jmak Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Hi I'm seriously looking at Surface Pro 4s for teachers as laptop replacements. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions, but the things on my mind straightaway are: 1) Does anyone have recommendations for cases to protect them whilst in use? I can't see how you could make it work without ruining the function of the detachable keyboard and kickstand, but I'm slightly nervous about damage. 2)Imaging: Do you use USB3/RJ45 converters to image as normal over a network or do you install from a customised image on a USB drive? Thanks in advance
DalekSec Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Will need USB CD drives, our teachers would riot if they didn't have CD drives. Well their next laptops wont have any!
rrrrr Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 All of our staff have surface pro 3's. Just have a neoprene slip case, nothing attached. Use original microsoft rj45 connectors, not 3rd party as only originals support pxe 1
Davit2005 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 We have the Surface Pro 3 and Image via PXE boot from our WDS/MDT server using the Microsoft Surface Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
Sagima Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Our staff got a Surface 3. We told them if they wanted a case for it they'd have to pay for it themselves. Most people got a jiffy bag from stationary cupboard - some people got a sleeve. The bag seems to work quite well though. We have a dozen or so minidisplayport adapters for when they need to connect via vga to something but for the most part they mirror with airparrot We don't image them in general (DT does get done) - their software is available through remoteapp. We use the rj45 adapter for the DT ones.
jmak Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 All of our staff have surface pro 3's. Just have a neoprene slip case, nothing attached. Use original microsoft rj45 connectors, not 3rd party as only originals support pxe So that's how they get away with charging £35 for them!
rrrrr Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 CD drives are an issue due to the underpowered usb ports are not powerful enough for them. I tried to buy the old type of external cd drives with the power cable but cannot buy these any more. Only option was to put a Y usb cable on the cd drive to get power from another source. I ended up ripping most cd's used by depts which they now perfer
bclarke Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) We are just about to issue Surface 3's to all teachers so we are thinking along the same lines. Teachers had mentioned about the lack of DVD drive and I thought that external drives would work. Just test and they don't. For us, I don't see it as a massive issue, we have ClickView for videos so we will just rip those that are needed in any case, or I will get creative with a different solution. We are installing docking stations at every teacher station to make it easy to go from room to room. This way the teachers Surface will be charged when needed rather than relying on them to charge throughout the day or use their adapter. Something less to think about. This also means that the projector and is directly connected so it will setup how they want it. Regarding cases. I looked at various options but none allow you to keep the case on and dock at the same time. Taking the covers off is a pain and not at all easy and that will end up being dropped at some stage. We are now looking at the pouches but in terms of cases, Griffin do a fantastic range for the Surface and Pro and you can have the keyboard attached at the same time. We are also issuing Surface 3's to all students in September and have similar issues with cases. The warranty is too expensive and so we are holding a contingency fund for repairs instead which seemed to work out a more economical option. Edit: regarding imaging, we will mainly use docking stations, but the USB Ethernet port works too. Edited February 1, 2016 by bclarke
CHR1S Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I replace teacher laptops with a budget of £230 ex vat. I can get an i3, 4Gb and a 120Gb SSD for that price, how do you justify up to 3x the cost? 2
abillybob Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I replace teacher laptops with a budget of £230 ex vat. I can get an i3, 4Gb and a 120Gb SSD for that price, how do you justify up to 3x the cost? Don't forget the poor internal hardware. Wouldn't like to fill up my network full of MARVELL Wifi cards. I'd rather eat my own face............ raw. 2
DalekSec Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Don't forget the poor internal hardware. Wouldn't like to fill up my network full of MARVELL Wifi cards. I'd rather eat my own face............ raw. Marvell Wifi Cards is turning into your catchphrase! All you seem to post aboot!
bclarke Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I replace teacher laptops with a budget of £230 ex vat. I can get an i3, 4Gb and a 120Gb SSD for that price, how do you justify up to 3x the cost? There's a bit more to the Surface strategy than issuing a bog standard cheap laptop. Even so, the price of the Surface 3 is not actually that expensive.
CHR1S Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Don't forget the poor internal hardware. Wouldn't like to fill up my network full of MARVELL Wifi cards. I'd rather eat my own face............ raw. Only ever come with Realtek or Intel, yes the plastic is a bit cheap but its £230! - - - Updated - - - There's a bit more to the Surface strategy than issuing a bog standard cheap laptop. Even so, the price of the Surface 3 is not actually that expensive. Could you explain more about the strategy? Thanks
abillybob Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) Marvell Wifi Cards is turning into your catchphrase! All you seem to post aboot! Can you blame me.... Plus the fact all people seem to do is post about the new Surface Line, their Wifi cards are weak hardware yet a lot of people don't know about them. They'll buy 50 of the things and wonder why the wifi keeps dropping out. Only trying to help big boy! Edited February 1, 2016 by abillybob
DJ-1701 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Can you blame me.... Yes ... but that would be unfair as they can be flaky. To be fair, so far, having use of a Surface 3 Pro... I haven't had an issue with the Marvell card though. *Touches wood*.
10101010 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 We are also looking to replace teacher laptops with surface 3's (10.8 screen size), and have found a case STM Dux for Microsoft Surface which allows the keyboard to folder around the back which then switches into tablet mode. (no ned to detach, also has a pen holder) best one I've found. The pen is the real winner for me, such a powerful tool in OneNote. We use SCCM 2012R2 to image and making sure the wifi mac address is associated with the client in SCCM, that way we can pull the image down over the wifi. SCCM doesn't like it if you try and share microsoft gigabit adapter with different surfaces. (or that's what we found anyway) Is anyone considering using them in a 1:1 programme for students?
jmak Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 I replace teacher laptops with a budget of £230 ex vat. I can get an i3, 4Gb and a 120Gb SSD for that price, how do you justify up to 3x the cost? The driver for this project is to provide a better and easier process for teachers to gather evidence of pupil progress and record it on SIMS. We're an infant school, so evidence is mostly observations taken during lessons. Currently they write post its and take photos and then enter all of the data after the lessons. We've looked at lots of software and identified various options using a tablet to record as being the most efficient in terms of work for teachers. The proposal put to me was iPads as the tablets in addition to a windows laptop. Windows tablets is my counter proposal. Having played with a range at BETT, the Surface devices seem the best - light enough to be a genuine tablet replacement and powerful enough to replace the laptops they currently use. I think in that context they represent reasonable value. It's a teaching and learning decision about the best classroom procedures and software, although having seen what they are trying to do, I think they've made a good decision. After you've put a value on the teachers' time and mine (for not having to manage iPads) the price starts to look more reasonable. 1
bclarke Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 We are also looking to replace teacher laptops with surface 3's (10.8 screen size), and have found a case STM Dux for Microsoft Surface which allows the keyboard to folder around the back which then switches into tablet mode. (no ned to detach, also has a pen holder) best one I've found. The pen is the real winner for me, such a powerful tool in OneNote. We use SCCM 2012R2 to image and making sure the wifi mac address is associated with the client in SCCM, that way we can pull the image down over the wifi. SCCM doesn't like it if you try and share microsoft gigabit adapter with different surfaces. (or that's what we found anyway) Is anyone considering using them in a 1:1 programme for students? We are going 1:1 from September with Surface 3. All teachers, some support staff, all students. Refresh every 3 years. Issuing teachers theirs over this term so they are using them and prepared before students start to use them. We are then going all OneNote. I was explaining this the other day to a supplier and realised it is probably the surface pen which is the key to it all. MS have nailed it with the Surface, keyboard and pen combo and combined with OneNote and Office 365, it works extremely well. Loads of training and support needed to make this work, but it will be worth it.
10101010 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Hey bclarke, would love to chat in more detail, same idea just a different timescale. I will pm you if that's OK?
Dave_O Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 We are going 1:1 from September with Surface 3. All teachers, some support staff, all students. Refresh every 3 years. Issuing teachers theirs over this term so they are using them and prepared before students start to use them. We are then going all OneNote. I was explaining this the other day to a supplier and realised it is probably the surface pen which is the key to it all. MS have nailed it with the Surface, keyboard and pen combo and combined with OneNote and Office 365, it works extremely well. Loads of training and support needed to make this work, but it will be worth it. Might be worth rethinking this given MS and gov.uk's recent statement re MS licensing
10101010 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Have u got a link to that Dave_O, I missed that one.
Arthur Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Have u got a link to that Dave_O, I missed that one. www.edugeek.net/forums/licensing-questions/165382-microsoft-move-out-education-market.html 1
difinity Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 We are going 1:1 from September with Surface 3. All teachers, some support staff, all students. Refresh every 3 years. Issuing teachers theirs over this term so they are using them and prepared before students start to use them. We are then going all OneNote. I was explaining this the other day to a supplier and realised it is probably the surface pen which is the key to it all. MS have nailed it with the Surface, keyboard and pen combo and combined with OneNote and Office 365, it works extremely well. Loads of training and support needed to make this work, but it will be worth it. Have you got some warranty to cover accidental damage ? I went to a school recently that does 1:1 iPads. I was amazed by the size of the pile of broken ones. Luckily they have a system in place and get the students to do the returning.
bclarke Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Have you got some warranty to cover accidental damage ? I went to a school recently that does 1:1 iPads. I was amazed by the size of the pile of broken ones. Luckily they have a system in place and get the students to do the returning. 1st year warranty out of the box. The warranty for year 2 and 3 was costing too much and came out at nearly half the cost of the device so we are going to cover it ourselves and see how it goes then review it at year 3 as to whether we really needed the warranty. We have ordered spare Surfaces too so we can swap at a moments notice too so some are going to sit on a shelf till needed.
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