[windows tablet] linx 10 tablets

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

You should never bash the competition, VeryPC Colin

 

Plenty of our customers have bought the Linx and love it for what it does. Yes it is cheap, at £141.66 for the Pro Bundle, so you can expect a few failures. It is not a Surface tablet.

 

But in terms of Value for Money - excellent device. And I'd say feedback from our customers has been around 95% positive, which is pretty good.

 

I have no agenda as we sell all manner of alternatives, but in the interests of fairness I think it needed pointing out.

Bashing what competition?

 

We have the option of reselling these just as well as Insight do, although not as effectively as Insight as you seem to be pushing these like crazy.

 

I expressed a personal opinion that within schools they're a throw away expense, unsuited to typical network deployments in quantity and that people should probably look at alternatives to the Linx that have that bit more oomph accessories and support network. I'm satisfied that people like @witch think they're awesome for home use (I'm definitely warming to this idea as I trust her judgement) and that there are applications where a Network Manager or staff member could benefit from their usage.

 

I could say that you're trying to use my post to promote yourself. So "in the interest of fairness" then, how long have you spent with a Linx tablet in your own hands and what's your feedback? To how many customers does the quoted 95% positive feedback apply? How long have they had them? What are they used for? If you could expand on this, it'd help the OP and the community decide better on their potential areas of use.

 

In addition I cannot even begin to fathom what dark room I'd be taken into here if I ever wrote, "the product we're selling is cheap therefore you must expect a few failures" Jeez.

[sted]

Bashing what competition?

 

We have the option of reselling these just as well as Insight do, although not as effectively as Insight as you seem to be pushing these like crazy.

 

I expressed a personal opinion that within schools they're a throw away expense, unsuited to typical network deployments in quantity and that people should probably look at alternatives to the Linx that have that bit more oomph accessories and support network. I'm satisfied that people like @witch think they're awesome for home use (I'm definitely warming to this idea as I trust her judgement) and that there are applications where a Network Manager or staff member could benefit from their usage.

 

I could say that you're trying to use my post to promote yourself. So "in the interest of fairness" then, how long have you spent with a Linx tablet in your own hands and what's your feedback? To how many customers does the quoted 95% positive feedback apply? How long have they had them? What are they used for? If you could expand on this, it'd help the OP and the community decide better on their potential areas of use.

 

In addition I cannot even begin to fathom what dark room I'd be taken into here if I ever wrote, "the product we're selling is cheap therefore you must expect a few failures" Jeez.

 

again in a similar boat we have sold them (the school I was installing them at got them from us) but after that ive recommended that we don't do any more its one of those things you only find out with use and I still suspect they will be less hassle than the androids they replace (money wise ipads were never an option and much as I hate to say it if you want tablets for a non sysadmin or someone who needs to use office a lot they are the best option they do work and can be managed android sucks and while windows tablets are getting there they are not there yet imo)

[Bezza49]

Bashing what competition?

 

We have the option of reselling these just as well as Insight do, although not as effectively as Insight as you seem to be pushing these like crazy.

 

I expressed a personal opinion that within schools they're a throw away expense, unsuited to typical network deployments in quantity and that people should probably look at alternatives to the Linx that have that bit more oomph accessories and support network. I'm satisfied that people like @witch think they're awesome for home use (I'm definitely warming to this idea as I trust her judgement) and that there are applications where a Network Manager or staff member could benefit from their usage.

 

I could say that you're trying to use my post to promote yourself. So "in the interest of fairness" then, how long have you spent with a Linx tablet in your own hands and what's your feedback? To how many customers does the quoted 95% positive feedback apply? How long have they had them? What are they used for? If you could expand on this, it'd help the OP and the community decide better on their potential areas of use.

 

In addition I cannot even begin to fathom what dark room I'd be taken into here if I ever wrote, "the product we're selling is cheap therefore you must expect a few failures" Jeez.

 

 

Colin, well the bashing the comp bit was in jest, I think you missed that!

 

I am not trying to promote myself - my posts don't do that. I like to offer balanced views on products for the Education community. You can now buy the Linx at other places too, not just Insight, and I'd expect they will do based on who their favoured suppliers are.

 

Customers are buying them not because we are "pushing these like crazy". They are low value and suit a purpose. That purpose being, in most cases, primary and secondary school devices for students to play with. Staff devices for basic requirements like taking registers etc. The majority of issues have been with the case/keyboard which is admittedly a bit flimsy, but we just send them a new case/keyboard in these instances. Issues beyond that are your usual DOA, but I'd say the % of failures has been nothing more than a standard tablet. I should have clarified on that point originally.

Edited March 26, 2015 by Bezza49

[Oaktech]

You know what... I'm with @VeryPC_Colin_M here. I've had a demo of the Linx pro at the annoying insistence of one would be supplier *cough governor's son cough* who went straight to the head. was seriously underwhelmed by everything about it and told him so.

 

I have Acer W510 and W700 tablets already here and they are many times the price and I am underwhelmed by them too.

 

I'm all for saving money, but tablets that cheap are false economy and just make life difficult for support, cause disruption in class due to kids getting frustrated. Our W510 tablets get vandalised because the kids get bored waiting for them to do things and our W700 tablets are slowly getting retired as the teachers find them too awkward to teach a lesson on.

[matt40k]

Kinda expect @VeryPC_Colin_M to challenge @Bezza49 to tablets at dawn

 

I think I'm with @sted - its progress, not perfection. If end up with them I would change the support model for them - rather then traditional next day onsite repair\replacement, I'd just have more spare ones like banks do and RMA them in bulk, still doesn't look good if you have 5x classrooms worth with 1 of those sets sat in the cupboard as "Just in case of failures", still that could never happen with iPads. I guess time will tell when it comes to the number you need in the spares cupboard, sure @VeryPC_Colin_M will be the first to say "I told you so"

[Bezza49]

Kinda expect @VeryPC_Colin_M to challenge @Bezza49 to tablets at dawn

 

I think I'm with @sted - its progress, not perfection. If end up with them I would change the support model for them - rather then traditional next day onsite repair\replacement, I'd just have more spare ones like banks do and RMA them in bulk, still doesn't look good if you have 5x classrooms worth with 1 of those sets sat in the cupboard as "Just in case of failures", still that could never happen with iPads. I guess time will tell when it comes to the number you need in the spares cupboard, sure @VeryPC_Colin_M will be the first to say "I told you so"

 

Absolutely agree, Matt. Time will indeed tell

 

For the price though, it is not a very costly test and if it works out, can save the school plenty of money on their ICT budget, which is what we all trying to help schools do at the end of the day.

[free780]

I'm currently testing. Login time seems to be the biggest Issue. Also user policies being applied.

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Colin, well the bashing the comp bit was in jest, I think you missed that!

 

I am not trying to promote myself - my posts don't do that. I like to offer balanced views on products for the Education community. You can now buy the Linx at other places too, not just Insight, and I'd expect they will do based on who their favoured suppliers are.

 

Customers are buying them not because we are "pushing these like crazy". They are low value and suit a purpose. That purpose being, in most cases, primary and secondary school devices for students to play with. Staff devices for basic requirements like taking registers etc. The majority of issues have been with the case/keyboard which is admittedly a bit flimsy, but we just send them a new case/keyboard in these instances. Issues beyond that are your usual DOA, but I'd say the % of failures has been nothing more than a standard tablet. I should have clarified on that point originally.

 

Apologies for the misunderstanding mate. My reputation and integrity is all I've got so I will defend it and I got it wrong on this occasion. I'm a big tablet advocate though. My goal is to continue to ask the tough question of "why" when it comes to customers asking for them. I've seen unbelievably good results and significant improvements to school life when the complete package has been properly thought out.

[LeMarchand]

My goal is to continue to ask the tough question of "why" when it comes to customers asking for them.

 

I have yet to receive an answer to that question that isn't "because they're cool" or "everyone else has them".

 

When I ask what the teacher envisages using them for the answer is generally "erm...".

 

Not knocking tablets (I own two) but wishing that people thought it through a bit more.

[Oaktech]

I have yet to receive an answer to that question that isn't "because they're cool" or "everyone else has them".

 

When I ask what the teacher envisages using them for the answer is generally "erm...".

 

Not knocking tablets (I own two) but wishing that people thought it through a bit more.

 

So far the only legitimate responses I've been presented with is 'so we can use $TouchSpecific piece of software' and 'so we can save on printing and use $eTextBook'

[witch]

We are just getting Lenovo Yogas as the head did a survey of the staff and asked them what they needed to be able to use the portable devices for. Surprisingly, many staff opted for a keyboard for the children but the tablet option was fairly well supported so the head went for both!

[free780]

How are people imaging these.

Have only 1 usb plug is a pain. I do have a hub but I'm not sure if the usb nic works when the domain join occurs. I may have to look at MDT and use off-line domain join.

[hyb80]

So every year we purchase iPad Minis for students to help with student work. They however rarely get brought to school and are rarely used for anything other than browsing the web, email and listening to music. So in my opinion we might as well get them Linx tablets for almost half the price if that is all they are being used for. This will tie in well with our Office 365.

 

This year I have suggested we look at alternatives around the same price bracket £200-£250 (to include 2 year insurance) that might increase productivity.

 

I have a surface pro 3 with stylus so know how good it is as a note taking device but the surface 3 is more than we can afford so does any one have suggestions for a mini tablet with stylus support and possibly with a keyboard accessory? Quite a want list. I am going to get out a Dell Venue Pro 8 to try.

 

Anyway any suggestions welcome

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

How about the Classmate W21 Touch 2-in1 - comes with Stylus and Keyboard dock that allows it to be used as a traditional laptop?

[RichCowell]

I know you're asking for other options, just wanted to give a +1 for the Linx - got a Linx 10 with keyboard sat in front of me now, and I've been really impressed with it - it's running Office 2013 nicely, I'm using a stylus pen with it as well... it's a great piece of kit at a great price...