Any schools using Chromebooks?

[fiza]

I would say the Dell 11 with 4GB RAM. Really makes a difference compared to the Samsungs with 2GB we purchased first. Both run well but the Dells have the edge and look better too.

[j224]

I would say the Dell 11 with 4GB RAM. Really makes a difference compared to the Samsungs with 2GB we purchased first. Both run well but the Dells have the edge and look better too.

 

Thanks. Yeah, that's what I was thinking regarding the RAM. We have a quote for the 2014 Dell CB 11 with 4GB and another for the 4GB Toshiba CB 2. The Toshiba is £22 more but it does have a 13 inch screen and it is full HD so the extra cost is probably worth it.

[fiza]

Thanks. Yeah, that's what I was thinking regarding the RAM. We have a quote for the 2014 Dell CB 11 with 4GB and another for the 4GB Toshiba CB 2. The Toshiba is £22 more but it does have a 13 inch screen and it is full HD so the extra cost is probably worth it.

 

We stuck with the 11" as it was just the right size and weight for easy transportation from the trolley in the LRC to classrooms

[j224]

It's nice to know some UK schools are using them. I know they've taken the US by storm but a Google search for UK schools using them doesn't seem to return many results.

[j_mcg]

Think the 11" ones are fine for class use however our teachers that are on the pilot have said it is abit small for them, also they only have HDMI out which is a problem if a teacher with one uses a projector that only has VGA input.

[Bev]

We have 11 in Samsungs. The teachers don't use them, we just use them for the kids to use in class.

[j224]

also they only have HDMI out which is a problem if a teacher with one uses a projector that only has VGA input.

 

Yeah, that is a pain. There are adapters available but of course it's extra expense. I hear printing can be a problem with Chromebooks too but it's not really what a CB should be used for in my opinion. I like things to be digital, online and easily searchable. I can't wait for the day when printers are no longer needed

[mnewnham]

If you want to manage the chromebooks using Google apps, you must buy them from a Google authorised reseller otherwise you will get stung for another £20 per chromebook.

[TechMonkey]

There is a webinar on the 26th, Google for Education Webinar with IPACA (Portland Aldridge Community Academy). I can send the sign up link via PM if anyone wants in. Hesitant to post in public incase it isn't meant to be shared and has identifiable details in it.

 

We’d like to invite you to a webinar giving an overview of Google for Education.

 

During the webinar, you will learn:

• How the Google for Education solution has helped improved teaching & learning

• How the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA) has harnessed the solution to work for them.

• An introduction to Android tablets and Google Play for Education, our content store designed just for education.

 

[j224]

If you want to manage the chromebooks using Google apps, you must buy them from a Google authorised reseller otherwise you will get stung for another £20 per chromebook.

 

Is it possible that the Google authorised resellers are selling them for £20 more than other places though? I don't know, I'm just wondering.

[NotSoFast]

I think there's some confusion here. Wherever you buy them, you need a £19 licence to be able to manage them in GAFE. We have 40 Acer C720s and are about to get another 40. Cheap, fast, light, great battery. I forgot my laptop today so plugged one into my monitor, keyboard and mouse. Used it all day and still at 50%! 11" is good for carrying around too. We have the lock n charge with baskets.

[Arthur]

Is it possible that the Google authorised resellers are selling them for £20 more than other places though?

I can't imagine many schools paying £39 per Chrome OS device for management licences.

[rogerdnixon]

I'm happy to speak to anyone wanting more info on ChromeOS devices. We manage around 350 (Chromebooks/boxes/bases) for ourselves and devices for our feeder primaries who are sub-domains to our Google Apps domain.

To answer a few questions:

ChromeOS management licences at £19 and are a one off payment. They can be transferred between devices if a device dies. For teacher devices we get Asus Chromeboxes + licence + extra 2Gb + HD Webcam + (adaptors where need) for around the £170 mark.

We routinely plug a wide range of ChromeOS devices into projectors and TV's. HDMI to VGA adaptor are around £3-4 on ebay.

For printing, we use Papercut, which offers managed cloud printing from ChromeOS to our printers and copiers (which have embedded Papercut). Works reliably and makes firing out printers literally a couple of clicks.

For Chromebooks we mainly have Acer C720's and Dell 11. Chromeboxes mainly Asus + lots of LG Chromebases.

 

Perhaps that answers some of the questions - but I'm happy to chat to anyone who wants to know more.

 

Roger

We offer access to Windows apps (mainly SIMS) using Ericom AccessNow which lives on one of our rdp servers

[Arthur]

They can be transferred between devices if a device dies.

Only if the replacement device is the exact same model as the one that died.

 

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/2717664

 

Each perpetual license you purchase for our web-based management software lasts for the lifetime of the device it’s enrolled on*. Perpetual licenses are available for purchase by all Chrome device customers. If you encounter a hardware issue and need to replace a Chrome device, the license can be transferred to a replacement of the same model. Using the deprovisioning feature within the Admin console on a damaged device will free up its license, allowing you to enroll the same model replacement. Licenses are not transferrable from one device model to another, and license transfers will be audited.

 

* Each device model is supported until it reaches End of Life. For more information about End of Life and the associated dates for each model, please visit the Chrome End of Life Policy page.

[rogerdnixon]

Might be what it says - but thats not what we have found in practice. They are transferrable - well in all the cases where we have tried.

[NotSoFast]

I've heard the same thing, though never had to try it yet.

[1hertz]

Well Mr Dolan, we do have some chromebooks at out school down in southampton

but I really don't think its worth the drive as there are only 7-10

[mrdolan]

Thanks, we are just about to purchase 64 (2 class sets) chromebooks. We are going for the 2015 Dell chromebook 11 with 4gb ram.

[6Foot2]

For anyone contemplating the purchase of Chromebooks and looking to compare the relative merits of one vs another:

 

Link: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/141515-google-chromebook-comparison-chart.html

[j224]

I can't imagine many schools paying £39 per Chrome OS device for management licences.

 

I think you missed the point I was making.

[Valyyn]

We're looking into Chromebooks at the moment and just had some trial ones sent to us from XMA. They were touchscreen Acer Chromebook C720s: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-C720-11-6-inch-Chromebook-Silver/dp/B00GX9HSKM/ref=sr_1_1? and I have to say I was very impressed by them.

[rickjames]

Bumping this...

 

We're thinking of maybe getting half a dozen or so Chromebooks for the staffroom, a pick up and use option when all the desktops are used up. I think any 11" one is too small, so thoughts on any 13" ones? Irritatingly the Acer Chromebook 15 is now available in a few places but it's the non-HD version

[Bev]

We have Samsung Series 3 Chromebooks, they are 11.6in screens. We find them fine, so many people are using ipads/phones these days, that the smaller screen has never been an issue.

[theeggmaster]

We've got over 100 Chromebooks. We tend to buy the smaller 11" screen ones (Acer C720) for students and staff get the larger screens on the Acer CB5-311's. We've got a Chromebox as well for one of our meeting rooms, and I've trialled the LG Chromebase. The Chromebase was especially good as it has an HDMI in so that you can plug a proper PC or other device in, and use the screen.

[Trillion11]

Has anybody found any decent Chromebook cases or bags? We have a handful of C720's at the moment.