What type of devices are you buying?

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Good morning edugeekers,

 

So I have set up a poll about what type of devices (laptops, desktops, tablets etc) people are buying for your schools.

Is the desktop still the choice of all or is the tablet device what you want and desire.

[crwardell]

Desktops preferred...

[gshaw]

Windows tablets \ Chromebooks are looking like our next main purchases. Moving towards more mobile kit in some areas but Microsoft are doing a great job at promoting Google at present with some of their recent announcements Edited February 15, 2016 by gshaw

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Interesting to see that desktops are still the preferred device.

Would be interesting to now why tablets are being picked more and how you are using these.

[gshaw]

For us the mobile kit is for rooms where there's more students than there is space for desktops, also allows more group working and whatnot.

 

We really like the Dell Chromebook 11 at present, lightweight yet solid build. Windows wise we struggle to find something around the £200 mark that's got SSD storage, 11" screen (10" is too small) and that doesn't look / feel cheap (HP Stream I'm looking at you haha)

[timbo343]

If we had some money even just a few 10k i would do the following:

 

Replace a room of desktops with newer desktops and install SSD drives in older machines

 

Look at buying windows 10 tablets (linx 1010, hp x2 210, asus T100HA, lenovo miix 300)

 

Expand our ruckus wireless network

 

Upgrade some of our older switches

 

Look at a bigger internet feed

 

....

 

Theres lots i would do but funding is a major problem at the moment, like a major problem.

[VeryPC_Anthony_L]

Theres lots i would do but funding is a major problem at the moment, like a major problem.

 

This is a common thing I am hearing from a lot of schools which I think is sad. There is a massive pressure on the IT in schools to be up to date and to have the latest software etc.

Hopefully the major lack of funding is not for too long... I take my hat off to all of you network managers as you do have a tricky job.

[aleach2]

Funding is a real issue. We have bought AIO, Desktops and Chromebooks when the funds are there.

[pete]

Desktops and laptops mostly. As others have said, Microsoft's shenanigans have me pondering though. Tablets we tend to issue to people rather than class sets.

 

What I really want is decent-spec kit at sensible prices with SSDs, but not the "it's got an SSD" mark-up* certain manufacturers are still clinging to.

 

*the actual part often being cheaper or at most only £10-20 more expensive than the default spinning rust (in the 120GB > 250GB space).

[CyberNerd]

Chromebooks that turn into tablets.

We added over a thousand devices to replace ITSuites and the support time has *decreased*. Go figure.

[LeMarchand]

My personal preference is for desktops as best value for money. If it was up to me, we'd not supply teacher laptops and have a desktop in each class instead. SMT are very keen on tablets, and I do know of schools where they are used well. Unfortunately at the site currently wanting tablets there doesn't seem to be any plan beyond getting them because loads of other schools have them.

[kennysarmy]

This is a common thing I am hearing from a lot of schools which I think is sad. There is a massive pressure on the IT in schools to be up to date and to have the latest software etc.

Hopefully the major lack of funding is not for too long... I take my hat off to all of you network managers as you do have a tricky job.

 

Last year my budget was X.

This year my budget is 66% of X, let's call it Y.

I've already been told next year my budget will be 93% of Y.

[LeMarchand]

Last year my budget was X.

This year my budget is 66% of X, let's call it Y.

I've already been told next year my budget will be 93% of Y.

 

What is this "budget" of which you speak?

[DJ-1701]

Last year my budget was X.

This year my budget is 66% of X, let's call it Y.

I've already been told next year my budget will be 93% of Y.

 

So, if 66% of X is Y, would 93% of Y be L?

 

In the Primary, the percentage of recently ordered devices has roughly been iPads (40%), Laptops (35%) and Desktops (25%).

[localzuk]

It really depends on use now. We're slowly but surely moving away from IT suites. We've increased the number of "clusters" of AIOs around the school over the years (well, some are still old desktops, but if/when they're replaced, they'll be AIOs), with introduced iPads for all teachers and for the new MAT we're looking at some form of "cheap" device, such as Chromebooks. Another MAT school is looking at a couple of laptop trolleys, and laptops for teachers, with a couple of AIOs for admin. Another has iPads instead of PCs for pupils, iPads for staff, and a few random desktops and laptops for admin.

 

I've mooted the idea of Chromebooks for all pupils but that's a bit of a bluesky idea!!

[mthomas08]

Desktops, mainly because the School had spent very little in regards to IT which changed after I started (pushed for it). When the consistent age of 500+ machines is around 9/10 Years old, you know it's time to do something about it.

 

Still buy laptops but our priority is that Staff sort them selves out a piece of kit for home. We have some though so I like them to be all decent in the next 24 months.

 

Tablets... I wont even go there, let's just say I don't think we will be buying these again for many years to come.

 

Others - Netbooks, the ones we got this year are much better and it's a question of seeing how things go if we get any more. There is a chance, this is a no.

[fiza]

We have replaced laptops with chromebooks but the ICT Suites still get new desktops. No tablets or AIOs here.