With a Mac lab, your hardware, operating system, and software are all made by the same company. That simplifies purchasing and setup, and it means everything will work together without a hitch. The Mac is also loaded with features that take the complexity out of day-to-day management. But that’s just the beginning.
Mac is the perfect mobile lab computer.
Every new Mac comes with iLife ’08, Apple’s award-winning suite of applications for making movies, podcasts, music, photo projects — virtually any kind of digital content students might want to create for class. The Mac also features built-in wireless, a built-in video camera, and drivers for just about every peripheral. It’s simply ready for digital learning. No add-ons required.
On top of all that, you’re getting the most reliable, secure operating system available — 
one that’s virtually immune to the viruses and malware attacks you get with Windows. That means far less time lost for everyone, including you. And because Mac OS X is so intuitive to use, you can count on fewer calls to the help desk.
Best of all, the Apple education pricing applies to all Mac lab purchases. When you look at the big picture, a Mac lab not only streamlines things for your department, it gives your institution much greater returns on its technology investments.
A Mac lab can be a PC lab, too.
Every new Mac can run Windows (sold separately), but no PC can run Mac OS X. Boot Camp, part of Mac OS X, lets you install Windows and switch between operating systems when restarting. You can also install the free BootPicker application so students can simply choose the operating system they want to use at login. It’s like getting two computers in one, which saves money you can use for more computers and precious space you can repurpose as an additional classroom.
Multipurpose labs and iMac.
The iMac is the ideal desktop for multipurpose labs. It has an all-in-one, streamlined design that eliminates clutter. Intel Core 2 Duo processors deliver serious speed — up to 3.06GHz. The ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics card turns out smooth, detailed video playback. And a 20- or 24-inch flat-panel LCD screen offers plenty of room for video or design projects. With all that power and screen space, the iMac can even double as a professional workstation, running applications like Final Cut Studio and Shake.
High-performance labs with the Mac Pro.
The Mac Pro is the dream machine for high-powered tasks like CAD/CAM, scientific visualization, and professional post-production for film. It comes with 8-core processing power and runs at blazingly fast speeds up to 3.2GHz. Like the iMac, the Mac Pro features the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics card standard and can easily be upgraded to the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT for motion graphics, 3D modeling, rendering, or animation. The Mac Pro has a huge amount of L2 cache — 12MB per processor — and plenty of room to expand. Learn more
Mac Mobile Labs.
A mobile lab is a great way to give everyone access to the latest technology. The MacBook is just right for the job, because it’s built to stand up to real use. If dropped, the hard drive instantly stops spinning to protect the data. The MagSafe Power Adapter connects to the computer with a magnet, so it quickly releases when the cord is tripped over, protecting both the student and your investment. And the MacBook is engineered for advanced energy conservation, which helps the battery last through long study sessions.
Many schools are using the MacBook as part of a “library” or loaner program that reflects the way students like to work. The idea is to set up and stock a lending desk so students can simply check out a MacBook and use it in an open study setting.
You can purchase individual components or you can choose a mobile cart as a ready-to-go solution. Each cart holds up to 32 MacBook computers and comes with an AirPort Extreme wireless base station, Apple Remote Desktop 3, a cable management system, easy-access power and accessory outlets, and security features. Just like that, you’ve got a lab that takes as little space — and as little effort — as possible.
Of course, the cart is self-contained and ready to roll, so you can also use it to take digital learning from classroom to classroom. It’s a great way to regain the space you’re now using for a computer lab.
iPods a la cart.
An iPod mobile lab gives you a simple, affordable way to introduce mobile learning to all the students at your school. Apple’s exclusive, streamlined cart comes with 20 8GB iPod touch players, can charge them all at once, can sync 20 iPod players at a time to the same computer, and has room to store up to four MacBook computers and many iPod accessories.
With the iPod touch, students can carry an entire media reference library with them wherever they go. It holds up to 10 hours of video podcasts, lectures, lab demonstrations, speeches, interviews, museum tours, documentaries, and more — all of which look amazing on the 3.5-inch widescreen display. Students get up to 6 hours of video playback time. They can stay connected via Wi-Fi. And they can use a wide variety of mobile applications for education. You can even create custom iPod touch applications for your school.
Mac mini — born for kiosks.
The Mac mini is the perfect size for computer kiosks. It’s only 6.5 inches square and 2 inches tall, but with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, it packs a punch. As with every Mac, wireless is built in, so the Mac mini comes ready to power through simple tasks like checking email and browsing the web. Pair it with an Apple Cinema Display and you have an incredibly simple, beautiful solution with a very small footprint. If you have kiosks and other systems scattered across campus, you can use Apple Remote Desktop to manage them all right from your desk.
A Mac mini is also great as the core of a microstudio or booth for content capture. It takes up very little space, yet it comes with all the tools students need to create movies, music, and podcasts. And it’s loaded with a complete range of drivers, so it works with almost any camera or USB or FireWire recording device.
