IT equipment - rolling program

[Potato-Peeler]

In theory we replace all laptops and desktops every 3 years, or stretching to 4 for less important. Though due to budget restraints we get what were given. Looks like windows 98 is making a come back...

[RobFuller]

We have a 3 year rolling program for 700 machines (laptops, desktops) due to server virtualisation we have reduced the number of servers needed but there also 3 or 4 years with extended warranty. If it’s out of warranty its out of main stream use.

[pritchardavid]

umm any advice guys?

 

We need to replace 4 class rooms worth of pcs

 

3x ICT rooms (About 30 In each)

 

1x Library (20 in total, would like to increase to 30 if we can find out how to place more in)

 

So at lease 110 computers need to be replaced, maybe a few more too, ones around the offices

 

Trying to get rid of all the old computers, and with the new ones, install Windows 7

Old ones are like Single core P4, DDR Ram and non compatiable Areo Graphics Cards

 

 

So anyone got any ideas has to what we should buy and where from?

Eithier build our own of buy them, should not come with a screen, all our screens are 15inch LCD, would like better and bigger ones with a better res (Only have 1024x768 res atm), but there are just no space for bigger ones, so not worth getting new ones until we have more space

 

Dread to think how much at the min 130 computers would cost, im dreading asking the boss to do this

[tmcd35]

Do you have to replace all 130 at once? How about replace some and using the RAM from the ones you replace to upgrade some of those you keep this year?

 

Dread to think how much at the min 130 computers would cost, im dreading asking the boss to do this

 

Also, if you are on a tight budget, nComputing/SoftXpand/Multipoint Server are good solutions to research into. I can shave £4k off a refurb using SoftXpand instead of buying individual desktops.

 

You could also be creative with the specs. Do you need Dual Core, 4Gb, Win 7 in the library - or would Atom, 1Gb, Linux boxes work just as well?

 

We have four ICT suites here. The first thing I did when I arrives was introduce a four year rotating replacement cycle for both the suites and the teachers laptops. The rest of the school gets the left-over hand-me-downs from these replacement cycles, or the departments put their hands in their pockets.

 

When I replaced the first lot of machines I used the RAM from them to boost another suite to keep it going until next summers upgrades.

[pritchardavid]

Do you have to replace all 130 at once? How about replace some and using the RAM from the ones you replace to upgrade some of those you keep this year?

 

Want to replace them all at once really, if this is done, I can get Windows 7 installed nearly all around the school, would need to do this because teacher and maybe some students will get confussed using two different operating systems, so would be easier just using Windows 7 all around the school, makes it easier to manage the polices too

 

Also, if you are on a tight budget, nComputing/SoftXpand/Multipoint Server are good solutions to research into. I can shave £4k off a refurb using SoftXpand instead of buying individual desktops.

 

We have a citrix server we could use, but to be honest I would much prefere normal computers. Not sure what the budget is, think its a fair amount, our school is specialiest in ICT & Maths, hense another reason we kinda need to upgrade to this

 

You could also be creative with the specs. Do you need Dual Core, 4Gb, Win 7 in the library - or would Atom, 1Gb, Linux boxes work just as well?

 

NO NOT LINUX (IM A HATER) Doubt we really need 4GB, 2GB would do, but then again, they sell for about £50, be better to have 4GB now, instead of having to upgrade them in for example 2 years. Want dual core really, they are pretty cheap now days, so not worth getting a single. Dont like those Intel atoms, think they are too slow, problery a downgrade to what we have now, we have a ECDL suite (Still an actually using it for the ECDL lessons yet for some reason) I would have totally told them not to get atom, but the boss ordered it without asking us!

 

We have four ICT suites here. The first thing I did when I arrives was introduce a four year rotating replacement cycle for both the suites and the teachers laptops. The rest of the school gets the left-over hand-me-downs from these replacement cycles, or the departments put their hands in their pockets.

 

When I replaced the first lot of machines I used the RAM from them to boost another suite to keep it going until next summers upgrades.

 

Yer good idea about the ram, but our computer that we need to replace really is only 512MB DDR1, so even with using ram from one suite, we will only get 1GB, need 2GB really for Windows to run really good, plus the graphics card will not support the areo

 

 

So what sort of hardware spec you think would be good?

 

Quad or Dual Core Processor?

2GB or 4GB RAM?

7200RPM Sata Hard Drive or 32GB SSD

[Sylv3r]

Servers = every 4 years

 

Desktops = every 3 years

Replacing 200 - 250 each year - some are good enough to be moved in less busy locations. We currently have just over 900 on site.

 

Laptops = never

Staff all got laptops as part of the LfT scheme - since then we don't replace them. LMT do however get a new laptop every 3 years.

 

Projectors = as and when necessary

 

IWB's = never had to replace any Promeathean boards up to now (45 on site)

 

Printers = Every 4 years in suites and retired into low key areas of the school or when required.