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Universities Ban iPads

2010-04-20 10:17:30

Dan Hope

TechNewsDaily Staff Writer

LiveScience.com Dan Hope

technewsdaily Staff Writer

livescience.com Mon Apr 19, 5:55 pm ET

Even though the Apple iPad has received much praise for its design and user

interface, there are many who aren't so enamored with the device. That includes

a couple American universities that are having problems with the iPad on their

networks.

The problem stems not from the iPad's popularity but from the way it connects

to wireless networks. Princeton University in New Jersey has blocked 20 percent

of the iPads on campus because of "malfunctions that can affect the entire

school's computer system."

In a report, Princeton said the iPad causes DHCP client malfunctions, which

basically means the tablet causes interference for other devices using the

school's wireless network. In order to prevent that interference, Princeton has

been blocking the offending iPads.

George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. has also experienced network

problems with the iPad, though not related to DHCP malfunctions.

"Our current authentication system isn't supported by the iPhone or the iPad,"

Guy Jones, Chief Technology Officer for GWU, told TechNewsDaily.

These devices aren't blocked by the university, but the authentication issues

mean users users aren't able to log on with the iPad or iPhone.

Princeton has said it's working directly with Apple to solve the iPad network

problem. George Washington University said it could be nearly a year before the

iPad is supported on its network.

The iPad bans are not a local phenomenon either. The entire nation of Israel

has banned the iPad because of problems the country has with the Wi-Fi

connection it uses. Visitors bringing an iPad to the country must impound the

device for a daily fee until they leave or pay to send it back home.

That doesn't mean the iPad is anathema at all universities, though. Cornell

University in New York has also expected iPad problems, mostly relating to the

devices taking up wireless bandwidth. The same problem happened when the iPhone

came out and the university network received an extra load of traffic. However,

Cornell tested specifically for DHCP malfunctions and found no problems with

the iPad.

"We didn't see any DHCP malfunctions in our network with the iPad, or any

problems at all," Cornell Information-Technology Director Steve Schuster told

TechNewsDaily.

Schuster said it was "the difference in DHCP configurations between us and

Princeton," that has kept Cornell from seeing the same problems.

Cornell's university network currently serves around individual 70 or 80 iPads,

and Schuster confirmed the university has not blocked any of them.

"We have never banned any device," Schuster said.

Most other universities are still friendly to the iPad. Seton Hill University

even pledged to give a brand new iPad to all incoming freshman this year. So

far, Seton Hill has not expressed problems with the iPad or elaborated on how

it has affected the university's network.

The iPads currently on the market are only capable of connecting via Wi-Fi. In

late April, Apple will begin shipping versions of the iPad that can connect

through the 3G cell phone networks throughout the nation. While 3G iPads may

alleviate some connectivity issues, the 3G connection requires a monthly fee.

That means many users, even those who own 3G-capable iPads, will likely use the

iPad on open Wi-Fi access points, potentially increasing the load on wireless

networks.