'iWin' - as prorector is allowed Macbook

09/09-10 kl. 06:00 Campus

Photo: photos.com They fooled around with Apple products in private, but never in the open

University of Copenhagen's all-Microsoft policy has made an exception for the new prorector to feed his Mac-addiction

by Christoffer Zieler, English version by Stephanie Bergeron Kinch

Countering resistance from university IT staff, new pro-rector Thomas Bjørnholm has been granted permission to use his Mac computer. The IT department has even been forced to loosen their tight grip on the university-wide Mac-ban and invested in two MacBooks to further study how they work as a result.

For many years, University of Copenhagen IT employees, at least in the central administration, have dedicated their lives, souls, and jobs to software company Microsoft. It is a feeling that has grown quietly but relentlessly since the first versions of Microsoft were introduced in the late 20th century.

Maybe they fooled around with Apple products in private, but never out in the open. Never on the intranet. And never, never on the phone lines of the service desk.

Will be poked, prodded

So when Bjørnholm arrived declaring his love for Macintosh, there was controversy. Reluctantly, the IT department has allowed him to use his computer, but the change has caused a terrible dilemma in the IT department. How can they service a Mac-user, maybe even an apostate?

In the end, the department chose to tolerate the alien Macbook and has even allowed two new Macbooks to take up residence in the IT office. They will be poked, prodded and studied like the alien creatures they are to the IT staff. Will faculty computers turn over to Macs because of Bjørnholm’s newest addition? Only time will tell. Just as Bjørnholm’s impact on university affairs is yet to be seen, so is his possible impact on university computer life.

chz@adm.ku.dk

Stay up to date with news and upcoming events at the University of Copenhagen. Sign up for the University Post newsletter here.

2 comments

Write a comment

10/09-10 kl. 12:39 Anonymous:

Impeding IT staff at KU

I have installed GNU/Linux on my work computer and I always use this OS, because it is much more suitable for my research (e.g. development of statistical software and computer-intensive computations). However, in contrast to my previous university, the IT staff of my institute at KU really impedes this. So I can choose between being unproductive because of impeding IT staff or because of using an unsuitable OS. Maybe I should become a prorector to solve this dilemma ;-)

20/07-11 kl. 09:42 Hakim:

Impeding IT staff at KU

In any case you should stand up to their backwards attitude...I'm appalled to be a student at a university that favours MS to Open Source software...especially when said OSS is superior to the proprietary product. One would think that especially in a research environment the idea of sharing information freely should be a guideline also when choosing software.

23/05-12 kl. 06:00 Culture

Photo Competition: Show us your room

Last chance! Send us a photo of your room before tonight at 24:00 and win tickets to the NorthSide Festival

22/05-12 kl. 06:00 World

Study shows where brains drain, or gain

A new study shows where scientists migrate to, and why. For foreign scientists in Denmark the main motivators are careers and prestige

See also:: Best and brightest consider leaving – for good; Universities struggle in ‘brain game’

20/05-12 kl. 06:00 Culture

The experts: How to make your own job

Entrepreneurship is a field filled with myths: One of them is that it is hard to start up something on your own. The experts have offered to share their tips

See also:: Crisis, what crisis? More student start-ups; Innovator: Don’t be afraid to fail

20/05-12 kl. 06:00 Campus

Innovator: Don’t be afraid to fail

In 2011, Gregory and two friends started the ‘Copenhagen Union’. Deliberately unambitious at the start, the initiative now trains students and organizes high-profile debates