these computers or the network
infrastructure at your school.
Just be aware that wireless computers are still very slow. Most of the
world utilizes WIRED 100mb network cards and the day of 1 gb is coming.
Then you have a wireless that runs at only 11mb, the newer ones at 22mb.
That is slowwww, and about the only thing that will run is the Internet,
printing, & maybe file access. If you want to try running any programs off
the server, be aware you may not be able to. It would be like going from a
DSL Modem (134bps or so? bps) hookup to a 28.8bps modem.
As you're talking laptops, they are relatively expensive and not very
expandable or updatable.
Personally, I would not go with wireless. It's only bells & whistles at
this time. If space is a concern, I would check in to smaller footprint
computers & maybe flat-panel screens.
Good luck.
Sue Fox
Sue's words about the need to know more about yur school's network set up
really is emphasized by her response. Our whole campus is wireless and we
have a laptop program where all of our middle and high school students have
their own laptops. The system is very fast. But ... We're a Mac campus using
airport base stations, Mac OS 10 servers, and I books. Obviously, we love
it!
Sue Fox suggested that wireless laptops would be too slow. We have a small
network of wireless Apple computers at home, including one iBook. Speed is
definitely not an issue for us. I know many universities are going over to
wireless. Why don't you look on the Apple site?
When we initially looked at wireless computers two years ago we discarded the
idea because of slowness. But a year later the situation had much improoved
and we don't notice much idfference between our wired and wireless computers.
I can't actually give you pros and cons for the school environment, but I did
read with interest the on-list response you received to your request for
information. I am looking to have one wireless machine in my media center this
year to enable me to work out where the kids are. I haven't received any
negative feedback regarding this choice from our Tech Coordinator.
Additionally, I will say that a good friend of mine has a laptop on a home
wireless network and has all of the bandwidth he needs/can use. The only
problem he has experienced ever is a drop in signal strength (not speed), but
that is when he is using the machine in his basement (the network is upstairs
in the opposite corner of the house from the basement.) In fact, he is
playing high bandwidth online games with his wireless card, so bandwidth
definitely should not be an issue. According to my geek husband (that's a
loving label!) most broadband connections limit the bandwidth available to you
anyhow, and you wouldn't even use the full capabilities of an 11mb card. He
says that just because the card is capable of 100mb doesn't mean that you are
actually using that much. He says that our cable modem currently only allows
1-2mb of data transfer at any given time, which the wireless cards are more
than able to handle.
Don't let the nay-sayers discourage you--at least from the bandwidth
perspective. Likewise, John (hubby) indicates that you should not have
problems with accessing network programs.
Thanks so much to everyone for your comments=85I was informed last week that we
are going to go ahead with the wireless computers. Your comments have helped
to prepare me for what may be ahead.
Elizabeth Dumas
Elizabeth P. Dumas, Library Media Specialist
Good Hope Middle School
400 Good Hope Road
West Monroe, LA 71219
Email: dumas@mail.opsb.net
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