Tech Shout!

In its move towards becoming a notebook institution, Indiana State University has zeroed on the Lenovo ThinkPad as its preferred computer for students and faculty.

Developed by IBM, the ThinkPad is now manufactured and marketed by Lenovo, the world’s third-largest personal computing company after its attainment of IBM’s personal computer business in 2005.

ISU chose Lenovo because of its superior service and support, the quality of ThinkPad notebooks and the advanced wireless capabilities of the PCs.

Starting from the fall of 2007, ISU will become the first public university in the state to require all students to have notebook computers
ISU is one of the few institutions who have set up mobile computing projects. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Clemson University also institute similar mobile computing initiatives.

“When we announced the Notebook Initiative last September, we pledged that our students would receive high quality, business-grade laptops worthy of the investment they and their parents are making in an ISU education,” said C. Jack Maynard, ISU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The selection of the Lenovo ThinkPad fulfills that pledge.”

ThinkPads help make simpler the network connectivity process through ThinkVantage Access Connections 4.1, which helps mobile users set up and automatically switch from one available network connection to the next.

Through Access Connections, students and faculty will be able to flawlessly move from classes to dorm rooms and wired to wireless environments.

The widespread use of laptop technology will influence the power of mobile computing to provide campuswide access through the university’s extensive wireless network, said Susan Powers, professor of curriculum, instruction and media technology and chairwoman of ISU’s notebook implementation committee.

“The notebook initiative gives us an opportunity to use technology to support learner-centered, knowledge-centered, assessment-centered and community-centered learning environments. It is a window of opportunity for true innovation. Lenovo ThinkPad will be an excellent partner in our strategies to expand the learning environment of ISU,” Powers said.

For more information, see www.lenovo.com.