thinktank 2007 montreal 1 enjoying the vista from 20,000 mbs myra williams manager, mobile computing...

ThinkTank 2007 Montreal 1

Enjoying the Vistafrom 20,000 MBs

Myra WilliamsManager, Mobile Computing Program

Mark MillerDirector, Academic & Research Computing


High Points for Discussion• Overview of Mobile Computing Program (MCP)

– Brief history of MCP– Fall 2007 laptop model

• Image management– Freshmen – full software image– Upperclassmen – basic software image

• Student input– Form Factor Survey– Windows Vista Ultimate Pilot Program

• Open Discussion with Lenovo and Microsoft


Rensselaer Overview• Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically

based careers• Private institution founded in 1824 • 6,200 resident students – 5,000 undergraduate, 1,200

graduate • 450 faculty, 1400 staff• Schools – Architecture, Engineering, Humanities and

Social Sciences, Management and Technology, Science


Mobile Computing Overview

• Laptop required for undergraduate students• Single standard high end T-xx model including

software at an excellent price• Students can purchase, lease to own, or bring own• Laptop used inside and outside of class• Over 6,000 laptops on campus• http://www.rpi.edu/laptops/


Mobile Computing Program Evolution

• 1995-1997Voluntary pilot program (three years)

• 1998Laptop highly recommended for incoming freshmen

• 1999Required for all incoming freshmen

• 2003 - presentFull deployment, required for all undergraduates


Fall 2007 ModelThinkPad T61 (What’s Different)• Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0 GHz CPU, 800 MHz Front Side Bus

• 2 GB RAM, 4 MB L2 Cache

• 15.4 in Wide Display, 1680 x 1050 Display Resolution

• 128 MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Video Card

• 160 GB 5,400 RPM Disk with Robson flash cache

• Media Card Slot

• Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n, Firewire (IEEE 1394)

• 9 Cell Battery, iClicker PRS

• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate


Fall 2007 Software List• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate• Microsoft Office Pro 2007• Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2005• Maplesoft Maple - symbolic algebra program• MathWorks MATLAB• NX5 (Unigraphics) - CAD package• National Instruments LabVIEW• Bentley Microstation• Cygwin• MapInfo Professional• Microsoft Internet Explorer 7• Adobe Premiere Elements• Adobe Photoshop Elements• Symantec anti-virus software suite and more!

ThinkTank 2007 Montreal

Laptop-Integrated Courses• Calculus

• Physics

• Freshmen Studies

• Next Generation Studio Biology

• Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML)

• Introduction to Engineering Analysis

• Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design

• Laboratory Introduction to Embedded Control (LITEC)

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Fall Laptop ImageNew laptop each fall has full software image (~25 GB)• New fall model configured primarily for freshmen• Software properly installed, tested, and configured for the first day

of class– Faculty can depend on working software the first day of class– Class time is not expended on software installation and

configuration• Standard image promotes easier troubleshooting and one fix for all• Students can choose to uninstall software to free up disk space• Students use software in unexpected and novel ways


Images for Older Laptops

Updated software image for older laptops • Very basic image - Windows, Office, IE, anti-virus • Upper class students have a better understanding of their

software needs• Software is available on the network for download and

installation• Students select what software they need to install

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High Hopes

• Students re-image their laptop -- 2,000 per year• Will Vista features reduce need to re-image?• Will new HAL technology enable a single image to

work for all Vista ready laptops?• Will imageX technology replace Ghost?

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Student Input• Form Factor Survey

Four T60 models14in standard, 14in wide, 15in standard, 15in wideHard disk - size/speed trade off6 cell battery, 9 cell battery

• Windows Vista Ultimate Pilot ProgramVolunteer students re-image their laptop withWindows Vista Ultimate

• Backpack Feature Discussions

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Ranking Features• Laptop Size (screen size):

14in standard, 14in wide15in standard, 15in wide

• Hard Disk: 100 GB 7,200 RPM,120 GB 5,400 RPM, 160 GB 5,400 RPM

• Battery: 6 cell, 9 cell

• 164 Respondents (132 male, 28 female)


Form Factor Survey Results• Screen Size: All students clearly preferred 15in models,

males clearly preferred wide, females preferred standard

• Hard Disk: All students preferred 100 GB 7200 RPM,males preferred fastest, females split between fastest and largest

• Battery: All students clearly preferred 9 cell battery,males clearly preferred 9 cell, females clearly preferred 9 cell

• Fall 2007 Model (what the adults decided)15in wide screen160 GB 5400 RPM hard disk9 cell battery


Windows Vista Ultimate Pilot

• Why?Student feedback on using VistaStudent feedback on using Office 2007Student installed application compatibility

• Voluntary participation and feedback T42, T43p, or T60 recommended models (1 GB)

• Vista, Office 2007, Visual Studio 2005, IE7, Maple, NX4, MATLAB

• No ThinkVantage tools• “20 students”, 131 students participated


Vista Pilot Results• 82 students provided 116 feedback submissions

• 539 Vista comments: 60% positive, 40% negative

• 110 Office 2007 comments: 80% positive, 20% negative

• Problems: wireless (VPN, 802.1x),slowness – startup/shutdown/sleep/hibernate, battery life, runs hotter

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And the Winner Is?• 119 unique student installed applications

94 successes (Firefox, iTunes, GAIM, Trillian)15 problems (Chime, Worms Armegeddon)

• Final feedback from 56 students49 still using Vista43 recommend for Fall 2007 laptop (wireless)

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Not Quite at the Summit

• ThinkVantage Tools for Windows VistaAccess Connections (802.1x GTC)

• Windows Vista LicensingUnique Keys for Vista UltimateRepair and troubleshooting


Questions?


Open Discussion

• Lee Highsmith, Lenovo

• Steve Straub, Microsoft

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thinktank 2007 montreal 1 enjoying the vista from 20,000 mbs myra williams manager, mobile computing...

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