Now that Apple has axed the CRT-based eMac and replaced it with a cut-down iMac, there is the opportunity to go one step further. The regular iMac can support two screens. If the eMac has the same facility, then with some software Apple could provide one Mac to support two students.

Since Mac OS X is based on a multi-user OS, all that is needed is the ability to handle two keyboard/mouse pairs and associate them with the users correctly. In an educational setting you can place the eMac facing one student and have the other either sitting opposite with the second screen's back to the back of the eMac, or side-by-side, both facing the same way. The additional cost is small: use existing monitors, keyboards and mice. Now the educational system would be spending half as much per student.

What I don't know is what this would take software-wise. Although the OS is multi-user and the file system is multi-user, and fast user switching is supported, the applications are not so savvy. One option would be to bring the OS and applications up to scratch (Leopard?) Another is to use virtualization to support the second user: just create a new machine and do it on the other monitor. All that remains is to associate the mouse and keyboard appropriately.

Tags: iMac, Crazy Ideas