Chromebooks...!

[JHill]

Looks like 2015 could be a big year for Chromebooks in the UK Education sector! Unbelievable rise in the USA this year...thoughts people?

 

Chromebooks take Appleton high schools by storm

 

 

J Hill

IT Assistant

Milton Keynes

[zippo]

Possibly, but we are about to see an avalanche of low cost (sub £100) Windows devices come on stream.

 

Take a look at ....

 

Search results for "linx" | Ebuyer.com

[JHill]

There's no doubt Windows aren't taking the Chromebook threat lightly and there are things you can do on Windows that you can't on Chromebooks, however, there is no doubt that for interface and value in particular the Chromebook is ahead (in my opinion).

 

J Hill

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Here's one reason the Chromebook avalanche won't hit the UK; purchasing isn't done for an entire county by one body and decisions aren't made that way here in blighty. So massive purchases on the scale of deals that happen in USA education won't happen here. That said I'm very excited to see whether Chromebooks are adopted by UK edu decision makers. If Google take the business sector by storm then education will probably follow. As learning continues to go digital I'm sure its a serious option for schools now. The Microsoft TAP scheme is a clear indicator that Microsoft aren't sitting idly by though. Small screen windows devices are now the same price as good quality android tablets and its Microsoft who are subsidising this. I've not met a Chromebook I didn't want to touch longingly though, they're always well built, attractive, engaging bits of kit.

[snagrat]

But some mayor players are pulling out - mainly Samsung - of making them.

 

If they are going huge why pull out?

[3s-gtech]

I imagine margins are quite small on them, same as all budget laptops regardless of OS. Samsung are pulling out of the laptop market entirely too.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Yeah Samsung contradict themselves quite radically in press reports. Slim margins, yet it was a growth sector. Focussing on android tablets phablets and all other lets but not Chromebooks. Weird.

[robjduk]

I have over 200 Chromebooks in my school and would paint the walls with the things if I could. I have a low cost Windows laptop on my desk to play with but its still going to need updates, network locations as we don't use 365 (another conversation for another day).

[JHill]

Where did you get the Chromebooks from? (I'm more focused on trust/reliability over price)

 

J Hill

[robjduk]

we use Google Apps Premier Reseller | Cloud Technology Solutions as they have done well for us over the past couple of years although I know the bigger names like Stone will be happy to help as well. Long as you find someone who can supply the EDU licence you are set.

[JHill]

Currently speaking to our trusted suppliers about what they can offer, as a set of demo Chromebooks may be the best course of action. Thanks for the help with this, greatly appreciated.

 

J Hill

[ThinkLogic]

Hi Jill,

 

As a trusted Lenovo Gold Reseller and Lenovo education specialist we would strongly recommend the ThinkPad 11e Chrome book, this is education ruggedized and has re enforced lid, anti shatter screen, anti pick keyboard keys, rubber edging and much more.

There is also a Touchscreen Yoga version as well aptly named the ThinkPad 11e Yoga.

 

We would be more than happy to send you a unit to test and trial so you can try the machine in your school environment.

 

Please let me know if this would be of interest or if I can be of any help.

 

Regards

Iain

[TriggerHappyUK]

Hi Jill,

 

As a trusted Lenovo Gold Reseller and Lenovo education specialist we would strongly recommend the ThinkPad 11e Chrome book, this is education ruggedized and has re enforced lid, anti shatter screen, anti pick keyboard keys, rubber edging and much more.

There is also a Touchscreen Yoga version as well aptly named the ThinkPad 11e Yoga.

 

We would be more than happy to send you a unit to test and trial so you can try the machine in your school environment.

 

Please let me know if this would be of interest or if I can be of any help.

 

Regards

Iain

 

Hi Iain,

 

I like the sound of those Chrome Books.

 

Any chance I could get a demo or two?

 

Chris

[NotSoFast]

Funnily enough, PC World gave us the best price on Acer C720s. We got the licences separately from c-learning, who I would happily recommend.

[ThinkLogic]

Hi Iain,

 

I like the sound of those Chrome Books.

 

Any chance I could get a demo or two?

 

Chris

 

Hi Chris,

 

Of course. We will be contact shortly to sort out a demo.

 

Iain

[sallys1305]

We've just rolled out chrome books and chose Dell 11 - they are going well and staff and children love them for speed of access to internet etc. We rolled out a lot of on line software at the same time. A strong reason for the was the quality of the dell chromebook build esp the power connector which had been a major problem with other brands which we had had on trial. We purchased via a local company Ge-tech (Ipswich) due to good price and quality customer support.

[HTCPCP]

we got our first set of chromebooks as soon as they came out, and now have about 130 now, but we are no longer replacing laptops or chromebooks as we move towards One device per pupil. Can't fault them really, except the massive delay in being able to get the management system over here so we could stop certain changes. We have a nice mix of samsung 3 series, Acer AC700s and whatever else we could get at the lowest possible price. Of all of them, the Samsung 3 series seem to be the most unreliable really, but they have had a tough life though!

[robjduk]

Funny because we started with the Samsungs and gasped at how fast they were but now we have the HP and Acers they are old hat with their awful 20 second log on times!

[maark]

Interesting article in computing about reed.co.uk moving from lotus notes and PCs to google apps and chromebooks/ chromebox How Reed.co.uk does IT without an IT department - 14 Oct 2014 - Computing Interview When big companies start going over then you start to think there is a serious future in them.

[ThinkLogic]

Hi Chris,

 

Many thanks for the request for the evaluation Chromebook, it is on its way to you for delivery tomorrow.

Let me know how you get on.

 

Kind regards

Iain