The laptops used by seniors, the pioneering class of the Tablet PC program, have presented consistent problems regarding hardware.

According to Technology Help Desk Coordinator Joseph Vitucci, two major problems arise in senior laptops.

The first problem, said Vitucci, is that the AC port is dysfunctional. The port is where the computer charger is plugged in, so when it malfunctions, the computer cannot charge.

Other computers are experiencing problems because of failed circuitry, which causes the laptops to periodically go into sleep mode.

A poll taken by senior in the beginning of the year showed that over 51 percent of seniors have this problem with their computers.

To fix a computer with failed circuitry, the motherboard needs to be replaced. “If we have a working motherboard, the computer can be rebuilt within an hour. If we have to order a new motherboard, it can take up to three weeks,” said Vitucci.

These are not the only problems seniors have had with their laptops. After the current seniors’ freshmen year, the operating system Windows Vista was installed on their computers.

According to Vitucci, Vista created problems among many senior computers when it was first installed.

“Vista didn’t do well with the general public because it had a lot of bugs. They released it prematurely, but it is all fixed now,” said Director of Technology Gregory Russell.

Seniors experiencing problems were able to switch back to Windows XP. “I gave them the option if they wanted to,” Vitucci said.

“Before we deployed it, we tested it on a handful of students. We knew it would take time for some of the problems to surface,” said Vitucci.

Microsoft’s newest operating system Windows 7 “got it right,” according to Vitucci. The Help Desk will implement the program with next year’s freshman class, but will allow students to test it out now if they’re willing.

Haley Lynch can be reached for comment at [email protected].