Avantis Learnpad Tech Support

[johnwheatley]

Avantis have changed their telephone support for LearnPads - you have to pay for it now.

 

Their email support is free, but guess what - they do not respond.

 

So, I have a tech question - the Avantis ebook reader app doesn't work. Opens then closes. Anyone any ideas?

[Gongalong]

How much are they charging?!

 

Re. the app, what files are you trying to open? Have you had a look in the content store for an alternative?

[MMPS]

The built in app from Avantis was called 'ebook reader', they replaced that with another app called 'book reader', which has exactly the same icon. I noticed the old ebook reader app stopped working, so i remove the 'ebook reader' app from all the learnpad categories and replace it with the 'book reader' app. The default apps were already set to use book reader.

[JATSO]

Avantis have changed their telephone support for LearnPads - you have to pay for it now.

 

Their email support is free, but guess what - they do not respond.

 

So, I have a tech question - the Avantis ebook reader app doesn't work. Opens then closes. Anyone any ideas?

 

I have just emailed their sales rep who sold us our last bundle about so called free email support or the cost of implementing full support for Learnpads from another school, wonder if I will get a reply?

[Gongalong]

We're having no end of trouble with both LearnPads and their support, and I contacted one of the directors. Had to do that twice so far, but it has at least had an effect. LearnPad really need to improve both the quality of their hardware, and their support.

[JATSO]

I sent their sales rep an email they are looking into why their support did not respond to my online email support request.

 

He also sent me this.

 

 

 

 

Hope it helps for those that need it.

[simonw]

Been having terrible trouble with Learnpads, getting to the point at which I'm regretting the school acquiring them. SNAFU.

 

There's an issue many of them have accessing Accelerated Reader from Renaissance Place, since March 2017, and Avantis Support have been unable to help. We've only got email support, so responses are slow, but there's no way we're going to pay for premium support.

 

Also got issues with units not charging, even when connected to a wall charger. Tried both USB and Pin charger types with no joy. This is today's email on this issue......

" the devices that do not appear to be charging from either micro USB or barrel pin chargers; if you have attempted to charge using both these methods for at least four hours and the device still fails to power on, I am unable to offer any further troubleshooting advice.

Due to model and age of the devices with reported difficulties, it is no longer possible to complete repairs. We would however be pleased to provide you with special pricing for our latest LearnPad Workbook device, if you are interested."

 

What!? More Learnpad devices that won't work! NFW!

Edited December 19, 2017 by simonw

[JATSO]

Been having terrible trouble with Learnpads, getting to the point at which I'm regretting the school acquiring them. SNAFU.

 

There's an issue many of them have accessing Accelerated Reader from Renaissance Place, since March 2017, and Avantis Support have been unable to help. We've only got email support, so responses are slow, but there's no way we're going to pay for premium support.

 

Also got issues with units not charging, even when connected to a wall charger. Tried both USB and Pin charger types with no joy. This is today's email on this issue......

" the devices that do not appear to be charging from either micro USB or barrel pin chargers; if you have attempted to charge using both these methods for at least four hours and the device still fails to power on, I am unable to offer any further troubleshooting advice.

Due to model and age of the devices with reported difficulties, it is no longer possible to complete repairs. We would however be pleased to provide you with special pricing for our latest LearnPad Workbook device, if you are interested."

 

What!? More Learnpad devices that won't work! NFW!

 

Had a similar response, its just not cost effective to fix them, so before purchasing anymore, I will have a discussion with the IT coordinator because it maybe less troublesome just to go down the Windows route on tablets because of the lifespan but all that depends on Windows and the vendors supporting the annual upgrades that Microsoft pushes out.

 

Its seems that the days of running the latest OS whether that be Windows, Android or Apple on a device more than 2 or 3 years old, will be task for any schools budget to keep up with.

 

I have one school that bought 24 Learnpads and they will not entertain them now because they just couldn't be confident that they would work for their lesson so they sit in their boxes doing nothing.

[Gongalong]

Presumably these are the original Octavos? Several of ours failed at the point of the power connector, because they break away from the circuit board. LearnPad were repairing them, but they have no spares. Ours are end of life, as 5 years old at this point. If you can find an electronics repair company of any quality they can be replaced.

[Gongalong]

Its seems that the days of running the latest OS whether that be Windows, Android or Apple on a device more than 2 or 3 years old, will be task for any schools budget to keep up with.

Absolutely. We've thought about Linx tablets, but are wary of them supporting Win 10 in 3 years. Plus plenty of complaints about hardware quality.

 

iPads are the other route, but much more expensive, problematic to lockdown, and further software required to manage.

[NikChillin]

We have had issues with these too, no longer supported, internal batteries had it so they need the date resetting to connect to the wifi, some don;t get past the splash screen..

[johnwheatley]

We have 64 Learnpads and chargers. We constantly have to refresh the pads so they can find the network. Avantis support blames our Meru wireless... And this summer, due to the heat- they turn themselves off when it gets hot! They are not perfect, but they do have some redeeming features. e.g. dashboard - sending resources and lessons to individual pads or across the whole lot.

 

We recently had a look at Avantis Windows 10 laptops. Very light - perhaps too light (flimsy) pre-loaded with the Home version - useless - would have to re-image to Pro Edu version - only 32gb HDD which would be reduced by installing Win 10 Edu. Although, memory can be increased by using MicroSD cards, however, little fingers would soon be removing these! So not a useful alternative, despite their very attractive price. Oh, and they did promise to send the school one so that we could see how it performed attached to the domain... That was over six weeks ago and still no hardware...

 

We will not be buying any more from Avantis and will be looking at small laptops (Toshiba, Samsung et al), running Windows in the future.

[speckledegg]

The amount of screen breakages we had with the Quarto tablets (or whatever there called!) was astounding! They really don't suit an EYFS environment at all! The build quality of them was way too flimsy even with a screen protector! Because all repairs had to go through Avantis the costs could be eye watering!

[jmak]

We've had an unhappy experience too. A great shame because the concept is brilliant and really does work - all let down by the hardware.

 

I'd like Chromebooks with android support, but I think will end up with iPads....

 

Our Windows touchscreen laptop work well in KS1.

[johnwheatley]

What Windows Touchscreen Laptops are you using?

[JATSO]

What Windows Touchscreen Laptops are you using?

 

 

We are using Lenovo Miix310 and 320 64GB 4GB RAM imaged to Windows 10EDU although they do come with Win10 Pro.

 

All the software that we use goes on them.

Teachers and children prefer them as its what they are used to in school.

 

Cost about £200 each.

 

1 cracked screen so far in 6 months but it still works just put a screen protector on it.

 

Imaging is a bit of chew on, see this thread for that, if you get some.

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/o-s-deployment/189208-lenovo-miix-imaging-problems.html

[johnwheatley]

Three classes had all of the Learnpads out and loaded an already created blank PPT on the student drive so that they could save back to that location. After a short while of working, we had access violations, corrupt files, loss of connection, having to refresh, turn off/turn on, refresh etc. etc re-login etc. nearly all of the ppts became corrupted, losing the students work. So annoying and frustrating. And without phone support, how to fix??

 

Truly rubbish, Avantis.

[southhamster]

Three classes had all of the Learnpads out and loaded an already created blank PPT on the student drive so that they could save back to that location. After a short while of working, we had access violations, corrupt files, loss of connection, having to refresh, turn off/turn on, refresh etc. etc re-login etc. nearly all of the ppts became corrupted, losing the students work. So annoying and frustrating. And without phone support, how to fix??

 

Truly rubbish, Avantis.

What app were you using to open the ppt? I wonder if a different office app might work better? If you create a ppt on the learnpad itself do you have the same problem. I like the learnpads but as you say, lack of support even just email is disappointing.