Ipad alternatives - need to replace 70

[GillBates]

Hello, HT wants to replace old iPads which are used for Renaissance / accelerated reader and the app wont update as IOS is out of date. need about 70 and surprisingly haven't got the funds to do a full roll out of new iPads. These were also bought and set up by someone else without any management so need a non apple solution which can be centrally managed - any suggestions / ideas appreciated (they need to be tablets \ touch screen as using a mouse / keyboard is too technical for the kids!?) Edited September 25, 2023 by GillBates

[timbo343]

Are you in a position to use chrome tablets - https://www.asus.com/uk/laptops/for-students/chromebook/asus-chromebook-detachable-cz1-cz1000/ - they come with a hard case and detectable keyboard.

 

We bought 2 of these and they are great. Coupled it with a velcro stand / hand support (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fintie-Universal-Tablet-Strap-Holder/dp/B07R8XT94V)

[Jamman960]

Renaissance discontinued their app long ago, you can use the website directly from Safari. We setup a webclip pointing to our specific instance and the staff/pupils log in from there.

 

As for the iPads - are you really "managing" 70 without an MDM? I would recommend settting up Mosyle and get them all managed - at least then you'd be able to manag the whole lot although if they're not getting updates they're now a security risk.

[GillBates]

thanks - i will have a look!

[timbo343]

Another vote for Mosyle but you need to pay for more that 30 devices.

[GillBates]

Renaissance discontinued their app long ago, you can use the website directly from Safari. We setup a webclip pointing to our specific instance and the staff/pupils log in from there.

 

As for the iPads - are you really "managing" 70 without an MDM? I would recommend setting up Mosyle and get them all managed - at least then you'd be able to manga the whole lot although if they're not getting updates they're now a security risk.

 

chers for the response -

a TA is \ was updating them - i work for MSP and the old Head bought them and a TA "looks" after them as it was the cheaper option for the school....I have had nothing to do with them - what you could call a tech mission creep - started out as 10 for those who couldn't use keyboards, and then a few more etc, and now its "my problem, and i have until next Friday to sort "lol

[GillBates]

Another vote for Mosyle but you need to pay for more that 30 devices.

 

 

ah , all this paying for stuff nonsense - its a school, and schools have no money, i should just be able to do it for free shouldn't i ? don't you just download it?

[LeMarchand]

Another vote for Mosyle but you need to pay for more that 30 devices.

 

Is this recent? We have 62 on "free".

[Koldov]

Interested in this (not the Mosyle free debate) but the Renaissance Learning/Accelerated Reader part...

 

We had a teacher in our Year 3 who deals with this software as part of their Head of English/Literacy role who had a similar complaint.

 

Although we don't use the app and have a 'webclip' for Safari to use the web version, it seems that although most of the site works OK, there is a particular test they do which will not load. I advised her to email a contact (Customer Enablement Specialist) who sent us an email earlier in the year about the site upgrade to see if that was anything to do with it and if it was, is there any way around it (I haven't chased up if they ever replied).

 

These are also older iPads (the last year group to replace), but luckily we have an ICT suite, so any teachers in that Year Group who need to do that test (which I don't think is done that often) can book it for a lesson.

[timbo343]

Is this recent? We have 62 on "free".

Here is what it says on their website.. https://business.mosyle.com/

[LeMarchand]

Here is what it says on their website.. https://business.mosyle.com/

 

Maybe we got in before that limit. I'm not going to ask them if they want any money!

[timbo343]

Maybe we got in before that limit. I'm not going to ask them if they want any money!

 

Of course, it happened to use on a live chat system we started using. We are still on the "free version" for up to 3 users but now that system is only free for 1 user.

[bknaggs]

I've got nothing to add about the original query about replacing 70 iPads with something that aren't iPads but...

 

Mosyle is still free for education. https://school.mosyle.com/ rather than https://business.mosyle.com

[LeMarchand]

I've got nothing to add about the original query about replacing 70 iPads with something that aren't iPads but...

 

Mosyle is still free for education. https://school.mosyle.com/ rather than https://business.mosyle.com

 

Thanks for the clarification!

 

As to the OP, the free version needs more "manual" input than I'd like, but... it's free! Plus the guy who helped with the setup was super helpful. Were using Lightspeed before Mosyle; not impressed. People sing the praises of Jamf, but it's not free.

[XiJ]

At some point you have to say no. Setting up Apple School Manager, even buying the cheapest Mac to supervise and using Mosyle would save so many man/woman hours. Even on a TAs terrible wages, that’s a lot of time and money saved.

 

As an MSP I think you need to say this small investment now will reap dividends long term.

 

If you don’t want iPads, chromebooks would be my next best solution. But then you’ll need to pay the google management license per device. It’s about £30 but I reckon it’s a similar cost to the iPads all in.

 

Perhaps leasing might help (for either solution).

Edited September 25, 2023 by XiJ

[thimon]

Lease, the most cost effective way to source these products. All our iPads have to be a model that can take the latest version of iOS.

[EssentialRug]

At some point you have to say no. Setting up Apple School Manager, even buying the cheapest Mac to supervise and using Mosyle would save so many man/woman hours. Even on a TAs terrible wages, that’s a lot of time and money saved.

 

As an MSP I think you need to say this small investment now will reap dividends long term.

 

If you don’t want iPads, chromebooks would be my next best solution. But then you’ll need to pay the google management license per device. It’s about £30 but I reckon it’s a similar cost to the iPads all in.

 

Perhaps leasing might help (for either solution).

 

You can supervise without buying a mac using Apple School Manager and having your reseller import your devices.

[LeMarchand]

You can supervise without buying a mac using Apple School Manager and having your reseller import your devices.

 

Yep, having iPads was bad enough, let alone spending hundreds on a device to manage them. We just use ASM/Mosyle Free. Not the best solution but the head's favourite price. That said, though I have to fight for any other improvements, they love throwing money at Apple.

[EssentialRug]

Yep, having iPads was bad enough, let alone spending hundreds on a device to manage them. We just use ASM/Mosyle Free. Not the best solution but the head's favourite price. That said, though I have to fight for any other improvements, they love throwing money at Apple.

 

We use Intune which isn't the best MDM I've ever used to manage our iPads, but love having all of our devices under one roof (apart from our Chromebooks).

 

I genuinely think for the price (thinking 9th Gen) iPads are the best tablets (f that is specifically what you are looking for) you can buy. I definitely think they have their place in education, but I do agree there is sometimes a lack of understanding from those who just want shiny new things. It's also unfair to ask people to just make them work without providing the proper resources/tools/funding to do so.

 

I won't lie, I'm amazed at the amount of hate Apple gets on this site. No matter your thoughts/feelings towards Apple, you will encounter their devices 9 times out of 10 in an IT role, and sort of washing your hands with the whole ecosystem doesn't particularly look good if 'IT Manager/IT Technician/etc is your job role in my opinion.

[LeMarchand]

We use Intune which isn't the best MDM I've ever used to manage our iPads, but love having all of our devices under one roof (apart from our Chromebooks).

 

I genuinely think for the price (thinking 9th Gen) iPads are the best tablets (f that is specifically what you are looking for) you can buy. I definitely think they have their place in education, but I do agree there is sometimes a lack of understanding from those who just want shiny new things. It's also unfair to ask people to just make them work without providing the proper resources/tools/funding to do so.

 

I won't lie, I'm amazed at the amount of hate Apple gets on this site. No matter your thoughts/feelings towards Apple, you will encounter their devices 9 times out of 10 in an IT role, and sort of washing your hands with the whole ecosystem doesn't particularly look good if 'IT Manager/IT Technician/etc is your job role in my opinion.

 

I will reluctantly concede that iPads have great battery life and seem to be better treated by the staff/pupils. But I think you've identified why many have a problem with them in that SMT are a bit like Underpants Gnomes.

 

 

No thought is given to how things are going to work, whether more kit is needed, training for IT (is there ever thought given to that?), even whether the iPads will do what they think they will do. Heck, my iPad school has never though about storing/charging/booking.

 

On a personal level, I'm also not a fan of the misjudged air of superiority that a lot of Apple owners have, their insistence on using Apple terminology over generic terms, and the way "only iPads or Macs can do X" when it's something pretty much any machine can do (and often has done before it was available on anything Apple).

[EssentialRug]

I will reluctantly concede that iPads have great battery life and seem to be better treated by the staff/pupils. But I think you've identified why many have a problem with them in that SMT are a bit like Underpants Gnomes.

 

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No thought is given to how things are going to work, whether more kit is needed, training for IT (is there ever thought given to that?), even whether the iPads will do what they think they will do. Heck, my iPad school has never though about storing/charging/booking.

 

On a personal level, I'm also not a fan of the misjudged air of superiority that a lot of Apple owners have, their insistence on using Apple terminology over generic terms, and the way "only iPads or Macs can do X" when it's something pretty much any machine can do (and often has done before it was available on anything Apple).

 

Agreed on all points. On the superiority note to reference our exchange in a previous thread, it's a bit like those who drink black coffee and believe that is the only way to do so...

[XiJ]

You can supervise without buying a mac using Apple School Manager and having your reseller import your devices.

 

Yes very true. Especially easy when purchasing new.

 

I always had the issue of schools spending thousands on iPads but refused to pay for a couple of iPads worth of devices to manage properly. Things have obviously changed now.

[amartin]

Major bump but did you ever find a suitable solution for using Renaissance / accelerated reader as there is now no native app? or did you find an alternative product?