Recommendations for Laptops

[KASIT97]

Hi all,

 

So, we were looking at purchasing iPad's for pupils on a 1:1 basis.

 

However, the school has now decided to go down the laptop route. Surface Books seems to be the device that keeps getting mentioned.

 

Are any of you guys using laptops within the classroom? What devices are you using?

 

Also, any arguments on why using an IT Suite is more beneficial over laptop banks?

 

Thanks!

[LeMarchand]

Depends on what you want to use them for and what sort of pupils/teachers you have and whether you're KS1/2 or KS3.

 

I have one site that is a mix of laptops and suite and the suite has had to have a few monitors replaced soon after warranty, but is still going strong. The laptops, on the other hand are regularly dropped etc. However my other site with the same setup rarely has that sort of problem.

 

I'd definitely suggest Chromebooks for KS1/2 (my sites) but I assume there would be too much specific software for KS3. OTH, if the initial idea was iPads, maybe not?

[KASIT97]

Hi,

 

We're an EYFS, KS1 & KS2 school and use 365.

 

I was gearing towards a refurb in our IT Suit. However, headteacher wants laptops.

 

Going with Laptops, they would be used for teaching the IT Curriculum as well as a resource within the classroom (accessing subscription websites, research, writing up their work..)

 

If we did go with IT Suite we would be restricted to just teaching the IT Curriculum only as we're a two form school with 1 IT Suite.

 

Thanks

[psydii]

Depends what you want to do on them, but I a super happy with the Acer B1 mentioned here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/education/devices/default.aspx

 

We run them as pure InTune shared, managed devices. Battery life and Logon times are good, there is a light on the lid that lets the teacher see the state of the battery. They are moderately rugged. They support USB-C PD and DP. They are cheap as chips.

 

Our other laptops for courses needing the adobe suite are Ryzen 7's with 16Gb RAM. Which I am also super happy with, though we got an amazing deal on those. List price is now eye watering

[LeMarchand]

Depends what you want to do on them, but I a super happy with the Acer B1 mentioned here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/education/devices/default.aspx

 

The Acer Spin 3 was offered to me with double the disk space for £435 rather than £699 last week!

 

Anyhoo...

 

Suites vs laptops: Suites more rugged and cheaper but limited numbers can use. Laptops easier to grab, if you have enough can be used by all, but less rugged and your wifi needs to be up to snuff plus laptops + trolleys + spares = ££££££s. Also, if you get the ones with small disks they really need to be one to one and staff logon prevented or the space won't last long!

[Norphy]

I wouldn't get Surface hardware personally, over expensive for what it is, pretty awful in the reliability rankings and completely non-repairable. I'd be looking at Dell or Lenovo. Better support. Better warranty. They don't have the apple-esq shiny-shiny but overall I think they'd be better.

[3s-gtech]

Lenovo E14 and E495 seem good so far - good specs, reasonable cost, repairable, but not easy to get hold of at present.

[psydii]

Suites more rugged and cheaper

This is a generalisation that I would have stood behind pre-covid. However the B1 is more rugged that most desktops, and at £185, incredible value.

 

What that doesn't consider though it the reliability of the wireless network. If it wasn't designed to take 30 laptops in any or multiple simultaneous classrooms, you are probably going to have a bad time.

[Brimstone]

Hi all,

 

So, we were looking at purchasing iPad's for pupils on a 1:1 basis.

 

However, the school has now decided to go down the laptop route. Surface Books seems to be the device that keeps getting mentioned.

 

Are any of you guys using laptops within the classroom? What devices are you using?

 

Also, any arguments on why using an IT Suite is more beneficial over laptop banks?

 

Thanks!

Before you start thinking about the technology have you thought about the vision for teaching and learning and teacher CPD ?

 

Technology should NOT be driving this it's teaching and learning that should be the driver. Forget the laptop specs they will make zero impact if you don't start planning for how the technology you invest in is going to make an impact and enhance the learning

Edited December 8, 2020 by Brimstone

[LeMarchand]

This is a generalisation that I would have stood behind pre-covid. However the B1 is more rugged that most desktops, and at £185, incredible value.

 

True on the price and probably for your staff and pupils on the ruggedness. We have teachers who think the best way to hold a laptop is by one of the screen's top corners, though.

[psydii]

TBH Thinkpads, Latitudes Macbooks and the B1 all tend to survive that sort of behaviour.

[3s-gtech]

Before you start thinking about the technology have you thought about the vision for teaching and learning and teacher CPD ?

 

Technology should NOT be driving this it's teaching and learning that should be the driver. Forget the laptop specs they will make zero impact if you don't start planning for how the technology you invest in is going to make an impact and enhance the learning

 

My word...we agree on something!

[KASIT97]

With all due respect, that's not my area to be concerned about. Or should I say, that's not my role or my business.

 

However, the devices will just be used to teach the IT Curriculum which was already in place before. No real changes other than the location of the device whether it be an IT Suite or in the classroom. As well as enabling the pupils to access online resources from within their class rather than the teacher having to sent their TA to the IT Suite just so the child can complete their book quiz online as an example.

[KASIT97]

[h=1]The Acer TravelMate Spin B3 is looking really good.[/h]

[Brimstone]

With all due respect, that's not my area to be concerned about. Or should I say, that's not my role or my business.

 

If the strategy for technology is nothing to do with you why are asking for specs? With all due respect, you were originally asking for upwards of 500 x iPads, if that's now 500 x laptops then a forward planning startegy is CRITICAL

 

However, the devices will just be used to teach the IT Curriculum which was already in place before.

 

Hold on....The IT Curriculum...? Is your teaching based in the 1980's when I was being taught "The IT Curiculum" ICT lessons (albeit still important) alone are a typical example of an utter waste of resources in a school. No thoughts around movie making, animation, music creation and Podcasting, any of the sciences, history, geography, MFL, I could go on...

 

As well as enabling the pupils to access online resources from within their class rather than the teacher having to sent their TA to the IT Suite just so the child can complete their book quiz online as an example.

 

So you are effectively wanting a device that connects to the internet..errrm that's any device be it an iPad, a Chromebook, a laptop, a desktop, a Surface Pro, an iPod, an Android tablet literally....