Leased Laptops: Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my son need a laptop for school?
Laptops are used throughout the school day, when appropriate, depending
on curricular activities for each subject. Examples include: researching
and writing reports; organizing and analyzing scientific data with graphs
and charts; composing and revising essays; analyzing scientific data;
collaboratively working on multimedia presentations; and much more.
Each student from 9th grade onwards is required to have a working wireless-equipped
laptop in school.
How often will my son use his
laptop at school?
Laptop use is driven by the curriculum and the extent to which technology
can enhance your son’s learning. Some days they may be used daily
while at other times students may not use them at all. Appropriate use
of technology is the key and it is the quality of laptop use that is
important, not merely how often they are used.
Why should my son use a Mac
instead of a PC at school?
Everything is easier on a Mac. The software is more intuitive. The hardware
is more reliable and that’s why Mac users enjoy using their computers
more. In addition to integrating seamlessly with PCs, the Mac also lets
you enjoy the same productivity applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint,
and Excel as you do on a PC.
It works! Only with a Mac do you find absolutely flawless integration
of hardware and software, with an operating system built by the same
people who built the computer. It’s nearly crash proof! Bid farewell
to the notorious “blue screen of death” With Mac OS X, you’ll
become accustomed instead to industry-leading stability built on Unix
where memory is fully protected and applications can’t conflict
with the OS or one another.
With higher productivity, and a more enjoyable computing experience,
your son will have a competitive edge.
How much does it cost to lease
a laptop from Brunswick?
All laptops will be leased for 2 years, beginning in the fall
of 2007. Parents will be billed an annual “laptop fee”
of $750 per year, charged to your bookstore account, and will cover
the cost of the computer and carrying case, plus annual software license
fees, extended factory warranty, and a comprehensive insurance policy
from SafeWare that covers loss or damage not covered by the factory
warranty. This coverage includes replacing a broken screen or replacing
the computer in the event of theft or accidental destruction, with a
$100 deductible (paid by parents) for each SafeWare occurrence. Please
note that power adaptors are not covered by this warranty and
broken/damaged adaptors will have to be replaced at user's expense.
Can I purchase the laptop outright
for my son instead of leasing it?
No. Since leasing has significant ramifications on ownership, customization,
and personalization, we have found that a lease program makes it easier
for parents, students, teachers, and tech support. Parents make smaller
annual payments, students and teachers are all working with the same
model computer, and we in the tech department can more effectively support
the school model. We have found that “out-of-program” laptops
require an inordinate amount of time and effort to support, and subject
the student to undue anxiety.
Earlier, laptops were usually bought by parents without purchasing additional
insurance cover, extended warranties and required software licenses,
making their overall support a laborious, costly, and sometimes acrimonious proposition.
What laptop model is available
for leasing to students?
This year, we are offering Apple's 13.3” MacBook laptop. We have negotiated
a very competitive price on the MacBook, and it includes all the networking
hardware and software required to work seamlessly on the Brunswick Network.
Detailed specs are available here.
What happens if my son’s
laptop is not working properly?
If your son’s laptop is not working properly, he should take it
to the nearest ITS center. Our staff will attempt to diagnose and fix
the problem. If we cannot fix it in a timely fashion, it will be sent
to Apple for repair and your son will usually be given a loaner laptop
to use until his laptop is repaired. As discussed later in this document,
this only applies to the specified school-approved laptops.
Can my son take his leased laptop
home?
Yes. The laptop also comes with a Infocase laptop sleeve for protection.
What happens if the laptop is
lost or stolen?
The School carries SafeWare insurance on all laptops leased to students.
As specified in the Lease Contract, if a laptop is lost or stolen, it will be replaced by us with another comparable unit. Parents
are responsible for paying the insurance deductible (currently $100).
What will happen after the laptops
are outdated?
These laptops are leased. Typically, when the lease expires after 2 years,
a new lease will be initiated for your son in his Junior year. This is how we currently keep our equipment up to date.
For graduating Seniors, as their laptop lease expires, Brunswick will offer parents the option of purchasing
the laptop at a nominal FMV( fair market value).
Can my son access the Internet
and email from the laptop at home?
Yes. Students will obviously need to use their family’s Internet Service Provider
(ISP) to access the Internet from leased laptops. Students have permission
to install their ISP software on the laptop, and we are available to help with the initial installation. Other technical
support for your specific ISP must be obtained from your provider.
Do I need to provide my son
with an email account from our home service provider?
No. All our students are provided with a Brunswick e-mail account.
The school uses First-Class Software for email.
Is my son’s access to
the Internet filtered at school?
Yes. Brunswick currently uses SurfControl to filter inappropriate Internet
sites at school. It is important to note that filtering software is
not foolproof and is no substitute for responsible behavior on the part
of your child. At the beginning of the school year, all students and parents must sign the Brunswick Acceptable Use Policy.
If you would like more information on Internet safety or filtering,
see the Technology area of the Brunswick web site.
Is my son’s Internet access
from home filtered?
No. Since your child uses your family’s service provider from home,
it is the responsibility of the family to monitor Internet use from
home. Brunswick strongly recommends that parents use parental controls
or filtering software. Brunswick strongly recommends that in addition
to filtering Internet access on the laptop, parents filter Internet
access on all home computers as well. Take this opportunity to teach
your children about Internet safety. For more information on Internet
safety or installing a filter on your laptop, please contact us.
Do parents need to do anything
before students receive their laptops?
No. Brunswick will host a Laptop Rollout Session for students and parents
(tentatively scheduled for the last week in August 2006). During
this session, laptops will be distributed; parents and students will
review the School’s Acceptable Use Policy and will discuss Internet
filtering and appropriate computer use.
When will my son receive his
laptop?
All eligible students will receive their Apple MacBooks at
the beginning of the school year. The technology department will hold
a laptop roll-out day where we will distribute and train the students
how to use the laptop. The exact date will be determined over the summer
and this information will be posted on WickNet.org and sent to parents.
What training will my son receive?
Technology instruction is fully integrated into the curriculum; separate
technology classes are offered from time to time, but most instruction
takes place during regular class time.
Can my son install additional
software on a leased laptop?
No! As indicated in the Lease Contract, the laptops are School property
and may not have additional software installed without the approval
of the Brunswick Technology Department. However, as noted above, ISP
and Internet filtering software may be installed. Parents can be provided
admin passwords to install additional software, if required; however,
we strongly urge caution with this as it can often cause system conflicts
and errors. If a leased laptop has problems, we will simply re-image
the hard drive and any installed software would be lost.
Will my son have his laptop all
year?
Mostly. However, at the discretion of the Director of Technology, Brunswick may
collect all school leased and loaned laptops over the summer for
implementing software upgrades and conducting hardware repairs and maintenance. At that time, any necessary repairs
will be made and the operating system and all software will be upgraded
for the upcoming school year. If your son needs his laptop over the summer
for school-related work, please email the
Director of Technology
with such requests, well ahead of time.
Can my son use a different type
of laptop?
No. Only laptops leased through Brunswick may be used at school. The
School does not have the resources to provide technical support for
any other laptop models. There are NO exceptions to this policy.
What if I have additional questions?
If you have any additional questions, please contact Sunil
Gupta, Director of Technology at 203-625-5890 or e-mail him at sgupta@brunswickschool.org
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