New Mac Computers in Communication Technology Lab

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Malique Gordon

This fall has been an eventful time for Bluefield, marked by numerous upgrades and renovations. Our very own MacLab was no exception to this trend.

Replacing the computers was a needed upgrade said Allen Roberts, assistant professor of graphic communications.

“It’s a request we’ve had for a couple of years because the old Macs were starting to show their age, struggling with the software,” Roberts said. 

The software that Roberts mentioned are Adobe programs essential to communication students’ coursework. Adobe programs run complex software that requires a lot from any computer. 

Photoshop is a staple in BU communication students’ education and is one of Adobe’s better-known programs. It requires a minimum of 8 gigabytes of RAM, a type of memory, with a recommended 16 gigabytes for better performance. Photoshop also requires a more complex operating system and graphics card than stereotypical programs. In short, a computer’s ability to properly run Photoshop is no easy feat.

The previous computers’ age was becoming evident in classes. Students commonly struggled with the Macs or even brought their own laptops to class. 

“The apps that we rely on in communication, specifically graphic communication, require some heavy lifting on the computer’s part, and we were especially starting to notice some of the computers lagging behind on that last semester last year,” said Roberts. 

Robert Smith, director of information technologies, also saw the need for new Macs. 

“We regularly evaluate labs across campus, and in this case, we saw that an upgrade would have a direct impact on students’ ability to use the tools required in their coursework.” 

After the decision to purchase new Macs was made, there were some logistics to consider in terms of what computers to purchase. 

“The goal was not just to meet today’s needs but to make sure these machines could keep up with the software for years to come,” Smith said. 

With this goal in mind, Apple M4 Minis became the clear choice to update the Mac lab, due to their fast processor system and graphics system. 

“We compared the old machines to the new Mac Mini M4 models, and the difference was clear. The M4 is built with a much faster processor and graphics system, and that makes a noticeable improvement when running modern design software.”

Smith continued, “To Apple’s credit, they made a powerful machine at an attractive price. The M4 Minis are incredible for their size and priced in a way that allowed us to upgrade the entire lab without sacrificing performance.” 

Aside from purchasing the computers, the IST department also put much effort into upgrading the Mac lab behind the scenes. 

“Hats off to IST,” said Roberts. 

IST ensured that the transition was seamless while ensuring the quality of the Macs so that the Mac lab would remain available to students and available as a classroom space. 

“Before the new Macs were put into place, we spent time setting them up with the software that classes rely on and making sure everything was licensed and tested. We kept the old machines in service until the new ones were completely ready, so students and faculty never lost access to their work,” Smith explained

He continued, “We also tested the new machines by running common projects in Photoshop, InDesign, and Premiere to confirm that everything performed well. Since the overall layout of the Macs had not changed much, there was very little retraining needed. When the transition finally happened, everything was already in place and ready to go.” 

IT will also handle the upcoming transition of the Mac lab into its new home in Lansdell, joining the new spaces being provided for the Communications department.