I just bought a new laptop... Ask me anything!

[ChoralScholar]

Actually, the choir program bought a new laptop, but since I am the only Jr. high director, it is pretty well my personal laptop.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavilion-17-Widescreen-Notebook-PC-DV9005US/sem/rpsm/oid/160284/catOid/-12963/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

[zonkers]

1. Why does the choir need a laptop?

[ChoralScholar]

2. Running a choir program is a big job

Especially with as big of a program as I've got.
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Outside the classroom:

Music Library Management
Wardrobe Management
Ordering Music
Arranging Music
Creating Practice CDs
Recording/Mixing Accompaniment Tracks
Program Design/Printing
Connecting with other choral directors via e-mail, bulletin boards, etc.

In the Classroom:

Show sight-reading Powerpoints
Teach music lessons
Show video clips of various things
Play Performance MP3s
Record Rehearsals
Take Attendance and send it over the wireless network (as opposed to taking it on paper, and leaving my class for ten minutes as I go to my office and send it)
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Not to mention, I am able to keep things going while I am at:

Director's Meetings (5 each year)
ACDA Summer Convention (5 days in August)
All-Region Auditions (3 days in November)
All-State Music Conference (3 days in February)
Choral Performance Assessment (2 days in March)
SWACDA Divisional Convenion (4 days in March)
ACDA National Convention (5 days in March)

[swag]

3. Congratulations to you and the choir.

Did you have to de-crapify the computer of a lot of preinstalled software, come-ons from services (AOL, etc.) that you don't want?

[ChoralScholar]

4. In progress.

It truly is a job of 3-4 hours to get it ready to use.

[bigwillq]

5. How many keys on the keyboard?

:shrug:

[ChoralScholar]

6. Interesting you should

ask:

Since it is a 17" laptop, there is room for the number pad. So it is a full 104 key keyboard.