Understanding the

Total Cost of Ownership

of Education Technology
Educators, parents, and government leaders alike recognize the importance
of providing powerful learning technologies to all students. As school districts
work to broaden their students access to the Internet and local services, they
realize that the initial purchase price of computers and networking infrastructures represents only a portion of the equipments total cost of ownership
(TCO) over its usable lifetime. Yet they might have difficulty quantifying the
long-term cost differences among different vendors solutions, such as the
amount of technical support each system requires. Without that information,
its impossible for school districts to make truly informed purchase decisions.
CoSN TCO checklist

Evaluating TCO

The CoSN TCO checklist covers six

areas in which educators can evaluate
the lifetime costs of computer systems and networking infrastructures:

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a national education association that promotes the use of telecommunications and the Internet to improve
learning at the K12 level, is spearheading a project to help district and school
personnel become better informed about TCO. Called Taking TCO to the
Classroom, the project includes a checklist to help districts evaluate how
TCO savvy they are, and how they can achieve the best return on investment
(ROI) for their computer purchases and network installations.

Professional Development
Replacement
Retrofitting
Software
Connectivity
Support

Apples TCO-savvy products

TCO-savvy school districts are constantly seekingand findingways to reduce

the lifetime costs of their education technology. Whether your district is bringing more computers onto your local network, retrofitting buildings for LAN and
Internet access, getting ready to replace older computers, looking for the best
educational software, exploring ways to reduce support costs, or searching for a
personal computer solution that offers excellent technology integration training,
Apple solutions can provide significant advantages in helping your district get
the best value from your technology investments.

Professional
Development
Schools using mostly
Mac systems are more
likely to offer computer
training to their
teachers than
schools with mostly
Windows computers.

CoSN recommendations

TCO-savvy districts realize that inadequate staff training leads to underutilization

of computers and a loss of return on the districts technology investment, so they
budget for the necessary instruction on new hardware and software.
The Apple solution

Not surprisingly, teachers who have more technology training are apt to feel better
prepared to integrate technology into their classroom lessons.1 And schools using
mostly Mac systems are more likely to offer computer training to their teachers than
schools with mostly Windows computers.2
Thats because Macintosh computers have a much shorter learning curve than other
systems. And teachers appreciate what they can do with a Mac after they learn to
use it. In an IDC study, they rated Macintosh higher in the ease of developing curriculum, teaching students, and conducting research on the Internet.3
To help all district personnel learn how to use Mac systems even more effectively,
Apple offers a range of professional development products and services.
Relevant Apple products

Apple Learning Professional DevelopmentTo support education in effective technology integration, and to produce new teachers with great technology integration
skills, Apple Learning Development Training offers workshops in four categories:
Fundamentals, Technology Integration, Technology Leadership, and Technology
Integration Consulting.
Apple Learning InterchangeAn online resource, the Apple Learning Interchange
is the place for educators interested in professional development, creating and
sharing curriculum resources, and building a worldwide community of people
committed to finding better ways to teach with technology.
Apple Learning SeriesThe Apple Learning Series is a collection of kits that contain
software along with student projects that have been correlated to selected state and
national standards. Each kit comes with installation and getting started information,
step-by-step instructions, and extensive online resources.

Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership of Education Technology

Replacement
Macintosh systems are
used by schools for an
average of 5.4 years,
compared with other
PCs that are typically
replaced after only
4.5 years.3

CoSN recommendations

TCO-savvy districts reduce hardware costs by budgeting to replace computers on

a regular schedule (usually every five years, whether leased or purchased), and
by buying computers with as much processing power and memory as possible at
the time of purchase so that schools dont find themselves forced to make major
upgrades before the next scheduled replacement.
The Apple solution

Apple computers offer state-of-the-art processor power and ample amounts of memory and hard disk capacity. They also come standard with many high-end features
that are costly extras on other systems, including 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, wireless
networking support, and in some models, DVD drives and desktop video capability.
Because of those features, Macintosh systems are ready to provide superior performance and return on investment for years to come, permitting them to work productively for a longer time before upgrading becomes necessary. IDC has found
that Macintosh systems are used by schools for an average of 5.4 years, compared
with other PCs that are typically replaced after only 4.5 years. Even before they are
replaced, Macintosh systems go longer between upgrades.3
Relevant Apple products

iMac and iMac DViMac is the worlds best computer for the Internet. And with
digital video hardware and software built right in, iMac DV models have everything
teachers and students need to play educational moviesor make their own.
iBookiBook lets students learn and faculty teach anywhere. It was born to travel,
with a long-life lithium-ion battery, and designed to withstand life in a backpack.
PowerBookTeachers will find the PowerBook to be the mobile classroom, mobile
movie studio, and mobile office that sets the standard for portable computing.
Power Mac G4Apples most powerful system ever gives schools the performance
they need to develop multimedia content, tackle complex math and science
applications, and manage administrative databases.

Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership of Education Technology

Retrofitting
Wireless networks
can easily extend
current networks to
portable classrooms.

CoSN recommendations

TCO-savvy districts minimize the costs of installing network cabling and modifying
electrical, heating, and cooling systems by making these improvements when
schools are being built or renovated. These districts also reduce retrofitting, wiring,
and asbestos-removal costs by determining which areas of their schools can take
advantage of wireless networks.
The Apple solution

CoSN notes that school districts can avoid some of the costs of retrofitting older
buildings for computer networking if they are able to take advantage of wireless
networking solutions. Wireless networks can also easily extend current networks
to portable classrooms.4
All of the latest Apple computers are ready to take advantage of the most costeffective and easiest-to-use wireless networking solution for schools: Apples
AirPort networking technology. AirPort enables teachers and students to access
departmental services, Internet sites, and other network resources up to 150 feet
from an AirPort Base Station. It also supports high-speed file sharing between
AirPort-enabled computers. Yet despite its power and versatility, AirPort can be
set up in a matter of minutes.
You can use AirPort to extend the reach of your existing Ethernet segments or to
expand the network into locations where Ethernet drops arent feasible, such as
portable classrooms or areas that would require expensive asbestos removal to
install cables. AirPort can also provide network connectivity for portable computer
labs that are moved from room to room as needed.
Relevant Apple products

All AirPort-ready Apple computers and AirPortWith AirPort, educators and students who use desktop and portable computers now have the freedom to access
the Internet from anywhere in the classroom. AirPort enables every connected
educator and student to simultaneously view different websites, exchange files, or
access emailall without cables, additional phone lines, or complicated networking
hardware.

Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership of Education Technology

Software
The Macintosh advantage
was especially evident
with multimedia and
Internet applications;
it was rated the easiest
to upgrade to these
important programs.3

CoSN recommendations

TCO-savvy districts control software costs by minimizing the number of different

software titles used (while being careful not to compromise instructional needs),
and by upgrading each software title at the same time throughout the entire district.
The Apple solution

Macintosh applications are available to meet a broad spectrum of instructional

and productivity needs. In a 1999 research study that identified the most popular
software used in U.S. schools, 97 percent of the titles were available for the
Macintosh platform.5
No wonder that schools using mostly Macintosh systems report higher levels of satisfaction than those using mostly other PCs, and that schools using only Macintosh
report the highest overall satisfaction. The Macintosh advantage was especially evident with multimedia and Internet applications; it was rated the easiest to upgrade
to these important programs.3
Mac systems are distinguished by their ability to be updated without disruption.
The easy-to-use Mac OS requires less support, retraining, and overall costs when
computers are updated to a new version, and applications rarely need updating to
work properly with the new operating system. In contrast, the Gartner Group predicts that migrating from Windows 95, 98, or NT to Windows 2000 will be a costly
proposition, yet will provide little return on investment over the systems useful
life cycle. Gartner estimates that this migration will increase PC costs by $2,000 to
$3,000 per user. 6
Relevant Apple products

Mac OS 9Mac OS 9 makes any Mac a more powerful educational tool and more
Internet friendly than ever before. Its packed with software that educators and students cant do without, including Sherlock, a powerful tool for fast, easy searches
on the web or a local network. Mac OS 9 users also get access to iTools, a wealth
of helpful resources on Apples website.
AppleWorksA leading software choice of educators and students, AppleWorks
combines six powerful and easy-to-use applicationsword processing, page layout,
painting, spreadsheet, database, and presentationsinto one package.
iMovieDesktop Movies are a powerful medium for teaching and learning. With
iMovie, teachers can inspire and captivate students by easily integrating desktop
video into their curricula.
Apple Learning SeriesThe Apple Learning Series is a collection of kits that contain
software along with student projects that have been correlated to selected state and
national standards. Each kit comes with installation and getting started information,
step-by-step instructions, and extensive online resources.

Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership of Education Technology

Connectivity
Schools using mostly
Macintosh systems are
more likely to have their
computers connected to
a local area network
and to have greater
access to the Internet.2

CoSN recommendations

TCO-savvy districts save on long-term network infrastructure costs by installing

enough bandwidth at the beginning to handle future as well as current needs.
The Apple solution

Apple products are designed to take maximum advantage of high-speed networks.

All of our current computer models come with built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet,
and can be equipped with AirPort wireless networking, which runs at up to 11
megabits per second. We also offer powerful, scalable network servers that are based
on industry standards and are therefore compatible in multiplatform environments.
Macintosh systems are the easiest computers to set up, use, and administer on
the Internet and school or district networks. No wonder that schools using mostly
Macintosh systems are more likely to have their computers connected to a local
area network and to have greater access to the Internet than schools using mostly
Windows PCs.1 Schools with Macintosh systems also have greater access to advanced
multimedia peripherals for content development, and their educators rate Macintosh
systems easier to upgrade to vital multimedia and Internet applications.3
Relevant Apple products

Mac OS 9The most Internet-savvy release yet of the Mac operating system makes
the Mac even more powerful as an education tool.
All current Apple computersThe 10/100BASE-T Ethernet and connectivity software built into Apple systems that ship with AirPort make it easy to share files, set
up curriculum databases, send email, manage student records, and connect to and
publish on the Internet.
AirPortAirPort allows multiple computers to share a single Internet connection
and enjoy high-speed file sharingall wirelessly. An AirPort wireless network can
also easily extend current networks to portable classrooms and other hard-to-reach
areas, reducing your building and renovation costs.
Macintosh Server G4Fast, scalable, and easy to set up and administer, the
Macintosh Server G4 provides a powerful yet simple way to communicate and
exchange information. And with AppleShare IP software, you can install any combination of the integrated file, print, mail, and web servers as needed. The Macintosh
Server G4 with Mac OS X Server is an extremely high-performance and versatile
Internet and workgroup server, delivering the power of UNIX with the simplicity
of Macintosh. And Macintosh Manager provides network administrators with a centralized method of securing Mac OS workstations, controls user software access,
and provides a consistent, personalized experience for users.
iToolsAn exciting new collection of Internet-based services just for Mac users,
iTools includes iDisk, the easy way to share files over the Internet; KidSafe, which
gives children access to more than 55,000 educator-approved websites while
blocking inappropriate materials; and iReview, the place to share opinions on
the best websites.
Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership of Education Technology

Support
The ease of use of the
Macintosh platform
increases support
staff efficiency and
lowers TCO.3

CoSN recommendations

TCO-savvy districts recognize that having a sufficient number of full-time support

personnel reduces overall support costs by keeping teachers, administrators, and
students working productively and eliminating the need to pull teachers off their
assigned jobs to fix computers.
The Apple solution

In a U.S. Department of Education study, 58 percent of the principals interviewed

reported that insufficient technical support presented a moderate to great barrier
to the effective use of technology.7 The overall superior ease of use of Macintosh
systems greatly reduces support needs and therefore support costs.
In an IDC study, Macintosh was rated higher than other personal computers in the
ease of installing hardware and software and in the ease and speed of training technical staff. Schools using Macintosh systems reported that their installation costs
were 30 to 50 percent lower than those of other schools because they were more
likely to use internal staff. The Mac systems also experienced fewer downtime incidents; when problems did occur, the Mac systems could be recovered faster than
other PCs. IDC concludes that the ease of use of the Macintosh platform increases
technical support staff s efficiency and indirectly lowers TCO. 3
To help schools deploy Apple systems efficiently and keep them running smoothly,
Apple offers both technical training and ongoing support programs.
Relevant Apple products

Apple offers a wide range of support options, including built-in assistance, World
Wide Web sites, documentation, complimentary support, fee-based professional
support, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Warranty coverageAll Apple hardware products come with a one-year limited
warranty.
AppleCare Protection Plan for EducationFor comprehensive service and support
coverage, choose the new AppleCare Protection Plan that provides three years (from
hardware purchase date) of Apple-certified repairs, telephone support, powerful
diagnostic tools, and simplified access to Apples 24-hour-a-day Internet support.
Apple ServiceLarge districts may also want to explore becoming a Self-Servicing
Account, which allows you to service your computers directly.

Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership of Education Technology

Conclusion

With this information, youll be able to make truly informed decisions about your
investment in education technology. Youll also understand why so many TCO-savvy
school districts told Quality Education Data that Apple is the number one brand
theyre considering for upcoming computer purchases.8

New Teachers & Technology, May 1999, Market Data Retrieval/Education Market Research.

K12 School and District Survey, Dec. 1998, Field Research Corp.

Understanding the Total Cost and Value of Integrating Technology in Schools, Oct. 1997, International Data Corp.

Taking TCO to the Classroom, June 1999, Consortium of School Networking.

Best School Software: Most Frequently Used Products by Grade and Subject, Oct. 1999, Education Market Research.

Getting to Windows 2000 Professional: A Costly Migration, Sept. 1999, Gartner Group Strategic Planning.

1998 Teacher Survey, U.S. Department of Education.

K12 Technology Purchasing Forecast, 19992000, Quality Education Data.

For More Information

For a complete listing of Apple products,
more product details, information on buildto-order systems, and up-to-date pricing,
visit www.apple.com/education or call
800-800-2775.
For more information about the CoSN
Taking TCO to the Classroom initiative,
visit www.cosn.org/tco.

Apple
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010
www.apple.com

2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, AppleShare, AppleWorks, Mac, Macintosh, and PowerBook are trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. AirPort, iBook, iDisk, iMac, iMovie, iReview, iTools, Power Mac, and Sherlock are trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc. AppleCare is a service mark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United
States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of
their respective companies. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.
April 2000 L05282A