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December 23, 2009

MSU student: Laptop rule doesn't compute (20+)

Doesn't want to buy another laptop

By Robb Murray

MANKATO — Minnesota State University has been requiring its business majors to purchase laptop computers since before Y2K.

But junior Darin Woitas says the laptop rule needs a new business model.

Woitas says he already has a laptop. A good one, too, loaded with all the software and hardware necessary to complete the coursework in his business classes.

Still, in the future, if he wants to register for the classes to complete his minor in business administration, he�ll need to first become the owner of another laptop, one made by Dell. And he�s not happy about it.

�To me it seems like a scam,� Woitas says.

State Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, got wind of Woitas� feelings on the laptop issue and agrees.

�You should never force someone into buying a piece of equipment they are going to have for a long period of time and use in their personal lives,� Cornish says, �especially when it is inferior to what they already own or want to buy.�

MSU, however, says the university has had few complaints over the years about the laptop situation. The College of Business has a solid reputation, and its MBA program is nationally recognized. And the laptop requirements have good reason for being there, the university says.

The most important reason, according to the College of Business, is consistency and service. MSU is an official repair facility for Dell computers. If a student�s laptop breaks down, MSU can immediately give the student a loner and typically have the student�s personal laptop back to them within a day or two.

Outside vendors, it says, cannot offer the same service, and in some cases repairs may take several weeks. That kind of delay could affect the student�s performance in class. Having the Dell system in place removes most obstacles to students having an adequate laptop to complete work on time, the college says.

The College of Business Web site states: �If students are bringing in many different brands and models, the rapid and inexpensive repair model we value is diminished. The faculty do like the standard laptop approach since it really helps support our goal of having 100 percent of the students in every class with a working laptop.�

Still, the university says it is willing compromise on occasion.

�We do work with students who bring their computers in who think they may work with the program,� MSU spokesman Michael Cooper says. �The business program tries to be helpful.�

Woitas, however, thinks the university�s policy should be officially rewritten to avoid making students who already own a laptop purchase another one. �Even if I had to buy it, I wouldn�t use it.�

He says that right now, financially, he�s getting by OK. But having to pay another $1,000?

�That�d be a huge hit,� he says. �With my grants and scholarships, I get by pretty good. But $1,000 is a lot of money.�

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MSU student: Laptop rule doesn't compute (20+)
by By Robb Murray , , Wed Dec 23, 2009, 10:58 AM CST
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