Monitors

[Optimus_Primal]

Hi. I am in the middle of trying to get approval to replace 170 staff computers. We currently have the RM Ones which have a 19” moniter.

 

I have a govoners who is challenging why staff need a screen in the 22-24” bracket as “19” should be fine”.

 

I need some techs to weigh in so I can show what others are doing.

 

What screen size would you buy for new computers?

 

Cheers

[Wubbalubbadub]

Is the governor 98!?

Put a 19 inch monitor infront of him and get him to have more than just one app on the screen.

 

Also, surely the cost difference is minor?

[3s-gtech]

22” (or 21.5”) is pretty much bang in the mainstream monitor size now, and the pricing is pretty low as a result. 21.5” is pretty much the smallest you can go while still getting a full HD panel too - and there’s no way it’s worth dropping to 1440x900 or 720p for a few quid saving.

[strawberry]

All opinions, get facts.

How many programs are people expected to use

What size do the staff feel they need

What is acceptable in terms of H/S

What is the budget

 

Then find a size, resolution and cost option that suits.

[TechMonkey]

Or create an IT policy for minimum requirements and put 22" screens in. You then have a policy to refer to.

 

On a different tack I'm not sure why a Governor is challenging this, unless it is some general spending query. My understanding is that Governors should not be involved in operational decisions, they are strategic. So if the Governor considered the IT budget was too high then the Bursar/BM/Head may challenge you on your costs, of which buying certain screens may come up.

[caffrey]

If you are using SIMS, they recommend 1280x720 (1280x1024 or higher for optimum experience). I plan on replacing monitors soon

[Wubbalubbadub]

Try giving AMC a call, we use Danny - 01536 513 679, i'm sure when we got a quote for monitors, the 19" were more expensive. So if you get get a quote from them that shows that, the governor can't moan then.!

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

Hi @Optimus_Primal, thanks for posting.

Are the governors suggesting you re-use the 19" monitors from the RM Ones? Would that even be possible? Whilst it's true that the cost of a HD 19" monitor would be marginally less than a FHD 21.5", the benefits to staff of a larger viewable screen would be immense for work flow, eye strain, etc, etc. I'd be happy to help you with your costings and specifications for this replacement project, so do feel free to get in touch.

Best,

Col

[unixman_again]

For students and teachers we buy 19". Office staff generally get 19", but they get two. A couple of special cases (vision problems) have 24". We in IT can have pretty much what we want. The boss has two 24", the new junior has two 19" and I have one 19" and a 24" Mac on my desk. I also have another PC with a 19" in another room, although I have been told it has to come over to the dungeon.

[Ditto]

The governor is over-stepping here. In truth, you probably ought to be reviewing the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations on the HSE website. To be compliant requires much more than just considering the screen size. Refer the governor to these requirements and he/she might back off. I've yet to work in a school that gets anywhere near meeting the requirements of good practice. So many still go for the cheapest and they are invariably completely non-adjustable, which IMHO should not be on sale. HSE also provide leaflets - for example see https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf. You'll see you should be consulting with the staff. I'm sure it won't take staff long to point out a larger screen will improve there efficiency, particular when using multiple inputs for assessment data for example. Personally, I find two screens massively enabling, but that's overkill for most staff , but for office/admin/finance/data/admission and some SLT staff, it definitely is worth the expense if you have space.

[CHiLL]

Our students are using 19" monitors (1366x768) and our staff use 22" monitors (1920x1080). How the governor the two monitors side by side. The difference in the amount of information you can fit on the 22" is shockingly more. Edited November 28, 2019 by CHiLL

[dhicks]

Are the governors suggesting you re-use the 19" monitors from the RM Ones? Would that even be possible?

 

In theory, yes - I think in those machines you can replace the motherboards, keeping the power supply and monitor. However, those machines must be getting on somewhat now, so if a power supply or monitor goes you'll have trouble getting hold of an appropriate spare part. Also, 19" here looks like it might mean 4:3 ratio, whereas most modern screens (including any large touch screens you buy, now or in the future) will be wide-screen.

 

We bought 22" monitors for our staffroom for general use (these are thin clients running on Raspberry Pis), and most of our classroom workstations have similar-size monitors / all-in-ones. Some of the admin staff have 27" screens to better fit larger spreadsheets and similar on, and the person handling timetabling has just upgraded to a 32" 4k monitor.

[Optimus_Primal]

Or create an IT policy for minimum requirements and put 22" screens in. You then have a policy to refer to.

 

On a different tack I'm not sure why a Governor is challenging this, unless it is some general spending query. My understanding is that Governors should not be involved in operational decisions, they are strategic. So if the Governor considered the IT budget was too high then the Bursar/BM/Head may challenge you on your costs, of which buying certain screens may come up.

 

 

am the SLT in charge of IT I was promoted after the network manager left, and I am having to fill in and line manage the team. The governors experience before he retired was as a IT project manager, his role is to help scrutinise the it development work as there has been no IT development since the school was rebuilt during BSF. We now have a IT estate that was put in place around 2011/12 that is crumbling and the school did not budget for improvement works as higher up did not really understand the area.

 

So now I am trying to update things but they defer to him when they do not quite understand it due to the large expenditure.

 

I miss being Head of Year 11, it was a breeze compared to this!

[Optimus_Primal]

The governor is over-stepping here. In truth, you probably ought to be reviewing the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations on the HSE website. To be compliant requires much more than just considering the screen size. Refer the governor to these requirements and he/she might back off. I've yet to work in a school that gets anywhere near meeting the requirements of good practice. So many still go for the cheapest and they are invariably completely non-adjustable, which IMHO should not be on sale. HSE also provide leaflets - for example see https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf. You'll see you should be consulting with the staff. I'm sure it won't take staff long to point out a larger screen will improve there efficiency, particular when using multiple inputs for assessment data for example. Personally, I find two screens massively enabling, but that's overkill for most staff , but for office/admin/finance/data/admission and some SLT staff, it definitely is worth the expense if you have space.

 

Yeah they don’t all need it. However a larger screen means they can split the screen and make it act like two screens.

Edited November 28, 2019 by Optimus_Primal

[msi_school]

The governors experience before he retired was as a IT project manager

 

His experience must be dangerously out of date. Noone in IT is going to recommend 19" monitors over 21-ish" monitors every study shows larger monitors are better, they allow higher productivity, promote better ergonomics and improve staff morale for a price difference of less than £5 I have just looked at Insight Uk (other box shifters are available) there cheapest 19" is 1600x900 and £48.99 vs the cheapest 21.5" is 1920x1080 and £54.99.

 

If I was in position and I could not win with this information I would hold out for a phased replacement over a couple of years.

[strawberry]

Also, ask the head which one they want and then buy that model for everyone as a basic model. dual or larger screens for people who need it like data managers or timetablers.

[sonofsanta]

And here I am nagging an Assistant Head to go and look at a new monitor in the DT room to see if he'd like a 32" 1440p screen like that one or a 27" 1440p screen.

 

If you are looking at 22in monitors, I'd seriously recommend talking to @ICTDirect_Dave--the monitors he has are not necessarily any cheaper than what's on eBuyer, but they are a proper business class of device, so come with a full range of adjustability (vs none on a cheap BenQ) and a good contrast ratio (don't get anything less than 1000:1), plus they're just generally sturdier to survive classroom life.

 

19". Good grief. Get him to go into literally any other school and check what they're using, cos I reckon any of the rest of us have 22" as a minimum now, except where matching to a 4:3 projector.

[StoneGroup_JackW]

Hi @Optimus_Primal, i would say the costs for a 21.5" monitor far out weigh the benefits of a 19.5". However we can also offer those too as we understand budgets are always tight. If you need quotations or pricing please let me know or drop me a message.

[DavR]

I'm buying 22" height adjustable as a minimum. We still have old square 17" and some 19" widescreens around the building, but not in any of the offices, and as old 4:3 projectors are replaced, 22" widescreens are going into all teaching areas as a matter of course. SLT & myself have 24". It just makes such a difference being able to put two documents side by side.

 

Thinking outside the box, can you take out and reuse the flat panels from the RM Ones? Dell all-in-ones you could, way back when. If you can get a job load of VESA mounts for cheap, might save you money you could use elsewhere. But hell no, do not put any real money into new 19" monitors in this day and age, it's a false economy.

[TechMonkey]

It may have been mentioned (and maybe teaching granny to create a vacuum seal around an ovum) but don't forget that a 19" widescreen monitor will be squatter than a 19" square monitor so may actually appear smaller.

[DrBeaker]

am the SLT in charge of IT I was promoted after the network manager left, and I am having to fill in and line manage the team. The governors experience before he retired was as a IT project manager, his role is to help scrutinise the it development work as there has been no IT development since the school was rebuilt during BSF. We now have a IT estate that was put in place around 2011/12 that is crumbling and the school did not budget for improvement works as higher up did not really understand the area.

 

So now I am trying to update things but they defer to him when they do not quite understand it due to the large expenditure.

 

I miss being Head of Year 11, it was a breeze compared to this!

I'm in a similar position, no investment in IT from the previous network manager or the school. When I started there was very little worth salvaging and a lot of neglect over the year. I'd honestly chucked away better stuff than kit we'd got here.

Started to replace things over past 12x months but a long way to go. I've literally found yet another a bodge-job of a network cable install from my predecessor this morning whilst on another job.

 

22” (or 21.5”) is pretty much bang in the mainstream monitor size now, and the pricing is pretty low as a result. 21.5” is pretty much the smallest you can go while still getting a full HD panel too - and there’s no way it’s worth dropping to 1440x900 or 720p for a few quid saving.

 

22" 1920 x 1080 is pretty my standard I'd recommend and what I'd refer to as my baseline to be honest. I have a load of 19" (18.5" screens) that nobody seems to want.

 

We swapped them out in our IT suites for 22" Full HD screens.

 

I've even offered admin staff, teaching staff etc 2x screens but they don't want them.

 

If you are using SIMS, they recommend 1280x720 (1280x1024 or higher for optimum experience). I plan on replacing monitors soon

 

Honestly will admit I didn't know this, but good to know!

 

The governor is over-stepping here. In truth, you probably ought to be reviewing the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations on the HSE website. To be compliant requires much more than just considering the screen size. Refer the governor to these requirements and he/she might back off. I've yet to work in a school that gets anywhere near meeting the requirements of good practice. So many still go for the cheapest and they are invariably completely non-adjustable, which IMHO should not be on sale. HSE also provide leaflets - for example see https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf. You'll see you should be consulting with the staff. I'm sure it won't take staff long to point out a larger screen will improve there efficiency, particular when using multiple inputs for assessment data for example. Personally, I find two screens massively enabling, but that's overkill for most staff , but for office/admin/finance/data/admission and some SLT staff, it definitely is worth the expense if you have space.

 

+1 This ^

 

Also, ask the head which one they want and then buy that model for everyone as a basic model. dual or larger screens for people who need it like data managers or timetablers.

The only people who have 2x screens are:

* The Head

* 2x Classrooms with screens that have no freeze function on them.

 

* Admin staff large 22/24" screens (touch-screen ones for some inexplicable reason) but been like that since I started there.

 

Even I don't have 2x screens ... I have 3x

 

2x 22" and 1x 24", but they ARE my own kit and will go with me whenever I leave.

[BenQ_Chris]

Hi, happy to offer some support on BenQ monitors, the range of BenQ products start at entry level and go all the away up to designer quality Pantone screens. I'm sure we'd have something that would meet your specifications. Let me know if I can be of any help.

 

Chris.

[Optimus_Primal]

And here I am nagging an Assistant Head to go and look at a new monitor in the DT room to see if he'd like a 32" 1440p screen like that one or a 27" 1440p screen.

 

If you are looking at 22in monitors, I'd seriously recommend talking to @ICTDirect_Dave--the monitors he has are not necessarily any cheaper than what's on eBuyer, but they are a proper business class of device, so come with a full range of adjustability (vs none on a cheap BenQ) and a good contrast ratio (don't get anything less than 1000:1), plus they're just generally sturdier to survive classroom life.

 

19". Good grief. Get him to go into literally any other school and check what they're using, cos I reckon any of the rest of us have 22" as a minimum now, except where matching to a 4:3 projector.

 

Ahh i have big dreams but no budget. There is so much we could do to improve teaching and learning however money talks!

[Optimus_Primal]

It may have been mentioned (and maybe teaching granny to create a vacuum seal around an ovum) but don't forget that a 19" widescreen monitor will be squatter than a 19" square monitor so may actually appear smaller.

The staff machines are the 19" wide screen. I have been walking around the site today and so many workstations are not the right height with staff hunched over. I am teaching the old IT health and safety in Year 12 at the moment and i was looking in horror at staff work stations.

[keyboards]

Seems such an odd thing to weigh in, I mean to be honest I'd say 19 is okay but 22 is probably the sweet and spot and won't cost you much more per monitor, as well as that it's not something your going to replace for at least a few years so the investment is well worth it.