For the first time at Groton School, school-sanctioned silver MacBooks are mixing with the School’s usual black Dells in the Schoolhouse: the Technology Office is offering new students, who must participate in the laptop program, the choice between Dell computers and MacBooks. This change has been expected by many for some time: “I feel like at some point they had to make the switch,” said Sarah Conner ’19.
Matthew Taylor of the Technology Office clarified that the School’s new computer policy is the product of a modified replacement policy. Ideally, he says, the Dells would be replaced every three to four years, but the service agreement mandated longer periods between replacements. The School balanced the financial strain and need for updated technology by asking returning third formers return their old Dells in exchange for new MacBooks. Groton has already purchased 135 MacBooks for distribution to students and teachers; Mr. Taylor did not comment on whether the school plans to transition entirely to Apple products.
Although Macbooks have partially solved the replacement issue, the Technology Office is aware that a school split between devices may breed certain problems. Having to deal with two separate computers and operating systems will complicate both hardware repair and initial setup, but Mr. Taylor emphasized that the department feels the opportunity to “put the right tools into the right hands” outweighs the extra work necessary on their behalf.
In the classroom, students and teachers alike are adapting to the combination of MacBooks and Dells. Science teacher Brian Abrams says of the change: “Teaching students with MacBooks when I myself have a PC will be a new challenge, but I am excited for it.” Hopefully, the updated laptop program will make it easier for students to learn and teachers to teach by providing them with the proper tools for their jobs.