MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

Jan 11, 09 - 03:02 pm Comment from: Wandering joe

Well, to the grey masses, cost is the deciding factor. To those who know better, well, who listens anyway...?

Jan 11, 09 - 03:18 pm Comment from: ericdano

While I'm all for Macs, the MacBook would have been a better choice.

Jan 11, 09 - 03:18 pm Comment from: alsoran

It won't be long till all state legislators are using the MacBook Air. They will be to embarrassed to tote their 8 pound PC laptops along side the Nebraska politicians

Jan 11, 09 - 03:20 pm Comment from: Andy

Well, although I would say I'm pleased that Macs are being adopted, I don't think government (state or federal) should be spending more money, right now. I'd say the same for PCs, too, by the way.

If politicians had even a smidgen of sense, they would have bought Macs long ago, rather than add yet more 'expenses' for their slaves -- er -- constituents, to subsidize.

Anyway, the senators would probably wonder why their notebooks no longer play solitaire.

if I remember correctly, Nebraska's unicameral has term limits. they changed their law not too long ago to get rid of ernie chambers, I think. mr. chambers is an interesting character I googled about a while back.

Some state senators may put Windows on it, the rest will get it.

Jan 11, 09 - 04:00 pm Comment from: ron

State Senile-tors? Get rid of the lot and start over. Dingy Harry Reid should be the first to go. Leave the laptops behind. Don't take example from Hillary when she ripped of stuff from the Whitehouse.

Hmm. Nice to see macs getting some credit. I would think that the macbook would be a better buy for the government, $300/ less per unit, more capable. But who am I to criticize. I think a senator has a pretty important job. Methinks he should be able to choose what ever laptop he wants within reason- say $500 to $3000. But it will be a sight to see 70 macbooks open in the chamber. . .

Jan 11, 09 - 04:51 pm Comment from: winmacguy

I love this quote at the end
"Fulton, who initially said he would refuse a new laptop, said he's had to renege on that because his old laptop was not compatible with the new programming."

He sounds like a real stubborn minded short sighted type.

Jan 11, 09 - 04:57 pm Comment from: theloniousMac

Waste of money.

Yes, this is the first session since Ernie Chambers was forced to leave after nearly 40 yrs. of service in our legislature. Of course, it is purely speculation, but given the fact that he often defended the "under represented" and minorities, he'd have been perfectly happy with the purchase of new MacBook Airs.

I'm just happy to see that I live in a state that has some in the government that are progressive enough to look to embrace change.

Jan 11, 09 - 05:40 pm Comment from: HMCIV

In Pennsylvania, we demand our State reps have a slightly greater constitution. I say give all Pennsylvania state reps 17" Macbook Pros. (Oh, and make me a state rep.)

Way to go, Nebraska!!! Now if they'd only vote to get rid of our taxes.

(I'm a fellow Nebraskan)

"About 70 new Apple MacBook Air computers were purchased this session for state legislators at a cost of $1,524 each,"

Engel was obviously a rarity in government and should have be allowed to continue serving for as long he desired.

A rarity?? The legislators purchased the Macs for themselves!!
What next? We The Taxpayers buy them all iPods too?

Why weren't those MacBooks put where they were needed, such as in schools?

I'm proud to be a Nebraskan (said as a tear works its way down my cheek).

If that purchase agreement included AppleCare, then it was indeed a sweet deal. A base Macbook with AppleCare would run about $1,500.

Jan 11, 09 - 08:43 pm Comment from: Zune Tang®

State senator Tony Fulton of Lincoln, I salute you! Citizens of Nebraska you are well served by this brilliant public servant.

Price is the most important criteria in considering technology purchases. Two other questions that should be asked are 1) What version of Windows comes preinstalled? and 2) Again, How much does it cost? Once those three issues are answered, you'll know what to do.

Your potential. Our passion.™

Nebraska should have bought refurbs. They're cheaper and just as good as new.

MacBooks and MacBook Pros would have been a better choice.

MacBook Airs are a bitch to service as well.

Ah yes, Zune Tang's tired act is alive and well.

terms limits, like the 2nd amendment, protect citizens.

learn and think about why we have such rights in the constitution!!!

you want emperors in a feudal system? (not that we aren't already).

@idiots

Don't know why I'm bothering trying to write this to a person who would call perfect strangers 'idots' but I thought I'd point out a couple of things about the Nebraska unicameral legislature.

First of all, the senators in Nebraska make next to nothing in terms of salaries. It's a laughably low figure. That means only certain individuals can even afford to run for office, and I'd argue not many people are in that position.

With that said, my view is that Nebraska voters goofed up with term limits. We already limit our pool of candidates by making it a position that would starve you to do for a living if you're not already independently wealthy (or Ernie Chambers, who is the exact opposite). Then we take people with experience and kick them to the curb.

Term limits don't exist in the Federal system, yet you think they should in all state systems? I agree that executive positions like governors and presidents should have term limits for the exact reason you state (feudal systems), but it makes no sense to limit our best representatives just because you're uncomfortable with it.

I'm sorry to disagree with some of you, but I WANT senators to feel grateful to work for the government and have good tools- I enjoy working on stuff so much more since I switched to a mac, and I think they will be really happy and encouraged to take their MBA with them everywhere they can, work on things, and be proud of it! Come on all you complainers, think about if you were a senator and had to lug an 8lb Fujitsu around- it would seriously change your desire to use your computer. Right tool for the right job.

Could it be that some decry the purchase out of sheer envy? Hmmm?

Are they getting a special version called HotAir?

Jan 12, 09 - 06:50 am Comment from: Ray

Way to go guys....keep spending OUR money. It is not like your deficit spending is costing anyone their jobs.

just my $0.02

Jan 12, 09 - 07:31 am Comment from: Andy

Macs are better off in the halls of commerce, education and science -- where they do real work.

Although, the possible upside is the senators would probably be so enchanted by OS X that they'd forget to pass laws, write no more regulations/rules and leave people alone, for once. (Peace and quiet at last!)

And what am I supposed to be envious about? I have a great machine already -- my 15" MacBook Pro.

Jan 12, 09 - 08:54 am Comment from: HMCIV

Zune Tang® that was priceless.

The Senators wanted weight savings and portability, and the taxpayers investment will save money in the long term.

My guess is that they wanted to do away with Winblows, and had many problems with Windblows (malware, etc.) that diverted their attention from their most important duties.

My hat's off to them. They sound like a smarter bunch than most states.

Jan 12, 09 - 09:05 am Comment from: chaz

@winmacguy

You hit the proverbial nail. I work with an engineering company, and man they just don't get it. They are so so so far into details, they can only seem to understand simple compairsons. i.e. Dell costs less than Apple, hence Dell is a better "buy".

Engineers don't spend time or thought about making things easier and more secure for the users.

First point, Nebraska is not in a recession. The economy here is Ag based and not suffering.

Second if you don't know Ernie Chambers, don't try to defend him. The guy was worthless, I would challenge anyone to come up with one useful bit of work he did in all his years. His bills were silly, rangeing from raising the speed limit (he was well known for his fighting his many speeding tickets) and trying to get students football players to receive money from taxpayers.

finally Nebraska schools are NOT short on computers, suggesting otherwise comes from left-winged knee jerk reaction that there is always more that can be done when in fact, our schools in Nebraska are over populated with computers (and T.V.s) in the classrooms.

"The state might have been able to buy laptops for $400 to $500 each ...". I assume that the balance of the virus software and required programs will be pirated. The regular IT expenses will be written off to another budget line item so the cheep laptops look good. Politicians and Idiots!

Buyers who SEEK OUT and settle for cheap shit don't just do it with their computers - they do it across the board and so the entire perspective of quality and efficiency should be brought into question...it's the cheap shit syndrome that ultimately drags everyone and everything down into the gutter..

Good for them for buying a high quality american product...

AND...

State Senators, perhaps not the most technically literate people, whose annual cost the the government runs into how many tens of thousands of dollars a month? have better things to do that waste time fighting Windows issues..

Would it make sense to save $500 'on the bonnet' so to speak and then lose countless thousands in wasted time and frustration for hte remaining service life of the laptop?