Ball State University's partnerships with Apple Computers, Inc. and Gateway, Inc. benefit students by providing discounts, faster computer repairs and financing for university projects.
Of the estimated 10,000 university-owned computers on the Ball State University campus, roughly 20 percent of them are Apple Macintosh computers. However, while parts of the campus - including Teachers College and the Department of Journalism - prefer Apple computers, the Windows and Intel computers are still the most predominant platform on campus.
O'Neal Smitherman, vice president for information technology, said each academic area decides which type of computer platform, whether it is Apple or Gateway, will best suit the educational needs of its students.
APPLE
Smitherman said the university has purchased and used Apple computers for many years, but the most recent agreement started three years ago when the Teachers College decided Apple provided the best suite of programs to best prepare students for the use of technology in education.
Audrey Carroll, a sophomore secondary education major, said she had to get a Mac as part of her secondary education program.
"I had only used a Mac once before, and I had a bad experience with it," Carroll said. "I said I would never work with a Mac again, but after only having my laptop for two weeks I am starting to like it more."
She said she thought Macs were not as user friendly as a Windows computer, but she liked the look of Macs. Ball State should have both Macintosh and Windows computer systems, she said, but it would be nice if there was a seminar or class to help students get used to the Macintosh computers.
Apple sells its computers to universities nationwide, Ball State's representative for Apple computers said. The agreement Apple has with Ball State allows individuals to purchase virtually all their products at the same discounted price as the university, he said.
"If students go to the online store at apple.com/students, they can purchase Apple products at a discount," he said. "It is also possible for students to go to an Apple retail store and, if they show their Ball State ID, get the same type of discounts. Students can save up to $30 on iPods and also save money on Mac computers."
GATEWAY
The Ball State representative for Gateway computers said Gateway has had a partnership with Ball State for two and one-half years and has worked diligently with the campus.
"The students at Ball State are the future of our business," he said. "We enjoy the partnership we have with Ball State and work hard to keep building on that partnership. We work together with the campus to drive the technology at Ball State, and I particularly enjoy working with the campus because it is one of the more progressive campuses I cover."
Eric Ji, a senior political science major, said he preferred Windows over Mac computers because of the Windows XP program.
"For somebody who owns a Mac, it is easier for them to use, but for beginners it is difficult to learn," he said. "It is a good idea for Ball State to have both types of computers, however, because some people do like Macs better."
Ji said he had heard students who work with design, communications and telecommunications prefer Mac computers because of the better graphics. He has always used Windows, but sometimes uses his friends' computers to get some experience on Macs, he said.
PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS
Smitherman said the agreements made with Apple and Gateway are not exclusive in that Ball State is not committed into buying only those types of computers, but instead lists them as "preferred" machines.
"Establishing 'preferred' machines and obtaining commitments for support provide better pricing, better repair and support systems and easier access to corporate resources in solving problems as they occur," Smitherman said. "Our relationship allows preferential response to orders and service as well as an opportunity to influence the development of new products."
The partnerships with these two companies allow both Apple and Gateway to provide the university access to the newest technologies and demonstration equipment, he said. These benefits keep Ball State technologically sophisticated.
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