Profiles in Success: Bemidji State University
Lower Costs, Higher Return
According to Allen, the use of Boot Camp on the Intel-based Mac computers offers a significant return on investment (ROI) for BSU. Given that a single Mac can run any Windows or Macintosh application, the university potentially can reduce the number of computers needed in its labs. Fewer machines will require less support-time, which potentially could save BSU some serious cash. Plus, the purchase of dual-boot MacBook notebooks for BSU faculty and staff will yield still more savings.
We’re developing a pilot… to show other colleges how to use the dual-boot image on a Mac. If that model is adopted systemwide, there’s the potential to save literally millions of dollars.
— Brian Allen
“By having a single platform to support, we’ve seen the potential to save $150,000 to $200,000 a year in lab hardware purchases,” says Allen. “Plus, every few years we buy 250 to 300 notebooks at a time. We’ve given key faculty members a dual-image MacBook Pro, and they’ve all said, ‘Wow, this will work!’ So by not having to buy both Mac and PC notebooks, we will be able to save several hundred thousand dollars there as well.”
“We’re also in discussions with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU),” Allen continues. “We’re developing a pilot with the whole system to use our technicians’ expertise, and show other colleges how to use the dual-boot image on a Mac. If that model is adopted systemwide, there’s the potential to save literally millions of dollars down the road. We’re ecstatic with the results we’ve seen thus far, and the possibilities offered by Boot Camp on the Mac.”
Anticipating a Mac-Only Campus
As the first university in Minnesota to implement a dual-platform strategy with Macintosh computers and Boot Camp, Allen is understandably proud of the accomplishments of BSU. He reports that all 115 iMac and Mac mini computers in the campus “Super Lab” are now exclusively Mac, and students are benefiting greatly from the chance to learn both Windows and Macintosh applications. He looks forward to the day when Bemidji State becomes a Mac-only campus. The way things are going, that won’t exactly be a challenge.
“We’ve proved that Boot Camp offers us a great ROI; it saves us in support time; and we don’t need to have as many computers as we did before,” Allen concludes. “Now our goal is to have a single platform for the whole campus. With the Intel Macs and Boot Camp, we’re on our way.”
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