The school's new Netbooks show their superior portability compared to a typical laptop.
Photo Illustration by Ashley Stewart.

This year students can check out Netbooks from the library. Unfortunately, if you don't have one now you will have to try your luck next quarter.

A Netbook is a smaller version of a laptop, featuring total mobility and few drawbacks. The only problem is that they do not have CD drives. The school has purchased 150 Netbooks to lend out to help students with their studies.

The Technology Enhancement fee, which was created in 2003, funded the Netbooks. The fee comes out of every student's tuition.

The small laptops are quite versatile. They come loaded with Microsoft Office and a web browser. Those who check them out have to use external memory because, although it has a 150 gigabyte hard drive, each time you turn the Netbook off it clears its memory. When students check them out, they come with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) drive for storage and a battery. They will also come with a case and strap to keep it safe.

Christie Nelson, who works for the Library Media Center, said, "The Netbook loan program is aimed at helping ensure that all students have the ability to use current technology. Students often have schedules that limit their use of campus computer labs or may not otherwise have access to a computer to support their educational needs."

She also talked about how many people checked them out. All 150 net books were checked out in the first two days of the quarter. If you missed out this quarter you will have to wait until next quarter. There is no way to set up a preorder-the service is first come, first served.

It's easy to check out a Netbook; it's as easy as checking out a book. Students need only to be currently enrolled and to fill out an agreement form.

EvCC is one of few schools to offer laptops for more than over a weekend. If this goes well, other schools could adopt the program.

Though students have been able to check out laptops from the library for about two years, Netbooks are the first piece of technology that students can bring home.

Savannah Cronauer, a student at EvCC, said that it is a good idea because most of the computers in the libarary are usually in use, though she also added that she feels that 150 computers is not enough for all students.