Teacher Laptops - Replace Macbooks

[jmak]

Can I ask what's the rationale for providing laptops?

 

A PC can be purchased for £300-600 each approx. More powerful, more upgrade potential, less risk of being damaged, knocked, stolen, easy to secure etc.

 

Surely their role is to teach within the classroom and a PC would be more than adequate for that?

Much less true than 6 months ago. Personal preference would have been for a PC in every classroom and a laptop for those who work at home regularly (which is a lot of staff nowadays). Compromise now would be laptop for everyone and a docking station in every classroom, but you need spares to allow for supply teachers.

Yep

 

I replaced a users old Core 2 Duo, HDD, 4GB RAM machines with a 4th Gen i5, 4GB RAM and HDD early in 2020. Then upgraded this further over the summer to 8GB RAM and and SSD.

 

I've now got a complaint of "computer is slow".

 

WHAT? What on earth are you comparing it to? I am at a loss.

If it's boot time, maybe their phone? (Which if it is actually rebooting, isn't much quicker than a PC.)

[DrBeaker]

Much less true than 6 months ago. Personal preference would have been for a PC in every classroom and a laptop for those who work at home regularly (which is a lot of staff nowadays). Compromise now would be laptop for everyone and a docking station in every classroom, but you need spares to allow for supply teachers.

 

 

True. Lot of interesting points to cover.

 

But using public money to supply teachers a laptop to work at home wouldn't go down well with support, public etc and seen as not a good use of funds.

These aren't sales people who are out in the field all day, they're primarily in a classroom.

 

It's definitely an interesting but difficult debate and choice at the moment.

 

Bear in mind if the schools supply laptops etc as part of classrooms or their job it could be a taxable benefit. You'd also have to consider them for support staff, admin , supply staff etc.

 

The TCO would be higher too.

 

What would happen to things like Windows Updates and SIMS updates etc?

Damage to kit when off the school site?

Overall PCs are cheaper and easier to manage in this regards.

Edited October 2, 2020 by DrBeaker