University Vending Machine Lends MacBooks

macbookkioskdrexel

Drexel University students who don’t want to lug their laptops around campus now have another option: A library vending machine that offers MacBooks at no charge. Students can borrow the devices for up to five hours at a time as part of a university experiment to determine interest and discover if more MacBook and iPad kiosks should be installed around the campsus.

The MacBook dispenser—developed by Laptops Anytime and located at Drexel’s Hagerty Library—is available 24 hours a day, and can be accessed using a DrexelID card. Students are charged a $5 late fee for every hour a MacBook is kept past the five-hour rental time. Each time a MacBook is returned, its hard drive is reformatted and the battery is recharged. To ensure the devices don’t leave the library, they are equipped with a security sensor.

This was a great opportunity to match a specific student need with library staff’s ongoing exploration of cutting edge technologies,” said Dean of Drexel University Libraries Dr. Danuta A. Nitecki. “We expect the resulting initiative to improve the Drexel student’s academic experience.

The Laptops Anytime kiosks will hopefully not only offer convenience to students, but safety as well. By allowing students to pick up a laptop when they reach the library, they reduce their chances of being mugged during their walks home carrying expensive devices.

[Image via Drexel University]