http://www.software4students.co.uk/

[tech_guy]

Hi,

 

RE: http://www.software4students.co.uk/

 

Anybody use these people? Are they kosher?

 

Many thanks!

[Edu-IT]

Yes they're genuine. I have access to this through college and the college wouldn't support them if they weren't legitimate. I've sent a few sales enquiries to them and they've always been quick to reply.

[speckytecky]

Yes, I'd recommend them as well. Bought a high spec MS Office 2007 for my student daughter for £55. Her school will get a commission as well - presuming they qualify.

[elsiegee40]

Funny you should ask this - I was asked about them today and have been poking about trying to see if anyone knew anything.

 

How do they do it so cheap? there must be a catch somewhere surely?

 

EDIT

School must join naace - £250 for us

"A minimum of £ 1,000 of gross sales must be attributed to each school in one academic year " to get rebate of 5% of sales (5% of £1000 = £50)

 

When we've got only 140 kids ranging in age from 3 months to 11 - can't see we'd get anything out of it - much less than cost of joining naace

Edited January 31, 2008 by elsiegee40

[strawberry]

http://www.rm.com/thebasement also do similar deals, seems to be aprt of a vlk, not sure how they manage it!

[russdev]

Reason they can do it so cheap is that NAACE agreed with Microsoft this deal for UK education.

 

Before the deal you could do it but had to manage it all in house but with NAACE deal means companies like RM and software 4 students can do it on your behalf.

 

Russell

[tech_guy]

Thanks for your input. It's just that the site is littered with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, which made me a bit suspicious.

[elsiegee40]

Having looked at the deal from my school's point of view - the RM Basement seems better - 5% for £500 of sales and no registration fee.

 

* Starts to worry that she's approving of RM ... *

[russdev]

Never used software 4 students all I can say is how they offer such good deals.

 

Russell

[john]

Im going to push the RM Basement to mine in the half term letter, no point in not trying to help the kids get the right software.

[russdev]

Same here going to use RM basement this coming terms etc

 

Russ

[john]

Feel I should maybe say alittle more about why i'm pushing the RM one, and its because im not NAACE registered (probably spelt wrong but you know what I mean), and I've had a few students use the RM site and been VERY pleased with the speed and results, I've got happy students and parents already saying great, such a good saving, so it seems easiest to just go with RM.

[Dos_Box]

They have spent quite a bit advertising and sponsoring a forum here y'know!

yes, they are legit.

[Edu-IT]

Feel I should maybe say alittle more about why i'm pushing the RM one, and its because im not NAACE registered (probably spelt wrong but you know what I mean), and I've had a few students use the RM site and been VERY pleased with the speed and results, I've got happy students and parents already saying great, such a good saving, so it seems easiest to just go with RM.

A friend of mine brought Vista Ultimate (Upgrade) from the The Basement and it was delivered within two days. You can't grumble at that.

[russdev]

Should say as might not of been obvious but NAACE deal is not exclusive to software 4 students. Deal was done with Microsoft so that any commercial company could setup student software shop.

 

Russ

[john]

Wasn't saying they wern't legit, just as im not registered, just easier to do the RM way. If they didnt need the registration then I would go with them as they are slightly cheaper. Im not worried really about the school cashback, just want to get the kids on the legal right software.

[CyberNerd]

just want to get the kids on the legal right software.

You mean what is right for you, not what is right for them

[john]

no i say theres open office etc but they find that annoying about having to save in MS Office format etc so easier to get MS Office

[CyberNerd]

no i say theres open office etc but they find that annoying about having to save in MS Office format etc so easier to get MS Office

 

that was my point, it is convenient for you. This way you don't need to provide any other (ODF) facilities in school and just say -=buy this=-

[Software4Students]

We've been around for about 2 years now and started as a pilot programme for students in disadvantaged schools, we were available in Northern Ireland initially where it was provided under the C2K programme. Because of the success of the pilot programme Microsoft agreed to extent it to a wider audience and hence our partnership with Naace. I think when a much larger company saw what we were doing, thought it was good and copied it, down to our school rebate, FAQ’s and school promotion packs. We figured we must be doing something right!

 

You don't need to be a member of Naace to get the rebate, the original intention was that it was there to say 'thank you' for putting up a poster and telling your students about the software4students programme. The Naace membership is provided to help support the development of ICT in schools.

We are reviewing the rebate programme to make it easier for schools to qualify (i.e. £500 threshold)

 

We are a small team, so apologies for any grammatical errors on the site; we'll try and sort them out asap. If you have any particular ones to highlight please let me know (sometimes the obvious ones are staring you right in the face!)

 

Thanks for the feedback

 

Paul

[elsiegee40]

You don't need to be a member of Naace to get the rebate

 

 

In that case, please could you correct this on the Information for Schools part of your website:

 

"the rebate is available only if you are a Naace member"

 

If the £1000 limit is to be reviewed, I'd do it sooner rather than later; before the mighty RM steal your thunder with their £500

[Software4Students]

We'll update it in our next refresh

[enjay]

Are teachers able to buy from Software4Students, or is it just students?

[Software4Students]

There are two ways a teacher can access Software4Students 1) if they are also studying part time, or 2) if they have a child or sibling who they can license the software through.

 

However you can't as a teacher buy directly through the site. We have been trying to find a mechanism to license teachers as well, as we have had a lot of interest (as would be expected), but the current license programme only covers students.

 

A lot of teachers are already covered under either schools agreements or campus agreements. The first thing would be to check the type of license agreement your school or college has and see if it includes 'Free Work at Home' rights for teachers.

 

Not to get too technical but free work at home rights are usually available with annuity software assurance licenses (i.e. Schools Agreements) and not perpetual licenses (i.e. Select Agreements)

[polyglotni]

Has anybody recently used Software4students? I ordered Microsoft Office for my daughter. When the envelope arrived there was only one of the two CDs enclosed. I contacted Software4students and was given a special reference number and told to put the number on the envelope and then to send the envelope with the one CD back to an address in Belfast, Botanic Ave. Having heard nothing from them for over a week, I contacted them and they're saying that they did not receive the envelope. The money has been taken from my account and now I'm left with nothing. Help. Any advice? I'm beginning to suspect the worst.