University Issues MacBooks

Oklahoma Christian University (OC) is the latest institution of higher education to make Apple hardware mandatory for incoming freshmen. The school has announced that it will begin providing Apple MacBooks to all incoming freshmen and faculty who attend a new student orientation this summer.

What's more, current students will be offered a program where they can trade in their current laptop for a new MacBook; participants will also be able to get an iPhone or iPod touch.

In a statement, the school's Chief Technology Officer, John Hermes, indicated that this is the latest effort by OC to maintain technological leadership. In 2001, the school became the first in Oklahoma to implement wireless networking access campus-wide.

"That program has helped ensure that students had the technology necessary to combine digital fluency with the strengths of a liberal arts education," said Hermes.

Hermes indicated that the MacBook was chosen, in part, because of Intel-based Macs' ability to work with multiple operating systems -- Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

"Given the technologically advanced state of our students, this new platform satisfies their desire to access academic content outside the classroom," said Hermes.

OC's news comes on the heels of a similar initiative from Abilene, Texas-based Abilene Christian University, which is offering an iPod touch or iPhone to all incoming freshmen.