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| MacBook Vending Machine at Drexel University |
The goal is simply to help students get better, safer access to technology. Students toting laptops are targets for muggers.
“We installed it in late December,” Niki Gianakaris, Drexel’s media relations director, said. “Students didn’t want to carry their laptops to the library late at night.”
To get a MacBook, students simply walk up to the vending machine, sign in with their student card, and receive a laptop. Between lending sessions, the Macbook’s batteries charge, and the kiosk wipes the hard drives clean. Late fees of $5 do apply. The vending machine holds 12 notebooks, and I’m guessing it’s generally empty.
For now it’s a demo project with single vending machine, but it could grow over time.
“This is obviously going to be very popular,” Gianakaris said in a blog post. “We’ll evaluate their use and, depending on the results determine how many more we can install.”
The program is part of Drexel Library’ knowledge transfer mission. “Libraries are not only meant to house books,” Drexel dean Danuta Nitecki said in a statement. “They also house learning.”
The vending concept is using technology from Texas-based LaptopsAnytime.
Based in North Texas, LaptopsAnytime is the 2011 Winner of the Dell Mobility Challenge sponsored by Dell and Intel. The Company was co-founded by Matthew Buscher and Jonathan Ruttenberg in 2008 with the vision of giving back to the community via convenient on-demand access to full-function laptop computers. Piggybacking on already present Broadband, they dispense devices per ATM-style technology plus employ security protocols (ID card / phone home software) and custom software integration with ILS and Student Database Systems to minimize liabilities and to make things as easy as possible for facility administrators to do their jobs right.
The service is designed to give you access to the right technology at the right time. Think of our Self-Checkout Laptop/Netbook (and soon tablet pc) Dispensing Stations as your “mobile device away from your home computer.”
