Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[seaweed]

There were still HP laptops and Chromebooks yesterday. Thought I would ask the teachers what they wanted but there's only Dell laptops left now...

[Primus]

Our email made it clear only Windows laptops were available and we didn't get the emails until late yesterday, we must be down the pecking order!

[Koldov]

I got the email at 13:43 yesterday, luckily sitting at my desk at the time and had ordered by 14:00 (it only took that long because I needed to remember all the log-in details as the BM usually does it, but I knew I couldn't hang around).

 

It did say whilst ordering it would be checked against stock and may not be available, it also has the disclaimer on the order confirmation (so not counting my chickens just yet)...

[StevieM]

We've just had one saying that we hadn't been invited yet, but to fill out a form if we'd like to apply for some more Windows laptops. Might as well, eh?

[enjay]

I got a different email:

 

Dear colleague,

You may be aware that we have invited some organisations to order additional devices via the Get help with technology service.

Your organisation has not yet been invited. If you need more Windows laptops, please complete this short online form as soon as possible. We will then enable you to order by increasing your device allocation – you can only order devices while stocks last.

Please note, Apple iPads, Google Chromebooks and Windows tablets are no longer available and will not be back in stock.

Kind regards,

Get help with technology

[atcoates]

We got another set of devices allocated. Worth checking the site every day. Currently Dell 3190. Yesterday was 14" HPs.

[DrCheese]

grrr, I ordered the HPs yesterday but would have much prefered the dells (They're built like brick outhouses!)

[Koldov]

Yes, the Dell ones do seem to be specifically built for the job!

 

"Latitude 3190 11 Inch Laptop for Students | Dell UK

 

"An 11.6-inch laptop that provides a cost-effective solution for student-led learning, built with the best-in-class durability to withstand every school day."

 

Not a lot of love for them in previous posts... small display and 64GB eMMC Hard Drive...?

[enjay]

Yes, the Dell ones do seem to be specifically built for the job!

 

"Latitude 3190 11 Inch Laptop for Students | Dell UK

 

"An 11.6-inch laptop that provides a cost-effective solution for student-led learning, built with the best-in-class durability to withstand every school day."

 

Not a lot of love for them in previous posts... small display and 64GB eMMC Hard Drive...?

 

The Dells are probably more durable, but they do look like budget laptops in a way the HPs don't. They are at least a household name, unlike Dynabook and Geobook.

[seaweed]

Would definitely prefer the HP. comes with better CPU, 14 inch screen and 128GB SSD.

[StevieM]

I got a different email:

That's the one we got. Just had an allocation of 21 more laptops.

 

I would have preferred HPs, but there's only the little Dells available. The question is, should I stick or should I twist?

 

grrr, I ordered the HPs yesterday but would have much prefered the dells (They're built like brick outhouses!)

 

Wanna do swapsies?

[gaz350b]

Sometimes the sells have 128. Pretty sure we have 18 out of 21 on 120gb+

[Sanchez]

We would have preferred Chromebooks but only the Dell's were available. We'll stick chrome OS flex on them and run them as Chrome devices. (Good test of flex, only got it on a couple of test devices currently)

[seaweed]

That's the one we got. Just had an allocation of 21 more laptops.

 

I would have preferred HPs, but there's only the little Dells available. The question is, should I stick or should I twist?

 

 

 

Wanna do swapsies?

PMed check inbox

[andy_b]

Ordering is now closed for laptops and tablets, but you'll still be able to access your account to track existing orders.

[Koldov]

Looking at which children to deploy the latest DfE offerings of HP laptops to, but finding hard to work out the differences between them. Essentially I'm guessing they are going to be exactly the same (but just different model numbers - annoying that manufacturers do this).

 

HP 245 G8 - 14" - Athlon Silver 3050U - 4 GB RAM - 128 GB SSD

 

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c06955717

 

HP 255 G7 - 14" - Athlon Silver 3050U - 4 GB RAM - 128 GB SSD

 

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-255-g7-notebook-pc/24381324/document/c06194380

 

The HP product page for the HP 255 G7 doesn't even list the Athlon Silver 3050U as a CPU option for this model, so I presume it is a 'made for DfE' model...?

 

Which means I can't really trust any of the other specs for it on that page... anyone got experience of these two models?

 

Also, just checked the DfE site and our order is still 'in progress' (ordered on 03/03/2022)...

[enjay]

The HP product page for the HP 255 G7 doesn't even list the Athlon Silver 3050U as a CPU option for this model, so I presume it is a 'made for DfE' model...?

 

They might be "made for DfE", alternatively DfE hoovered up end-of-line models which is why they're not on the website any more. That was certainly the case with some of the other models they've allocated previously.

[6Foot3]

I had this come through.

 

Thank you for your email.

 

We are now out of stock of all device types and ordering is closed.

 

Your recent allocation did not guarantee that devices were available - you could only order devices while stocks lasted. When we contacted organisations we recommended they place their orders as soon as possible.

 

We apologise for any disappointment this may cause.

 

Kind regards,

 

Lisa Douglas-Taylor

User Support

[mavhc]

HP 245 G8 - 14" - Athlon Silver 3050U - 4 GB RAM - 128 GB SSD

 

HP 255 G7 - 14" - Athlon Silver 3050U - 4 GB RAM - 128 GB SSD

 

Normally the first 2 is the series, Probook is 4, Cheapo one is 2.

Second number is the screen size, 4 = 14", 5 = 15"

Third number is Intel = 0, AMD = 5

 

And then G is Generation, going up about 1 per year

[2097]

Are we now meant to use another site to get the login passwords etc

 

https://computacenterprod.service-now.com/dfe

 

^ That site is now down and i cant login

[Koldov]

We haven't used that site (but haven't needed to reset anything or get passwords).

 

These sites are still up, do they not have what you need?

 

 

https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk

 

and

 

https://techsource.computacenter.com/en/login

[Koldov]

Well, we got our last HP laptops this morning (HP 245 G8 Notebook).

 

Yes they're small, yes they feel very plastic, no I don't think they will last long with our children...

 

Does anyone know what I should be doing here (it comes with the F.64 Rev.A bios)?

 

[mavhc]

Maybe it's a variant with almost the same model number? Either that or they've split up the firmware into multiple parts. When a probook updates there's multiple updates for usb-c, Intel ME (and I guess whatever AMD calls that), Touchpad, and the main bios. Although it's all in one package on WU, which never seems to show up for these 200 series.

[Colindean2000]

Got another email yesterday for a few more devices (only Windows laptops and Chromebooks available).

 

Went for the Windows laptops, so HP 245 G8 - 14" - Athlon Silver 3050U - 4 GB RAM - 128 GB SSD

 

Looks like that might be the last of the scheme...?

 

We got 13 of these and have to say they are decent, my favourite along with the Toshiba Dynabooks we got. The Geobooks were garbage and the Dell Inspirons were so so.

[mavhc]

The strange hp laptop did download a firmware update, but it didn't seem to install, so I guess HP have told MS that the update is for both variants, but then the installer does a better check and quits.