Chrome books

[kevin_lane]

Looking at maybe getting a couple of chrome books to test in our environment, and looking at using the Google admin portal to manage them etc

 

Could anyone advise on a decent model

 

Also are there any gotcha to be aware of?

 

Also endpoint protection how do you handle this

 

Thanks

[dhicks]

Could anyone advise on a decent model

 

I think the last batch we got were the Lenovo 500e - around £270 each before VAT.

 

Also are there any gotcha to be aware of?

 

For a school environment, you'll be wanting both managed user accounts and managed devices. There's a one-off management license needed per managed device - around £30, probably best to just include it in the initial purchase cost of devices. Most of the settings and so on you'll want to apply actually go to the user account rather than the device - in ChromeOS, things like browser extensions and so on follow the user around, they aren't installed to a particular deice. Having a managed device mainly means you can stop users logging on with a non-domain account, so pupils can't simply log on with a home account.

 

The Lenovo's we bought are full-flip devices, able to be used in "tablet" mode, complete with rear-facing camera, and even come with a built-in stylus stored in the device's body. Everyone instantly looses the stylus, so I'd recommend taking those out until actually wanted (maybe by Art).

 

Also endpoint protection how do you handle this

 

ChromeOS doesn't let the end user run applications as such, everything is contained (and sandboxed) with in the browser. For a schol environment you'll probably be wanting some kind of filtering / keyword detection, which will probably run as a browser extension assigned to users.

[TheHyperTechie]

Looking at maybe getting a couple of chrome books to test in our environment, and looking at using the Google admin portal to manage them etc

 

Could anyone advise on a decent model

 

Also are there any gotcha to be aware of?

 

Also endpoint protection how do you handle this

 

Thanks

 

We just had a bulk delivery of some Dell 3100 chromebooks. They were only about £100 a unit, and auto updates expire in 2029. They seem to be doing a good job so far

[kevin_lane]

Thanks for this, - good info

 

I’ve also heard about chrome flex has anyone converted a windows Device to a chrome os device through this process ?

 

I think the last batch we got were the Lenovo 500e - around £270 each before VAT.

 

 

 

For a school environment, you'll be wanting both managed user accounts and managed devices. There's a one-off management license needed per managed device - around £30, probably best to just include it in the initial purchase cost of devices. Most of the settings and so on you'll want to apply actually go to the user account rather than the device - in ChromeOS, things like browser extensions and so on follow the user around, they aren't installed to a particular deice. Having a managed device mainly means you can stop users logging on with a non-domain account, so pupils can't simply log on with a home account.

 

The Lenovo's we bought are full-flip devices, able to be used in "tablet" mode, complete with rear-facing camera, and even come with a built-in stylus stored in the device's body. Everyone instantly looses the stylus, so I'd recommend taking those out until actually wanted (maybe by Art).

 

 

 

ChromeOS doesn't let the end user run applications as such, everything is contained (and sandboxed) with in the browser. For a schol environment you'll probably be wanting some kind of filtering / keyword detection, which will probably run as a browser extension assigned to users.

[thimon]

Thanks for this, - good info

 

I’ve also heard about chrome flex has anyone converted a windows Device to a chrome os device through this process ?

 

All our signage computers are Minix fanless PC’s which were underpowered Windows PCs. Installed Flex on all of them and they work like a dream.

[FN-GM]

Use this to check when all the available models stop receiving updates.

 

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

[dhicks]

I’ve also heard about chrome flex has anyone converted a windows Device to a chrome os device through this process ?

 

Yes, we have several ChromeOS Flex desktops - no laptops ourselves as we tend to buy Chromebooks. ChromeOS Flex works on Macs as well, older out-of-MacOS-updates iMacs make for nice ChromeOS machines, I use one as my day-to-day working machine. ChromeOS Flex is, generally, easy and free to install, although you will need a one-off management license (£30) if you want to make it a managed device.

[tom_newton]

Definitely chat to your filter vendor - as @dhicks mentioned its usually better to go with a chrome extension rather than trying to shoe horn chromebooks through a proxy, all good vendors (and some bad ones ) will offer this as an option

[bitznpcz]

For Endpoint protection, have a look at Conceal (https://conceal.io). I'm working with them to try and bring an offer to UK Schools at the moment...

 

Chromebooks are inherently secure as long as they're receiving updates, but it doesn't stop all phishing and malicious websites.

[Millgate_Jon]

Hi Kevin

 

If you want to send a spec over to me on PM I can see about pricing some options up for, we supply all vendors so can just cherry pick on the best deal depending on what it is you need.

 

Cheers

 

Jon.

[TwistedHelixis]

Don't forget Chrome Flex doesn't support the Android app store.

 

Most of my school go with the Dell 3100 chromebooks with touchscreen, 8gb ram and at least 3 year warranty.