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MHS works through laptop problems with Gateway
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By CHUCK CLEMENT, Staff Reporter
| 12/29/2008 |
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When Madison High School joined the state-sponsored laptop computer program in 2007, students were supposed to learn with the same type of technology that they would most likely use in the 21st Century workplace.
Well, the teens are also becoming familiar with another problem that adults sometimes need to overcome -- getting what you paid for.
Madison Central School District has leased about 500 Gateway computer tablets that have ongoing demands for maintenance and spare parts. The school district also paid for an extended warranty program that was supposed to cover some accidental damage and parts failure.
But the computer market has changed during the last decade and Gateway, which used to do business as one of the big boys in personal computers, has hit the skids. The latest owner of Gateway's business and education computer lines, MPC Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November.
The Chapter 11 process is supposed to provide some breathing room for companies in financial trouble and allow them to reorganize. However, Gateway's problems for about the last year have also meant that customers are having difficulties obtaining parts and services under their warranty agreements.
"Gateway was in the middle of its switch to new ownership when we joined the state program," said Rob Honomichl, technology director for the Madison Central School District. "During the past year, we've had problems obtaining spare parts, and we can't get any warranty work done."
In 2007, Madison obtained about 450 Gateway computer tablets for all of its high school students to use as part of a personal computer-centered curriculum. Honomichl said the district also signed a useful extended-warranty contract."
"For the parts that were under warranty, we would send the tablet computers to the repair facility and they would do the work," Honomichl said. "Now there are problems getting repairs under the contract. If we need any work done, the cost has to come out of our pocket."
According to Honomichl, MHS has so far avoided major problems in providing an operating tablet computer for each student. The teenagers may need to leave their computers in the school repair shop for a few hours to get problems fixed. If the problem is serious, MHS still has loaners that the students can use.
"For the most part, no student has really been without a machine," Honomichl said. "We've -- to this point -- been able to keep up with them."
Honomichl credits Todd Beutler, the district's computer network administrator, with handling many of the solvable problems by fixing them at the school. However, 15 tablets have been on ice at an Iowa repair facility since last summer. Another 15 are waiting for parts at the school.
On the positive side of the conflict, the bankruptcy process is supposed to allow MPC Corp. the resources and breathing room to fulfill its contract obligations. The company has also started negotiations with its creditors, and Honomichl has heard rumors that MPC Corp. will have an announcement at the start of 2009.
But some customers aren't waiting. Dozens of South Dakota high schools joined the state's Classroom Connections program -- which helped provide laptops and computer tablets to students. Due to the service problems, some districts are revamping their curriculum programs or trying to return their Gateway products. In addition, some school districts have decided instead to use Hewlett-Packard computer equipment.
Madison has also made some changes. In 2008, Madison school officials decided to lease 41 Fujitsu-brand tablet computers for the elementary school teachers.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2009
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