You don't get fired for buying IBM

[laserblazer]

This is used to be a common refrain when the myriad of cheap and cheerful compatible machines started to hit the market. I have been tasked to come up with a tablet recommendation by the beginning of next week. I've no idea what the budget is or how they will be used. I've just bought myself a Hudl fro Tesco and I'm really impressed with it. With the Tesco rubbish taken off, I'm sure it could be a contender but I'm hearing stories about teething problems. So, I'm think I'll adopt the same strategy and say "You don't get fired for buying iPads".

[glennda]

This is used to be a common refrain when the myriad of cheap and cheerful compatible machines started to hit the market. I have been tasked to come up with a tablet recommendation by the beginning of next week. I've no idea what the budget is or how they will be used. I've just bought myself a Hudl fro Tesco and I'm really impressed with it. With the Tesco rubbish taken off, I'm sure it could be a contender but I'm hearing stories about teething problems. So, I'm think I'll adopt the same strategy and say "You don't get fired for buying iPads".

 

Until they only want to use them for using flash based websites - but then thats the same for most tablets these days (bar M$ ones)

[tmcd35]

As much as I'd love to be an Apple fanboy (iPhone due an upgrade in 6 months ) - I don't think it's right to single out iPads per se, which honestly have just as meny teething problems.

 

I think the "no one gets sacked for buying IBM" refers more to the back up and support rather than the build quility of the devices. You can just as easily say "no one gets sacked for buying Dell/HP/etc".

 

Point being you'd get better help/support/warranty buying an Android tablet from Dell than buying a Hudl from Tesco.

[CamelMan]

Lots of pro and conns for Andriod /Window8 / IPad

 

Most schools go for IPads (for apps /everyone else is) and then live with the management and storage "alterations" you'll have to make. You can kind of apply that IBM thing as a lot of Education Advisers are pushing Ipads.

 

This could be worth a look as well.

LearnPad - The Tablet Computer Designed for Education

[laserblazer]

Lots of pro and conns for Andriod /Window8 / IPad

 

Most schools go for IPads (for apps /everyone else is) and then live with the management and storage "alterations" you'll have to make. You can kind of apply that IBM thing as a lot of Education Advisers are pushing Ipads.

 

This could be worth a look as well.

LearnPad - The Tablet Computer Designed for Education

 

That looks interesting, have you first hand experience of them.

[Haptic]

Try these, we've been incredibly impressed thus far.

 

EXCITE AT10-A-104

 

• Android™ 4.2, Jelly Bean

• NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 mobile processor

• Super 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core with 5th battery-saver core

• High-performance 12-core NVIDIA® GPU

• Toshiba AutoBrite™ WXGA high brightness touch display with Wide View Angle, 16:10 aspect ratio and LED side lighting

• 16 GB

• silver finish with textured dot pattern

• 1 GB (onboard)

• DDR3L RAM (1333 MHz)

• weight : starting at 0.630 kg

• W x D x H : 261 x 179 x 10.5 mm

 

For full spec sheet, further questions and orders please feel free to PM us

 

Joe

[mavhc]

iOS still seems to be ahead of Android in volume licencing, deployment, and apps suitable for secondary school age students.

[SYNACK]

The ipukes do disturbingly have in in management simply from being around longer and our junior area uses them successfully in the place of crayons and pastels but the W8 tabs really come into their own if you want to do a crossover between cutesy little apps and doing something useful, flash is massive if looking at free resources you have already found and built lessons around, you can also take the stuff you have done from tabletland and leverage it in a full bit of software if you want seamlessly on the same device. Management is a female dog at the moment but for raw possibilities the W8 tabs rule.

 

Android also has stacks of possibilities but I can't help feeling that unfinished beta, we don't care attitude towards security and management that Google proposes as best practice, drop it into the bootloader and its owned on startup. Ironically a 30 sec search on Google away.

[eduabncs]

Have a look at Learnpad

[laserblazer]

Have a look at Learnpad

 

Someone else suggested it, have you used them?

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

+1 for Learnpad, we resell them here and they're up to the job, stable price and supply, good amount of options, decent bespoke Learnpad software and UK in the field support. However... Windows all the way!

[Jsmith-FairfaxVT]

When it comes to flash-based websites the first question we ask is "What are you trying to accomplish?" and in every single case so far we find that they're stuck in TTWWADI (That's The Way We've Always Done It). If the staff are used to and comfortable with a windows-based environment they are going to get testy as they are shoved outside their comfort zone with an iPad.

 

BUT, by the same token, I've shut down 3 application servers that have gone obsolete because they've been replaced by apps.

[CamelMan]

That looks interesting, have you first hand experience of them.

 

Sorry only just seen this - no, I havent had personal experience - it was just something I came across when looking into the tablet suitability for schools.

 

My personal feeling is that there is no current "perfect" solution, however Win8 is the best fit* for an easy to manage and easy to use mobile device for IT Staff and users.

 

However the Head went iPad. I am only just starting to roll these out and finding out about their quirks and limitations

 

EDIT: *Assuming you are running a Windows Domain!

[mavhc]

What's the situation with Windows RT 8.1 and domains?

 

Can we have some tablets? -- what for? -- reel off list of things that can be done better on laptops.

[SYNACK]

What's the situation with Windows RT 8.1 and domains?

 

Rubbish, you still need intune or the latest sccm but its better with the Intel based ones, you can now push start screens (read only not template) and control a bunch of stuff through gp, metro apps are still a nightmare though, they have put less than zero thought into making those useful in a domain environment despite forcing their UI on everyone.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like Windows 8 and use it daily, its fast stable and clean for me plus the UI does make sense on a tablet, I shelved an android one when I got mine, thought they could coexist but the W8 one was just so much better for my usage that the android has not been charged in several months even as a curiosity, even flash works really well so you get apps and older web resources. When they finally clean up the rough edges with regard to management they will be great. We use some now in some schools which do their jobs well for the users but from a management side they really could do better.

Edited November 11, 2013 by SYNACK

[seawolf]

This is used to be a common refrain when the myriad of cheap and cheerful compatible machines started to hit the market. I have been tasked to come up with a tablet recommendation by the beginning of next week. I've no idea what the budget is or how they will be used. I've just bought myself a Hudl fro Tesco and I'm really impressed with it. With the Tesco rubbish taken off, I'm sure it could be a contender but I'm hearing stories about teething problems. So, I'm think I'll adopt the same strategy and say "You don't get fired for buying iPads".

 

You really need to go back to the boss and get the vital information that you are sorely lacking:

 

(1) What do you intend to use them for (i.e. for who, what, where, when, and why)?

 

(2) How many are needed and what is the budget?

 

Depending on the answer, you will have several possible best choices such as:

 

(1) iPads or iPad Minis - The top choice if you want a great tablet experience including the best selection of apps. There is a lot of excellent information and tools (free and paid) for deploying and managing them as well as using them in the classroom. You will find the most support and ideas available for the iPads as they are the most widely used. In most cases, you are right that few will question your recommendation being an iPad.

 

(2) Android - If you have a smaller budget or have a strong distaste for all things Apple - as SYNACK does - then Android is a reasonable choice as long as you're careful. I would avoid the Tesco or Aldi, or any other uber cheap Android tablet. You'll find commercial support non-existent and very little info in the community in deploying or managing them. You will also likely be left in the lurch for future Android OS versions, and the crapware on them is another bonus. If you're going to go with Android, you'd be best to stick with the Nexus line as they are pure Android with great build quality and support. Deployment and management is easier as well. Second choice would be Samsung.

 

(3) Surface - If you're a pure Windows shop and everyone will just pester you and moan about not being able to do exactly the same thing they can do on their PC, then the Surface 2 Pro is a strong candidate. They will cost you a pretty penny though and in the end you just have to wonder whether buying some cheaper touchscreen Windows 8.1 laptops wouldn't be a better solution, but without knowing the actual requirements or budget - who knows.

 

(4) Chromebook - if you find out that what they really want is just a netbook replacement, the Chromebooks from Samsung or HP do a pretty good job of that at a great price point. Especially if you are already using Google Apps.

 

To reiterate, find out what is needed, how much you have to spend, stay away from the cheap junk and buy gear from trusted companies (in tablets) that you can get support and community assistance for. That's what the "nobody ever gets fired for buying IBM" mantra was really all about.

[PotNoodleTech]

Given how useful and usable my new Windows Phone is I would seriously be looking at Windows Tablets.