Classroom A/V solution (desktop vs laptop docking station)

[Hiran]

We are stuck in a bit of a dilemma whereby we have desktops in every classroom and all staff have their own work laptops. The issue is because we have roaming profiles some user's profile is so big it takes ages for them to log on to desktops in the classroom. So, we are wandering if it's worth putting laptop docking stations in classrooms and staff can dock their laptops as and when they have a lesson, what are you thoughts? Or do we stick to desktops in every classroom as it may cause more issues have docking stations in terms of damage/missing equipment, etc?

[Sagima]

We had few issues with docked laptops instead of PCs.

It was really only sourcing a replacement the odd time they forgot it or when it was being fixed but with a laptop-wielding staff of 150 we only needed 3 spares.

Most of the staff I think liked knowing the computer they were going to use was all set up they way they liked it (as it was their laptop)

We did have to make sure as we had a mix of D and E series dell laptops that each department was on the same model range.

When we did away with staff laptops we moved to a PC in every classroom

[Areku]

a few years ago we had docking stations for laptops in all our class rooms (about 68 class rooms, and we had about 120 staff).

 

 

what

a

nightmare.

 

first round, we brought stone laptops and stone docking stations, worked great, until the laptops went end of life... so replacements, or new staff could not dock... so they would un wire the docking station, breaking it for the next staff member.

ok we thought... we will replace all (150 by this time) staff member laptops and docking stations with shiny new Samsung laptops.

 

laptops where great... as where the docking station... until.... the laptop went end of life :|

the same happened.

 

we tried, usb2 and usb3 universal docking stations, but unfortunately they never gave us the performance (especially video out performance) of the real docking stations, so for us they where useless...

 

 

 

we ended up putting in desktop in every classroom. for us docking stations caused more problems, and in the long run cost the school more than desktops. yeah so logging in can take a while, but we tend not to have too much movement.

Edited January 20, 2017 by Areku

[Techykev]

I would be asking the question "why are some of the user profiles so big?" I take it you have redirected home drives? The profile itself should only be a few Mb in size, when we had long log on times in the past it was usually caused by staff saving loads of files to their desktops. After this was pointed out to them they now only save shortcuts on the desktop, not the actual folder/files and log on times have speeded up enormously.

[psydii]

SSD and Gig ethernet solve the big profile problem for profiles <300MBytes.

 

Laptops win for reasons stated above (open the lid, connect the cable - and you are done).

 

Windows Device (e.g. laptop or surface) and 802.11ad docks will take over the world(*). (if you could actually buy a laptop with an 11ad enabled card).

 

 

 

(*)Or iPad + AppleTV.

[hardtailstar]

If you do go for docking stations, dont forget to buy a couple of extra laptops for the supply teachers or loan laptops if the teachers laptop needs repairing.

[Zourous]

We had desktops originally and then went to laptops. Laptops are always going to be a bigger pain with damages and connection problems but overall I think most teachers prefer them. We didn't bother with docking stations and just had the cables loose for them to use. They get the idea in the end. I don't think docks are worth the money.