Frequently asked questions: Microsoft / Apple

What is in the 2007- 2009 software agreement?

Upgrades to the Apple operating system and provision of iLife 06 and Kid Pix.

Removal of Microsoft Office from curriculum machines and replacement with Apples equivalent for schools iWork.

Microsoft licences have been purchased for all TELA, principal laptops and administration computers so there is no change there.

The ministry is obliged to work inside the budget provided by government and there has been a rapid growth in computer numbers in NZ over the last few years.

The outcome of the negotiations with Microsoft was that the ministry has chosen to license Microsoft Office only for the Apple computers that are TELA, principal laptops or administration computers.

What are my options?

The change is to the Mac machines in your school used to deliver the curriculum.

There are 3 main options:

1. Remove Microsoft Office and replace with iWork - this is what we think most primary schools will do as iWork provides the publishing and communicating tools they need.

2. If the classroom programmes demand the functionality of Office this can be provided by NeoOffice (www.neooffice.org) the Mac version of Open Office which has no licensing cost.

3. The school purchases their own Academic licences for Microsoft Office from an approved Microsoft reseller at a substantial discount.

What are the costs of change?

For the last five years of the software agreements all of the software packs are sent to schools with the understanding that schools using them will be responsible for their installation and removal of previous products (where necessary).

The school is responsible for installing the new software packs iLife, iWork and Kid Pix when they arrive. If there is a need to add NeoOffice this should be installed at the same time. The ministry is funding the distribution of the NeoOffice media and instructions.

The ministry has agreed with Renaissance that if there are any additional service costs required specifically for the installation of NeoOffice this will be provided to the school free of charge. Renaissance through their local dealers will be contacting the Apple schools regarding this issue in the near future.

When do I have to change?

Because of the substantial delays in the negotiations this decision could not be released until March. The ministry and Microsoft have acknowledged that this has created difficulties for schools as budgets have been set and programmes are underway.

The ministry and Microsoft have therefore agreed that schools need a suitable length of time to transition to the new licensing arrangements. This licensing change is to be done in a timeframe that is at the school's discretion so that it does not disrupt current school programmes.

Concerns that have been raised

Sharing and communicating information to parents and schools

A concern has been raised that schools will not be able to share and collaborate. The ministry has been assured by Apple that iWork can import and export a range of document formats including .txt, .htm, .pdf and .doc.

All teachers and administrators will still have access to Microsoft Office for planning, development of materials and communications.

If NeoOffice is used it will also provide this type of functionality.

Quality of software

iWork is a high quality Apple product specifically designed for communication. It provides functionality similar to Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint.

NeoOffice is part of the open source community and is the Mac version of open office which is used by millions of users. Because it is open source the web site provides substantial caveats about its level of stability. Our advice is this software is robust and reliable and Apple and the e-learning team are confident it will meet schools needs.

Inequity of treatment

An argument has been raised that this decision is treating Apple schools unfairly and they are being penalised. Schools have and are being treated differently in the different licensing agreements since its inception.

There is a perception that by not having Microsoft Office on these classroom Macs these schools are being treated as second class citizens. The basis of this argument is because currently Microsoft Office has such a high market share it should be available on all curriculum machines.

The ministry does not agree with that argument and believes that the replacement of Office with iWork does not disadvantage students or teachers in either their classroom or communication activities.

Future directions

The funding of software is an important element in the current workstream on the funding of ICT in schools which is part of the review of the operations grant funding requested by the Minister.

In the longer term the funding of software for schools will be determined by that process, however, the aim is to move to a system with more flexibility and choice to schools while trying to retain the benefits of whole of country licensing.