The DoS of Maine has signed a $ 41 million contract to provide Apple laptop to more than 30,000 middle schoolers and their instructor , Associated Press . The contract bear on Apple ’s mess with Maine for another four years .
Macworldhas substantiate that Maine will receive iBooks — not Intel - based MacBooks , as has been speculated . reason include price : Maine negociate a raft that costs $ 289 per laptop per year — significantly less than they would have been able to talk terms on MacBooks . Another issue was comparative familiarity with iBooks — MacBooks are a brand - new theoretical account without a long - term racecourse record of reliability and usableness .
The young iBooks have faster C.P.U. , more store , and DVD Combo drives , allot to the reputation .
Part of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative , the United States Department of State publish iBooks to all 7th and eight graders and their teachers beginning in 2002 . Although the program was criticise by lawgiver and citizens who were implicated about its efficacy and cost , it finally deliver the goods over many critic after it showed that student attendance was up and detentions go down . Cape Elizabeth technology coordinator Gary Lanoie joked toAPthat if the laptop computer initiative had n’t been renew this yr , instructor “ might lynch ” him .
About 32,000 of the newfangled iBooks will be give to students ; about 4,000 are slat to be given to teachers . The contract bridge includes warranties and professional development for Maine ’s public middle schools .
Unlike Henrico County , Va. , which put its decommissioned iBooks up for sale for $ 50 each and right away created a rabble view , Maine design to continue to use the older iBooks these new systems are to replace . The Old iBooks will be redeploy in other level and for other design . In sum , Maine will have more than 70,000 iBooks in circulation .
