Apple/Mac for Sunday School software ~ Not Recommended

 

We recommend Windows based PC. Why? because there are quite a few excellent programs which only run in Window. And in addition, newer Macs with Intel chips no longer have "Classic Mode" to run some of the older Mac capable software available. The issue is not hardware superiority. For the rather narrow use of CE software in a church/volunteer environment, software AVAILABILITY and hardware costs are the superior issues.

Having said this.... About 60% of available good titles run on a good Mac. But... some run on OS 8 or 9, while others were made for OS X in Classic Mode. Only a few newer Christian education programs run on OS X Intel chip.

What about Linux?

Not recommended. It would take a Linux specialist to tweak your programs so often that it would eventually become a huge hassle for the average church.

"The older the sooner." Based on our knowledge of the Christian software industry and the tools used to make multimedia software, you can expect NEW computers purchased today to be more than suitable for four to five years without an upgrade -and longer with a modest upgrade down the road (perhaps more RAM, operating system update, faster videocard). It is important to note: If you build a good library of software that runs on those new computers over that period of time, and those computers are taken care of, and you didn't want to buy any new software after you built your library, you could conceivably run the lab for many more years. However, this technology IS moving forward. The kinds of software that may be out in five years may excite you to replace your equipment.

We have changed our opinion on this. If you are installing new computers, it's a good idea to also install some form of internet access. Today's operating systems and hardware are built to be updated/fixed via the internet. It will make your techie's life easier and keep your computers in better shape.

HOWEVER, you do not have to have internet access for teaching lessons, though some churches DO use internet resources during classtime. This is an area where you might say "yes, but not quite yet."

The better question is "how many can you support?" Having 8 computers, one teacher and almost no software budget is ridiculous. But that's occasionally what we hear from churches who have suddenly had old computers or a large check dumped in their lap. In general, we recommend churches have a 2:1 ratio of computers to teachers. Adjust your class size in the lab according to what you can support.

"It's easier to buy one more computer if you discover you need it, than to try and give one back you don't need." --Neilocrates

Yes, many programs have print features. We recommend buying inexpensive inkjet printers. Top notch office quality is unnecessary. We recommend a 2:1 ratio or computers to printers if you'll be networking them. Why? Because kids don't have all day to wait for their color printing projects to print out.

The only reason to network computers is to share printers, conduct operating system maintenance, or share Internet access. Networking computers to share software is illegal if you don't have a network or site license for that software. Read my DETAILED ANSWER TO THE NETWORKING QUESTION

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Almost all Christian software is licensed to you for use on one computer only. It is VERY illegal to copy programs/CDs. There are two exceptions... 1) when you are copying only a small file from one program to another computer, such as in the case of making a quiz question set on one and distributing it to other computers where there is a copy of the quiz software. 2) When you are copying for ARCHIVE purposes. You can make a copy of a program for safe storage. You may not use it while the original copy is still in use.

Sunday Software (us) has begun to offer "site licenses" on a limited number of our own programs. Most software however, must be purchased individually for each computer. We strongly recommend you purchase your software based on the average attendance you will experience during the time of year you are using the software (ie, if you have 4 computers but during the summer months will only have 4 kids in the lab, you only need two copies of the program you want to teach with during that time of the year.)

There are different types of "networks." We recommend networking to share printers. The concept of networking stations to a central "server" to run one copy of a program out to several stations is technically expensive, rather non-feasible for most churches, and in most cases it is highly illegal to distribute the software in such a manner. Read my DETAILED ANSWER TO THE LICENSING, NETWORKING QUESTION

What's the point of trying to teach a Bible lesson if the kids can't hear the teacher? For more on this, go read "Get Thee Behind Me Headphones."

If you will have two or more students per computer, we strongly recommend 17" monitors, or even 19" if you can afford them.

The first program released with a DVD instead of CD came out in 2003. It is called the iLUMINA BIBLE. It comes on 4 CDs, which is why they also send it with a DVD that has all four CDs on the one DVD so you don't have to switch between CDs. If you plan on buying this program, or plan on showing DVD movies on your computer(s), we suggest you get the DVD enabled CD drives.

Do you need a CD "Burner" ?

If I were buying 3 new computers, I'd make sure ONE of them had a CD burner, and perhaps all 3 if I was connected to the internet, and/or IF I planned on making CDs of photos or drawings which the kids created.

Start small, keep your computers separated from each other with plenty of room and sound buffering between them. Make sure there is a spot for the teacher to sit down and go through the software with the kids (and not just watching them). Read my book and articles on the subject.

Read our book Teaching with Computers in Christian Education