You want a brand new eMac with a Combo Drive for $849?  All you have to do is be an educator. That's not just the price that your school would pay -- it's the price that you pay if you're buying the computer for yourself.  This new deal and others were recently announced by Apple.  An iBook will only run you $949, and a 12 inch PowerBook goes for only $1399.  Suddenly, the laptop you always wanted is within reach.

The deals don't stop with computers.  An iSight webcam will run you only $129; AirPort Base Stations start at $179.  Software is included as well:  AppleWorks for $39, Keynote for $79, MacOS X Jaguar for $69.  Congratulations to Apple for recognizing that educators are never paid what they're worth, and could use a discount for Mac-related equipment that, in many cases, will probably end up being used partly for school-related business anyway.  What digital camera-owning teacher hasn't used her own camera in her classroom from time to time?  Teachers deserve these breaks, and vendors in other walks of life would do well to follow Apple's lead.  Of course, let's not forget that iMovie 3, iTunes 4, and iPhoto 2 are already free for educators and everyone else on the planet.

If your school is doing the purchasing, there are even better deals on the table.  A special eMac with only a CD-ROM and without a 56k modem goes for an eye-opening $699.   So much for the idea that Macs are too expensive for schools to afford!  The software deals get even better: Final Cut Express, MacOS X Server, and the newly-announced Soundtrack are priced at 50% off.  What's more, schools can have a field day with volume software purchases.  For example, ten or more copies for Keynote will run you only $29 each, meaning that you can buy a copy for every iMac in your lab (as I recently did) without breaking the bank.  And yes, I'll post my own lesson plans for Keynote projects here on this site...as soon as I finish writing them!

If this article sounds like a press release so far, then you can forgive me. It's just that I'm so excited to see such liberal pricing from Apple Education.  The discounts on software have always been fantastic -- but now we've got great hardware deals to with them.   I mean, just think about how many aging PowerMacs can be replaced with eMacs for only $699 each.  The lower Apple Education can set the prices, the more stuff schools can buy.  And the more we buy, the more the kids can do with it...meaning that there's more good stuff going on with Macs and kids in schools for all the world to see.  There's really never been any question as to whether we need Macs in schools; it's just a matter of proving it to those who don't "get it".  As Mac-related prices continue to fall for schools, this becomes progressively easier to do.  To take a look at what deals are offered for you and your school, go here.

If you came to this article via an external link and you haven't seen all of "billpalmer.net/educators" yet, feel free to take a look around, take whatever you want, and offer up whatever you have so that other Mac-using educators will have an easier time.  Remember, we're all in this together.  This is still a new initiative, so we've got some building to do, but the contributions so far have been excellent and I hope they keep coming.  Send yours to billpalmer@mac.com.

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