10709 -- Campus Technology

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10709

02/27/05

Mini Me? No! Mac Mini.

The Mac mini is the smallest Apple desktop computer, weighing in at 2.9 pounds. The unreal size—and price—is a winning combination. It’s certainly the most affordable way to get a Mac OS X-based computer to date, and may just be the company’s next coup, after the iPod and its spin-offs. Comparable in size to an external hard drive (or a medium-sized book), the Mac mini stands 2 inches tall and only 6.5 square inches all-told. The added bonus: It comes complete with iLife, a global collection that features the latest versions of iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, and GarageBand. One FireWire and two USB ports give users plenty of room for external device use, when the stock model is not enough. The downside? Not much, considering the low price. But users will need their own monitor, keyboard, and other peripherals and will have to purchase them separately. Mac minis start at $499 ($479 educational discount price). www.apple.com.

Do the Shuffle

And speaking of Apple and its new iPod incarnations… For folks who want the iPod but can’t afford the 60GB model, Apple’s new iPod Shuffle is the first iPod under $100. With the Shuffle, users can play songs randomly, or use a playlist. Smaller and lighter than a pack of gum, Shuffle is the ultimate budget-conscious, Apple-brand media player, say company spokespeople. Two models are currently available: one with 512MB capacity (holds up to 120 songs or other audio files) and another with 1GB capacity (holds up to 240 songs or audio files). Education users take heart—the 1GB version will be available with an education discount. So, how about preloading with lectures and then recycling or tossing the files like textbooks? Price: $99 to $149. www.apple.com.

Zoom In, Zoom Out

AVerMedia’s lightweight AVerVision 330 isn’t just any digital/portable document camera. The AVerVision 330 offers an optical zoom feature, rare to document cameras. It can also display 3D objects, negatives, or printed documents; focus in on small, detailed images or text; and AVerVision 330 can be viewed through any media. Best of all, the document camera comes with AVerMedia’s Smart AutoFocus system, which advances the auto-exposure capability. Price: $1,499. www.avermedia.com.

Sleek Displays…

InFocus is showcasing two new thin display products for small- and medium-sized conference rooms, and they are ideal for campus commons. The sleek, 61-inch TD61 and the 40-inch TD40 LCD display use the patent-pending InFocus engine technology that enables the microdisplays to hang on the wall. Price: $10,999 (TD61) and $6,999 (TD40). www.infocus.com.

In the Right Place at the Right Time

Got a busy schedule? Meeting Maker’s Meeting Maker Millennium may be just the product for you. Millennium is a software application that can be integrated with the user’s software infrastructure to schedule meetings in Outlook or Meeting Maker. Now, users can access their calendars from any platform, any location, and if they’re meeting with students, consultants, or vendors, iCalendar support even allows them to send meeting invitations to those outside of the organization. Millennium retails for $95 (per user).
www.meetingmaker.com.

Full Speed Ahead

Xerox has announced two new high-speed multifunction printer products for offices and work areas. At 65 and 75 pages per minute (ppm), respectively, the WorkCentre Pro 165 and 175 have advanced multifunction systems to quickly print, scan, copy, and fax office documents. These printers can sustain usage in busy department offices or shared spaces and workgroup areas, especially in space-limited environs. Suggested price for each is $27,400. www.xerox.com.

In Control with One Control

Integrating AV/VGA equipment controls into a single control panel is a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. The Pro-One Mini control panel from the Sun-Tech Group gives lecturers and presenters the ability to select the AV/VGA media and broadcasting destination, and control projector power/screen from a single panel. The capability is convenient for lecture halls, conference rooms, computer labs, and more. Price is around $1,000 (actual price TBD).

www.suntechgroup.com.