Software Requirements

Prior to applying to iRead, teachers were told that they would need access on a regular basis to iLife 06 and iWork 08.

On the contract signed by iRead teachers, it restated the requirement for access to this these applications.

The actual software that we need for iRead is Keynote 4 (in iWork 08) and Garageband 3? (in iLife 06).

The district has minimal standards for installation of iWork 08 on district computers in order to ensure proper operation.

iRead Teachers are now starting to ask for installations of these applications (through Web Help Desk) on a variety of computers.  There are a couple of issues that we need to pay attention to here:

1. The capability of the computers

2. How will this work in conjunction with the rest of the users at the site?

EUSD's iWork 08 Requirements

http://podcast.eusd4kids.org/groups/teacher_resources/weblog/8838f/iLife_08___iWork_08_Computer_Requirements.html

    *  A Macintosh computer with an Intel or PowerPC G5

    * 512MB of RAM (1G recommended)

    * 32MB of video memory

    * Mac OS X version 10.4.10 or later

    * QuickTime 7.2 or later

    * iLife ’08 recommended (but not necessary - iLife 08 has more requirements)

    * 1GB of available disk space

    * CD drive required for installation

Apple's iWork 08 Requirements
http://www.apple.com/iwork/systemrequirements.html
These are the same, except that they say iWork will also work on an older PowerPC G4 (500MHz or faster) processor.  If iWork 08 is installed on these less powerful computers, operation may be sketchy (slow transitions, jumpy, perhaps even freezing up).  We may be able to try these installations on a pilot basis (Central has already done this with success, Juniper also), but this should be a site tech team decision, as it may affect others at your site.  (iLife 08 has more requirements and should probably not be installed on a G4)

2. How will this work in conjunction with the rest of the users at the site?

Unless you have all brand new computers at your site, you will probably have a variety of vintages.  Many of your computers will NOT be able to run some of the software well, or perhaps at all.

At some sites, the newer computers have been placed at the upper grades so that all of the computers in their classrooms will run the newer software. At some sites, every classroom has a variety of vintages. Whichever your site chooses, your tech team needs a strategy as to how students will work with (possibly) two different versions of software on projects.

Before installing iWork 08 on the lab, your school tech team needs to discuss how the above will be accomplished.  The problem is if a student starts a Keynote project in 06 and then opens it in 08, that will work fine.  But then in order to open it again in 06, the student (while in 08) needs to remember to save it down to the older version. For iRead, you will want to always use 08 - but not all classrooms will have 08, so how does that affect others at your site?

Another problem can occur when Keynote 08 is added to the dock. It does not tell whether it is 08 or 06.  Younger students may accidently choose the wrong version.  If the computer does not contain 08, a question mark will be displayed.

One possible workaround for part of your site's issues might be below.  This would help with having a different version on lab  computers

1. Install 08 on all capable computers

2. 06 remains on the dock for most students in the school

2. iRead Teachers and students using 08 and are trained how to open 08 from the Applications folder (they can even make an alias). - Once the users are able to add items to the Dock, this would probably be an even better solution.