WELLESLEY, Mass., June 22, 2005 – Lenovo today announced that Babson College has deployed ThinkPad notebooks for the fifth consecutive year throughout its campus to support innovative learning experiences and increase student productivity. Using System Migration Assistant, a ThinkVantage Technology that allows users to transfer system and network settings from current to new PCs, Babson has decreased PC downtime and improved student access to information by reducing the time needed to migrate data on ThinkPad notebooks by 66 percent.
As part of its commitment to enhanced teaching and learning methods, Babson emphasizes the importance of technology in education through its wireless network and notebook PC program called the College Technology Initiative. This program provides every incoming freshman with a wireless-enabled ThinkPad notebook and includes a ThinkPad refresh at the beginning of their junior year. By utilizing System Migration Assistant, which allows the transfer of data from users’ old notebooks to their new notebooks, Babson enables approximately 450 juniors each year to transfer the data contained on their ThinkPad notebooks themselves, easily and quickly and without requiring IT assistance.
“Through the College Technology Initiative, Babson puts powerful tools in the hands of our students, empowering them with greater access to information and advanced learning opportunities,” said Dan Tonelli, director of IT operations, Babson College. “Using ThinkPad notebooks, our students are not burdened with PC downtime or technology hiccups since the tools to remain productive are always available at their fingertips. System Migration Assistant, in particular, has been critical supporting a smooth transition of data and information from PC to PC, while helping the college reduce costs and preserve its IT resources for other priorities.”
In addition to System Migration Assistant, Babson students utilize Access Connections, a utility that allows users to easily switch connectivity among multiple wireless and wired network settings; Rescue and Recovery, a one-button recovery solution that helps protect against data loss due to a system software failure; and the Active Protection System, an integrated motion sensor which arms notebooks with hard-disk crash protection in case of a fall. These innovative ThinkVantage Technologies help students remain productive by supporting easy access to Babson’s wireless network, recovery of lost or corrupted data, and protection of students’ hard drives in case of an accidental drop or fall.
Complementing Babson’s deployment of ThinkPad notebooks to students, ThinkCentre desktops are also used throughout campus computer labs and by faculty and staff. Babson is planning a refresh of all desktop PCs during summer 2005.
About Babson College Babson College, located in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its innovative undergraduate program, and grants MBA and custom MS and MBA degrees through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced managers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.babson.edu .
About Lenovo Group Ltd. Lenovo (HKSE: 992; ADR: LNVGY) is the world’s third-largest personal computing company. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company employs 19,000 people worldwide and develops, manufactures, and markets reliable, secure, and easy-to-use technology products. For more information, see www.lenovo.com.
About ThinkVantage Technologies ThinkVantage Technologies are available on ThinkPad notebooks and ThinkCentre desktops, available through Lenovo Group Limited. ThinkVantage Technologies help make PCs less dependent on IT staff or user intervention for basic tasks such deployment, backup, maintenance and security, freeing up users and IT staff to focus on competitive advantages in their business. According to industry analysts, costs associated with deployment, support and disposal account for approximately 80 percent of the entire PC lifecycle cost. For more information, please visit www.lenovo.com/think .
