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Re: Mac Lab Dual Boot

daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brian Luper)
Tue Jan 29 10:00:38 2013

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Message-ID:  <Pine.SOC.4.64.1301290949560.11021@niflheim.rutgers.edu>
Date:         Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:59:48 -0500
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU>
From: Brian Luper <bluper@rci.rutgers.edu>
To: RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
In-Reply-To:  <CAHVqF_gT7v13gw3BYJoWwkPG77JKq1AFmrNAoi5hRJce_TjGJw@mail.gmail.com>

We have been running dual-boot iMacs in all our teaching facilities for a 
number of years now.  Similar to Chuck, we decided to go that route to 
make the rooms as flexible as possible.  In the past we had separate Mac 
and Windows teaching labs and it made scheduling difficult.  Managing the 
dual-boot systems is more complex but we've found that the flexibility is 
worth it in those areas.

On the other hand, we eliminated most dual-booting systems in the general 
access areas.  We ran them for a few years and found that patrons used 
whichever OS was set as the default in over 90% of logins (we use rEFIt). 
I couldn't justify the extra overhead to manage both operating systems in 
those locations.

Brian

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brian Luper - Associate Director
Central Systems and Services
Office of Information Technology
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Facebook: http://fb.me/RUWireless

On Tue, 29 Jan 2013, Chuck Steel wrote:

> You make some valid points, Jeremy. In almost all of our cases we were
> upgrading labs that are used for training purposes. In order to maximize
> the potential for classes that can be taught in the rooms it was decided to
> setup dual boot systems so that we can train on packages that are available
> on either platform (in addition to providing training on the operating
> systems themselves).
>
> The added complications of setting up a lab as dual boot should be enough
> to not configure a lab in this way unless there is a demonstrated need.
>
> -- 
> Chuck Steel
> Dickinson College
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 12:39 PM, Jeremy Mlazovsky
> <jmlazovsky1@udayton.edu>wrote:
>
>> Unless there is a need for a Mac in a computer lab (I.e. we need to
>> provide software which only works in OS X), then I do not purchase Macs for
>> my unit's computer labs.  We have a number of Mac Pro towers and iMacs
>> which dual boot into Windows for courses which use 3D Studio Max; otherwise
>> the labs which need OS X have Macs and the rest of the labs have HP small
>> form factor desktops.
>>
>> If it weren't for 3D Studio Max (Windows only) those few dual booting Mac
>> Pro Towers and iMacs would never boot into Windows.  In my experience, many
>> people tend to hiss like a vampire coming into contact with a cross or
>> garlic if you so much as suggest adding Windows onto an Apple computer.
>>  It's kind of humorous.
>>
>> My recommendation is to make sure you have a solid business reason to
>> consider dual booting.  If you need OS X, do you need Windows and vice
>> versa?  If they are going to be used primarily for one of the two OS's save
>> yourself effort and your students boot time and just choose pick one.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Jeremy Mlazovsky
>> Director of Information Technology
>> College of Arts and Sciences
>> University of Dayton
>> 300 College Park
>> Dayton, Ohio 45469-2206
>> 937-229-2166
>>
>> Please contact the UDit Call Center (937-229-3888) for service requests.
>>
>> On Jan 26, 2013, at 11:37 AM, Richard Musal <richard.musal@manhattan.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hello All
>> My supervisor has asked me to investigate replacing one of our PC labs
>> with a Mac lab. This lab would dual boot Windows.
>>
>> My thinking is use boot camp, get a keyboard (
>> http://matias.ca/usb2keyboard/index.php) that has keys for both OSes, use
>> a Mac mini with great specs.
>>
>> Just want to see if anyone has done this already.  If yes:
>>
>> Any pit falls I need to look out for?
>>
>> Is my logic sound or is there a better way?
>>
>> Would virtualization of windows make more sense using something like
>> parallels?
>>
>> Thank you for your assistance
>> Rich
>>
>> ________________________
>> Richard A. Musal, M.A., P.D.
>> Assistant Director of Client Services & Operations
>> Information Technology Services
>> Manhattan College
>> Riverdale, NY 10471
>> Phone: 718-862-7933
>> richard.musal@manhattan.edu
>> www.manhattan.edu
>> ___________________________
>> Sent from my iPhone
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