Tablets: ? Android/Apple/Windows

[DavidScott]

Or to throw a curve ball into the discussion, forget tablets completely and go for a 10" notebook running Windows 7/8 instead and you get full portability with a secure multi-user domain environment running your corporate suite of software for £160 each.

Lowers head in anticipation of flack flying my way
Andrew

Well you'll struggle for that kind of pricing especially with Windows 7 Pro, but have you seen this - Classmate 2S - a convertible, robust netbook which is both netbook and touch tablet. Great for primary.

About £300 for Starter and £355 for Pro

[RupertRawnsley]

You should take a look at our Android tablet for schools LearnPad. It offers the enterprise-level control people have been requesting, but in a classroom friendly way. You can buy our tablets or just the software to install on your own tablets.

We will be at BETT in January (Stand D95), where we are finalists in the Digital Devices category. Come and get hands-on with the tablets and the web-based management tools.

[Gongalong]

Rupert: we just need something that will lock the tablet down, so the student can just do... say web research. We want to then prevent access to everything else on the tablet. Is that possible? Would the software work with something like the Google Nexus?

[jinnantonnixx]

Haven't tried it, but the Android lock-down "Surelock" software gets a good write-up in various places.
Lock down your tablet with SureLock Kiosk Lockdown | TechRepublic

I was in WH Smiths on the weekend and tried a Kobo Arc. It ticks all the boxes for me; an unrestricted Android (4.2 is in the post) and with book reader software (which actually seemed nice). I think I'll drop of a few hints for one of those for my birthday.

[RupertRawnsley]

Rupert: we just need something that will lock the tablet down, so the student can just do... say web research. We want to then prevent access to everything else on the tablet. Is that possible? Would the software work with something like the Google Nexus?

Yes, you can lock to a single activity like the web browser or a handful of related "research" applications.

It works well on the Nexus 7 (I have one myself) and there are install instructions on the support pages so you can trial the full product before deciding.

[Gongalong]

Is there anything similar for iPads?

[caffrey]

There's so much wrong with apple MDM don't get me started It's *almost* there but not quite.

[somerset_tech]

I have been in touch with apple who recommend purchasing a mac mini server and using the iphone config utility and profile manager to configure and deploy ipads and further install the meraki MDM agent for remote wipe, lock and app deployment features has anyone any experience with this and how does this compare with Android and Windows options.