Enquiry regarding old/unused laptops

[Chrisauk]

Hi all,

 

Just making a general enquiry for a friend who is on the PTA at a primary school between York and Wetherby.

 

As part of her role she is looking at how they can best expand the devices available to the children but for minimal cost, in the first instance.

 

Is anyone local to that area who would have any old laptops which are still usable and serviceable that they would be willing to donate?

 

On the flip side, any advice on how other primary schools have gone about this sort of thing would also be much appreciated.

 

I have given advice on other avenues for funding device procurement but thought on the off chance there may be someone local to them who could help.

 

I hope it is ok to ask regarding this sort of thing. If not, let me know and I will remove.

 

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

Chris

[timbo343]

I can ask some Network Managers this afternoon as we are based up York way.

 

Have they thought about leasing?

 

What devices would they be after? Chromebooks or windows laptops?

[Chrisauk]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have spoken to her about leasing and sent some details which she is passing on to their Headteacher and Chair of Governors.

 

In terms of devices, I think Windows laptops are preferable but I have asked her to check and I will update when I find out. (Edit: Latest update is that they have some Chromebooks for the older years)

 

Thank you for the offer to ask around the Network Managers, that would be great!

Edited August 31, 2023 by Chrisauk

[filteringtech]

Hi all,

 

Just making a general enquiry for a friend who is on the PTA at a primary school between York and Wetherby.

 

As part of her role she is looking at how they can best expand the devices available to the children but for minimal cost, in the first instance.

 

Is anyone local to that area who would have any old laptops which are still usable and serviceable that they would be willing to donate?

 

On the flip side, any advice on how other primary schools have gone about this sort of thing would also be much appreciated.

 

I have given advice on other avenues for funding device procurement but thought on the off chance there may be someone local to them who could help.

 

I hope it is ok to ask regarding this sort of thing. If not, let me know and I will remove.

 

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

Chris

As far as taking other people's old tat is concerned, just don't. Nobody gives anything away these days unless the last squeak of useable use has already been exacted. They will most likely be slow, not Win 11 compatible and generally not allow for either a good teaching or pupil experience.

 

 

Personally, I get fed up with ideas such as this, however well-meaning from the PTA or Governors are of a school I support.

 

 

We were donated all sorts of rubbish during covid. There were a couple of devices I kept but mostly, they were unusable as they were too slow, had dead batteries, slow wifi, very heavy or were broken.

 

 

Presuming that the school has an experienced Office Manager and Network manager/Technician? They would probably be best placed to develop a viable strategy to acquire additional devices whether they be brand new or refurbs.

[Chrisauk]

As far as taking other people's old tat is concerned, just don't. Nobody gives anything away these days unless the last squeak of useable use has already been exacted. They will most likely be slow, not Win 11 compatible and generally not allow for either a good teaching or pupil experience.

 

 

Personally, I get fed up with ideas such as this, however well-meaning from the PTA or Governors are of a school I support.

 

 

We were donated all sorts of rubbish during covid. There were a couple of devices I kept but mostly, they were unusable as they were too slow, had dead batteries, slow wifi, very heavy or were broken.

 

 

Presuming that the school has an experienced Office Manager and Network manager/Technician? They would probably be best placed to develop a viable strategy to acquire additional devices whether they be brand new or refurbs.

Thanks for the reply.

 

I am in agreement regarding the sort of things that were offered during covid. Although no harm in asking I guess.

 

I have offered some guidance to her around leasing, refurbed etc.

 

This was partly a fact finding exercise to see what might be able to be offered or viable alternatives if the first option of donation yielded no suitable results.

[andy_b]

Agree with the sentiment that most people these days run the laptops into the ground and are therefore more trouble than its worth.

 

Much better to go the refurb route. For mid £200's you can get a perfectly resonable laptop that will last many years and can run Windows 11.

 

Failing that, refurb Chromebooks are dirt cheap if that is your preference.

[dhicks]

On the flip side, any advice on how other primary schools have gone about this sort of thing would also be much appreciated.

 

If you're planning to accept donations from individuals, you'll wind up with a varied set of devices - managing which charger goes with which laptop can get complicated, although you could try and limit donations to USB-C charging devices only. You could look at asking for donations of sets of laptops from businesses, although most of those will already be going to a refurbished device supplier these days - ICT Direct, who are on this forum, provide that kind of hardware if you want.

[timbo343]

Any of the NYNM group able to help out?

[jmak]

I'd strongly advise trying to find a way of funding matching sets of machines with a decent warranty (I'd include refurbs in that definition). I also wouldn't take anything that isn't Windows 11 compatible at this point.

 

I have been in the situation where I had no budget and the choice was free or nothing, so I realise it's not always that simple. If pushed, I'd look at putting Flex OS on old Windows devices, but only on the condition they were managed and that means running a Google Workspace admin console and buying management licenses for each device (around £30 last time I looked).

[Chrisauk]

I'd strongly advise trying to find a way of funding matching sets of machines with a decent warranty (I'd include refurbs in that definition). I also wouldn't take anything that isn't Windows 11 compatible at this point.

 

I have been in the situation where I had no budget and the choice was free or nothing, so I realise it's not always that simple. If pushed, I'd look at putting Flex OS on old Windows devices, but only on the condition they were managed and that means running a Google Workspace admin console and buying management licenses for each device (around £30 last time I looked).

 

Thank you, I will have a bit more of an in depth chat about the realistic expectations they need to have with regards to how they approach "getting more devices in the classroom".

[Chris_Cook]

I'd say the same as others have. You'd get maybe 1 or 2 devices that are usable once cleaned up. The rest of it will have to go in the WEEE Bin.

 

You may also get some who change there mind and want it back, or forgot to back something up.

 

If you do do it, then defiantly set a minimum spec and include some instructions on how to check this. Most people will just remember they brought a 'good' PC not that long ago, whereas it will have a budget processor from 10 years ago.

 

Its very generous that people want(ed) to donate, but its more work than its worth, even just to quiz the owner as to what they have.

 

ICT Direct and others have some really good deals.

 

If you do do the refurb option, then you need a long term strategy of how you are going to fund things in the future. If you run a mix of refurb and new(er), then you might get an even bigger problem in a few years when it all needs replacing in one go.

 

Might not be a great option for primary, but perhaps you can offer a chromebook/ipad purchase scheme through the school, where parents buy the device, you manage the devices and the students can take them home?

[HereIGoAgain2601]

I have worked in primary schools that tried to do this with the variety of donations we received in COVID. It was an absolute disaster. Although the laptops would physically power on they were incredibly slow and the batteries would die. Chargers would go missing. The teachers hated them as much as we did so they never got used after a few months. Also how will they charge them if you do manage to get a class set, they’d have to buy a trolley realistically so you may as well just get some proper devices on a lease. 30 laptops over 3 years would cost nothing. We have been using Dell direct for leasing and can’t fault them to be honest - I’ve always used Lenovo up to now but the pro support with accidental damage included in the lease has made our life easier and the annual cost is very reasonable even on primary school budgets. Fully sympathise with what you are trying to do but it won’t work out for anyone. As others have said if you can’t afford windows devices, chromebooks are great in schools or buy refurbs.