Every year we purchase a handful of laptops to get a sense of how well the new laptops that freshman are coming in with will perform on our network. Ideally we like to test laptops with 5Ghz 11n, and since we've upgraded all our residences to 11n this summer, that is even more important. I have to say that I am really disappointed though. I've been checking Best Buy and Newegg, and I am having a hard time finding laptops in any price range with 5GHz 11n. There are a few of the more expensive ones, but not all of them, and I was even expecting that the feature would trickle down into the cheaper netbooks.
The one exception is Apple laptops. They have been 5GHz 11n for three or four years, and even the iPad 2 supports it. I know they come with their share of other wireless issues, which is a shame, but I still have to give them kudos for being forward thinking in that regard. And, they are really catching down with our students. If current trends continue, over 50% of our incoming class will come with Apple laptops. Pete Morrissey ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
