Berklee freshmen must have Apple laptops

The Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., has mandated that all incoming freshmen next year must have a Mac laptop.

A note on the school’s Web site reads: “For over a half a century, Berklee College of Music has been committed to preparing our students for the musical, technological, and business necessities of the world they will be entering. It has become increasingly clear that, to continue this commitment, Berklee students must be well versed in computer technology, and specifically, music technology. Accordingly, beginning in Fall 2003 semester, Berklee College of Music will require all entering students to have an Apple Macintosh laptop computer.”

Macs are nothing new to Berklee: The school’s Web site explains that the school uses Macs throughout its curriculum because the Mac platform is widely used in the music profession. Berklee’s Macintosh efforts have even profiled by Apple in the past. Also, much of the software that supports the school’s curriculum is Mac-exclusive. Berklee’s own computer store Web site even offers a section that explains how Macs are used on campus.

If you are headed for Berklee this fall, hold off for now on buying a PowerBook G4 or an iBook, according to the admissions staff. The college said that it expects Apple to roll out new hardware before the Fall semester kicks off, and it doesn’t want incoming freshmen stuck with obsolete hardware. Of course, the school will also offer students educational pricing on Apple hardware and whatever software they’ll need, and expects to peg the price on that gear this summer. The school asks students to visit its Web site for updated pricing and information this July.