Chromebook yes or no ?

[discoveranother]

Hi all,

 

Have a school currently with an on premise server. They will be moving everything later in the year to the M365 cloud. They are looking to purchase a few new laptops but have actually asked for chromebooks to save money. To be honest, i'm not massively into chromebooks, however, I just wanted some feedback as to whether they would be a good choice. If they got chromebooks at the moment, could they access file shares on the current server and also, they use Viewsonic touchscreens, so would this software install on a chromebook ? Guess I'd have to look into this.

 

They are basically looking for cheaper than normal laptop price but functional, so if anyone has any recommendations, would be grateful. It may be that laptops would be the better choice.

 

Thanks all

[3s-gtech]

AFAIK - file shares, no. Viewsonic touch software - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/vcastsender/gkjmdfbjkkodgpmkahekmcammibhimdi

[Alex0x7F]

You can map smb file shares on a chromebook but it's not the nicest of user experiences imo

(How to setup network file shares on a Chromebook)

[6Foot2]

I left my last place before Chromebooks took off properly there. Last I heard, I understand that they were looking to expand Chromebook usage, deploying them much more widely. Some teachers who were initially set against them were "warming" to them.

 

For home use, I am using a Chromebook now, and I don't think I will go back to a PC/laptop/Windows when the time come to replace this one.

[CTIDTech]

We have Chromebooks and users have really engaged with them! Users can authenticate into their CB's using a QR code (Quick Card) and they can then access all their resources using this and MFA.

 

We use ClassLink and I found their help article on this which may shed some light on the process, however in essence - Log in once and all their resources (Google, MS, Custom etc) are all instantly available and no password headaches at all! Logging In to Chromebooks Using ClassLink

[David44]

We have Chromebooks and users have really engaged with them! Users can authenticate into their CB's using a QR code (Quick Card) and they can then access all their resources using this and MFA.

 

I'm interested in how this works. Do staff and students sign in using a QR code and MFA? How do students store their QR code, do they carry something around with them that has their QR code printed on it? What is the MFA method?

[discoveranother]

Thanks all for the replies.

 

Is it necessary to use the Google Admin Console to setup Chromebooks ? There might only be a couple.

 

Thanks all

[Theblacksheep]

Thanks all for the replies.

 

Is it necessary to use the Google Admin Console to setup Chromebooks ? There might only be a couple.

 

Thanks all

 

 

Is it necessary to have a domain to manage windows devices?

 

no, but I wouldn't want staff to use devices without them. I'd apply the same logic here and a couple will quickly increase, especially if they can do what they want on them.

[DavR]

I would treat Chromebooks as an entirely different ecosystem, with it's own management, and pros and cons. They don't really integrate into an existing Windows network at all, much the same as iPads, they're just web access devices. File shares, printing, external hardware, all are VERY limited on Chromebooks.

 

If it were me, I'd try and avoid introducing just one or two Chromebooks, and try and keep the staff on Windows laptops. The real power of Chromebooks for us has been being able to get more devices into the hands of children relatively cheaply, but it does come with the overhead of having that other ecosystem to manage.

Edited June 7, 2023 by DavR

[Anonymous2000]

I rolled out about 6-700 across our trust. Staff took to them very well and soon fell in love with them however there was a whole trust strategy to go Chrome. Might be a different experience with only a couple.

I would say you need Google Workspace (or what ever it is called now) to manage them.

In terms of shares - move things to OneDrive or Google Drive depending on preference

Printing seemed to work fine. It was a bit ago now so but I think we pushed an app out to them for that.

 

Overall I think they are a great solution at a great price BUT I would caveat that with what I said earlier - we had whole trust SMT support and we pushed everyone that way.

[PotNoodleTech]

TBH chromebooks work best if your allready using google for education, classroom, drive etc as then everything is at your fingertips. It works really well in that scenario - so well we've gone 1:1 for staff and pupils.

 

Staff do however still have PCs as really you can't use a chromebook to replace a pc. We use them as an "access most things from anywhere" which works really well.

[CTIDTech]

I'm interested in how this works. Do staff and students sign in using a QR code and MFA? How do students store their QR code, do they carry something around with them that has their QR code printed on it? What is the MFA method?

 

Our kids are issued with a plastic card on them in their wallets which we issue, however the teachers can also print onto paper, card etc and often keep a copy so a user can always get in and saves us a load of admin and time. I personally have the QR code on my phone too.

 

They simply hold them up to the camera on log in and they get straight into the Launchpad which contains all the resources a user needs (this is different for every user group, year, school or even individual and can be tailored) . Upon login, the user is then asked to enter their MFA which is an image for our primary school children and we then move to a PIN for older students (year 5-13). Teachers and Admins use Microsoft Authenticator but I understand any MFA options also can be applied (Yubikey, Google, Text etc which we don't use). So we have a layered approach which suits everyone. - Here is the link - ClassLink | MFA & Authentication Methods

[Alis_Klar]

Our kids are issued with a plastic card on them in their wallets which we issue, however the teachers can also print onto paper, card etc and often keep a copy so a user can always get in and saves us a load of admin and time. I personally have the QR code on my phone too.

 

They simply hold them up to the camera on log in and they get straight into the Launchpad which contains all the resources a user needs (this is different for every user group, year, school or even individual and can be tailored) . Upon login, the user is then asked to enter their MFA which is an image for our primary school children and we then move to a PIN for older students (year 5-13). Teachers and Admins use Microsoft Authenticator but I understand any MFA options also can be applied (Yubikey, Google, Text etc which we don't use). So we have a layered approach which suits everyone. - Here is the link - ClassLink | MFA & Authentication Methods

 

But ClassLink is US only?

[Ditto]

But ClassLink is US only?

Hmm - I'm not a user or expert on this, but a quick Google showed a Bedfordshire company promoting it's use https://www.odysseyeducation.co.uk/classlink.html

 

*** Edit - also on UK Gov Digital Marketplace https://www.applytosupply.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/g-cloud/services/433135728456916 ***

Edited September 22, 2023 by Ditto

[CTIDTech]

We met them at Bett and they have clients all over the world and they comply with GDPR etc

[6Foot2]

But ClassLink is US only?

 

Viglen had a product called Classlink. I suppose that has gone the way of all things.

 

Ah, aiglatson!

 

[Alis_Klar]

I've contacted the Bedfordshire company but if they don't support UK MIS systems or partner with UK content and apps then we can't use them.

 

Fingers crossed as it look like a great product.

[CTIDTech]

I've contacted the Bedfordshire company but if they don't support UK MIS systems or partner with UK content and apps then we can't use them.

 

Fingers crossed as it look like a great product.

 

What MIS are you using?

[TwistedHelixis]

Had a teacher start at one of my primary schools that had come from a private school, the first thing she asked for was a Chromebook as her previous school were 100% Chromebooks, even in the office.

 

One of my other schools, all pupils in KS2 (200 pupils) have had their own Chromebooks for about 4 years now. They tested in year 6 and it just spread. The feedback I get is fantastic.

[Roberto]

I would treat Chromebooks as an entirely different ecosystem, with its own management, and pros and cons. They don't really integrate into an existing Windows network at all, much the same as iPads, they're just web access devices. File shares, printing, external hardware, all are VERY limited on Chromebooks.

 

Sage advice, this. Chromebooks are very good at what they do, and not so great at being “a cheap alternative to windows devices” if you’re unwilling or unable to move from windows-centric infrastructure and workflows.

[Sonic007]

Can I ask how people login to their Chromebooks? Can they be setup so users just login with their google email adress and password?

We would be sharing them with multple classes so need a quick way to get into them

[fiza]

Can I ask how people login to their Chromebooks? Can they be setup so users just login with their google email adress and password?

We would be sharing them with multple classes so need a quick way to get into them

 

We have them enrolled in a Google Workspace for Education domain and each user logs in with their Google email address and password. You would need a Google management licence for this per device.

[LeMarchand]

Can I ask how people login to their Chromebooks? Can they be setup so users just login with their google email adress and password?

 

That's the default. Only have problems with KS1 generally.

[Sonic007]

We have them enrolled in a Google Workspace for Education domain and each user logs in with their Google email address and password. You would need a Google management licence for this per device.

 

 

Is this a one off license or per device? Expensive?

 

Thankyou.

[LeMarchand]

Is this a one off license or per device? Expensive?

 

It's a one-off license/device, only transferable to another device of the same model, so basically not transferable unless you get a like-for-like replacement on a faulty one, and faulty ones seem kinda rare (touches wood). Around £30 IIRC.