College computer requirements...

[Messiahtosh]

PC:
•Intel-based (or comparable) 600 Mhz
•128 MB RAM
•10 GB hard drive
•CD-ROM drive
•Monitor of choice
•10 base-T Ethernet card
•25' CAT 5 Ethernet cable
•Windows XP, 2000, 0r 98

Macintosh:
•PowerMac G3, G4, or G5 processor 333 MHz
•128 MB RAM
•10 GB hard drive
•CD-ROM drive
•Monitor of choice
•10 base-T Ethernet card
•25' CAT 5 Ethernet cable
•Mac OS X (10.0) or newer (10.3.)

I think it is really interesting, the recommendations that Penn State gives even demonstrate the "Megahertz Myth" and show that the Mac is less of a hassle...listing only one operating system.

Those minimum specs are anemic by today's standards, but to think that some people are bitching about the next iMac only being a 1.6 GHz G5 and ONLY having a 64 MB graphics card...it really makes you take a step back and realize that there are real people that do not have it as good as any of us. We are indeed lucky and it is wonderful to be able to have access to the tremendous technology that's at our fingertips.

Just thought I'd share that with you all.

[Brad]

and show that the Mac is less of a hassle...listing only one operating system.
One could also read that as PSU saying that supporting older version of Mac OS is MORE of a hassle for PSU's support staff than is supporting older versions of Windows. Apparently only the "latest and greatest" OS (if you consider 10.0 through 10.3 the same OS) for Macs is viable enough to warrant official support.

:)

[Messiahtosh]

They still support classic though. :confused:

[Brad]

I didn't see any mention of the actual "Classic" Mac OS (Mac OS 9 and earlier) in what you posted...

[Messiahtosh]

I didn't see any mention of the actual "Classic" Mac OS (Mac OS 9 and earlier) in what you posted...That's true. I guess they are purposely trying to move away from supporting it by sort of prodding and recommending people to use X.

[squishles]

That is awesome. I managed to get through 4 years of undergrad engineering school with a Mac, and now I'm in grad school doing it too. I WILL NOT BOW DOWN! I know PSU has an awesome engineering school, so I'm glad they support it somehow. I have to admit VirtualPC was a lifesaver, but for day to day stuff, Mac was far superior. When I took my iBook to class with me, my profs would say how jealous they were that I had one. HA!

[Luca]

There are a lot of new web-based technologies that colleges are using, and some of them will eventually no longer work on any browser available for OS 9. Already you're prevented from accessing Gmail in OS 9.

Windows 98, technology-wise, is pretty similar to OS 9. It's not too old to use yet, but it's getting up there in years. Of course, you can easily run Windows 98 on a PC with much lower specs than that (hell, I'm running XP on a 433 MHz Celeron right now), just as you can easily run OS 9 on a system much slower than a G3/333. I think college computer "requirements" (which hardly even qualify to be called "recommendations") are silly and wrong. I could probably get by without a computer at all if I really needed to - there are lots of public labs, some of which are open 24 hours on weekdays. That combined with my Gmail account for storing works in progress takes care of my essential computer needs.

Hell, just about any college student could get by with a PCI PowerMac (150-250 MHz, 128 MB+ of RAM, OS 8.6). Or look at our parents - they didn't even have computers at all, and had to type their reports on typewriters. The only place where I think computer requirements are actually justified are specific, specialized fields like engineering or computer science where you have to be able to run a certain program in order to succeed in your courses.

[pscates2.0]

That's true. I guess they are purposely trying to move away from supporting it by sort of prodding and recommending people to use X.

As well they should. These people can come down here and work on my supervisor/co-worker if they want...he's the ONLY reason I have to spend eight hours a day on OS 9.2 :mad:

#$@!^#$&#&

I told him we're a good two-plus years behind the curve (Jaguar was TOTALLY usable in a day-to-day environment, Panther even more so) and that we're really missing out on some great benefits and features...but noooooooooooo.

[The Return of the 'nut]

Mhz myth?

The fact is Mac's just progressed at a much slower rate on clockspeed. Of course there is some truth to the Mhz myth, but thousands of people still use iMacs and those are only supported from rev C and up it looks. At the time of rev C iMacs, PCs were around those minimum requirements or higher.

[JayReding]

Having worked in college IT for a while, I can say that Classic is just a royal pain in the ass.

On the other hand, OS X is an absolute joy, so Apple has certainly redeemed itself... :)

[Alcibiades]

"Those minimum specs are anemic by today's standards, but to think that some people are bitching about the next iMac only being a 1.6 GHz G5 and ONLY having a 64 MB graphics card...it really makes you take a step back and realize that there are real people that do not have it as good as any of us."

Right, but I think you're missing the point. The point isn't so much about the specs of the new iMac, as it is about the pricing. $2400 is a lot of shell out for a system with the limited graphical capabilities of an iMac. Respectively, those barebones systems are incredibly cheap, so almost anyone can get one. I Personally don't really understand the point of your post.

Was anyone actually unaware that poor people ever exited? Not me, for one. You get what you can, and upgrade when you can, and try and get as much for your money is possible, which is where the above problem comes into focus.

[Crusader]

They really need to tell you to bring two computers: One to do work on, one to run a file-sharing client on.

Speaking of which, where would be a good place to pick up an older powermac?