Laptop experience

[X-13]

but let them install their own software.

 

Make me.

 

This is how we ended up with a laptop containing 20 different pieces of "anti-virus" software.

 

I'm not putting the network [and by extension THEIR PLANNING AND THE PUPIL'S WORK] at risk because they can't listen to what we say.

[Joanne]

We have docking stations here and everything seems fine. I personally don't like them, but they work. Here are some Pro's and Con's:

PRO: Teachers can use their own laptop in each room.

CON: Supply staff have not this facility.

PRO: docking stations have their own power cable, so staff don't need to remember chargers.

CON: I've come to buy more spare 'dockable' laptops now (couple of years later) and they don't make any to fit the dock any more.

 

So a couple of pointers... buy a good few spare docks and laptops, because before you know it, they will be end of life and you will need new everything!

 

We have Toshiba's here and they seem sturdy and well built. The laptops are i5 Tecras, more business PC, but then you need something good that'll last.

[BlackTie]

Also other non-technical tips that have helped us along the way :

 

Label the chargers with the laptop computer name. Yes, some staff will accidentally swap them with colleagues, but most will keep hold of their own and when they leave them lying around the owner will be easier to trace. Also if you have several different model's of laptops (we do now, as the fleet has got bigger) you'll know what model the charger belongs to.

 

Obviously get some spare chargers to loan out and a few spare laptops as well and then keep a log of who has borrowed what. Quite often the chargers won't make their way back, so you'll have to chase them. If someone keeps doing this over a course of time you'll have a recorded history that you can past up to SLT and say "this person is losing chargers and costing us money"

 

 

Top Tip! Had most of the others in mind but wouldn't have thought of that one - thanks!

[BlackTie]

So a couple of pointers... buy a good few spare docks and laptops, because before you know it, they will be end of life and you will need new everything!

 

Good plan - I have it in mind to start with about 10% surplus capacity of both - to guard against breakages, forgetfulness, shredded installations and hopefully for supply teachers as and when. Hopefully we'll maintain overstock for the first year or so, then let it dwindle as they approach EOL...

[arwen]

Echoing what everyone else seems to have said, desktops are way less hassle than teacher laptops.

 

If you do go down the route of docking stations however, in all the docking stations I have used, Dell ones are the most robust and reliable, followed by HP and Lenovo. The Toshiba ones I used were dreadful for having driver issues and failing constantly.

Also a flaw on all of them, people like to drop their laptop on them, then press down while trying to find the holes for it to attach to. Usually damaging the port in the process. They are quite robust, but if people are doing that to them 5 times a day, then expect the port in the laptop and the port on the docking station to be wrecked within the year.

[Sagima]

We had docks and laptops for the last four years. ICT suites had a fixed desktop and certain other rooms.

 

It worked pretty well although some of the teachers complained about having to carry it to and from their car and from classroom to classroom. All encrypted with bitlocker. Maybe got one a month with a fault, usually sorted out under the warranty. More than three lots of damage meant the teacher would have to pay up for additional fixes. 3 times was the most it ever went to - they could be careful with it if they wanted to be.

Had roughly one or two docks fail a year. Went through about 40-50 replacement chargers over the last four years.

 

Moving to desktop in every classroom and a tablet (surface pro or ipad air) for every teacher over the summer. They've started complaining about not having laptops now.

[robjduk]

there are a lot of port replicators which work over one USB cable nowadays so you don't have to worry about a full refresh and only make sure drivers are supported. Kingston ones are ok and know the Toshiba ones are nice (is you can tolerate Toshiba support)