New Equipment

[hakko]

I'd be wary of anything small and "stealable".

 

I'd go for mini-towers. Won't get as hot, and easy to upgrade yourself as everything's not so tightly packed, easy to get spare parts, PSU etc.

 

Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM (2x2GB), 80GB HD.

[Edu-IT]

Don't touch those 'cute' things with a barge pole!

 

Are there brackets I could get?

Brackets for?

[witch]

brackets to slot in a PC to make it look neater? I dont know - I'm confused!!!

[john]

brackets to slot in a PC to make it look neater? I dont know - I'm confused!!!

You mean the brackets / HP USFF Monitor and Base Unit stands by that I'd think. Someone on here has rooms full of either Dell or HP USFFs with the 17 or 19" TFTs on the front with the USFFs strapped to the back, but I cannot remember who it is for the life in me

[torledo]

The HT just likes the look of all in ones and is thinking of space - but we arent too bad so I would like to turn him off that idea.

 

why do you want to turn him off the idea of an all-in-one ? I've not heard a compelling argument to forgo a quality all-in-one with some sort of warranty in favour of what is likely to be a far more inelegant solution of a USFF PC piggy backed onto a monitor. eughhh.. Such configurations cost extra aswell don't they so while there will likely still be cost savings, there can't be a huge gap in price.

[chrbb]

if you've already got flat screens why not persuade the Ht to go for 'bog' standard mini towers. Parts are easy to obtain and replace. What are you replacing? If your desks aren't very deep you'll lose some depth with an all in one, also with separate monitors pupils have the option of moving it closer to them if they need to. Go for a reason that's practical not ITish. Edited March 9, 2010 by chrbb

[glennda]

 

*edit: boss has just come to me and said that another HT has got these: Mesh Cute - Small Form Factor PC Review - PC Reviews - TrustedReviews

 

Anyone any experience of them?

 

i have something that looks pretty similar in the form of shuttles nice and small and compact but after a while the performance of the machines is not great and they tend to get rather warm!

 

as for hakko's suggestion of Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM (2x2GB), 80GB HD. i think the ram is a bit overkill as you only do primary don't you witch? i would only suggest more then 2gb ram if you use software such as the adobe cs3/cs4 suite which i doub't 10 year olds can manage to use. but defo dual core just for future proofing and maybe a 150gb hard disk just to be on the safe side.

[witch]

Thanks

I have another question: we are going for a Ruckus wireless 'n' solution. This will obviously be fine for the new netbooks and the newer laptops but what about the old Dell Latitude D505s, HP Compaq 7400s, Thinkpad T60s etc. Can they use wireless 'n' and if not is there anything I can do about it?

[Tricky_Dicky]

The 'n' wireless solution is backwards compatible with b/g so all of your old equipment will work fine it just means that the newer stuff can take full advantage of the extra range and speed.

Rich

[witch]

Thanks - panic over

It's all too much

[featured_spectre]

hopefully our phone call cleared up some bits yesterday too

[witch]

It did, it did

But today, having casually asked me to look into costings for the new year, the head came to me and said:

'Got any prices yet? I need to set the budget TODAY!'

 

Arrggghhhhhhh! Why didnt he ask me last week?

Luckily, being me, and with not much else on ATM, I did get on to it yesterday and have had one quote back already, so at least I could give him a ballpark figure

[p858snake]

brackets to slot in a PC to make it look neater? I dont know - I'm confused!!!

For the back of the monitors or to put towers under the desks and such?

[RTi]

Re: All-in-One's ...

 

The two that I have used are Ergo AS1 and Dell Vostro 320 AIO ... The Dell is *much* cheaper and uses desktop components (no power brick).. and it looks nicer I think.. BUT it doesnt have a VGA out .. so cant use it to connect to a Projector.. (unless you use a USB2VGA Adapter, but these arent that good) The AS1 uses laptop technology.. but does have a VGA out..

 

my choice would be the Dell...

[Alis_Klar]

Did you mean Samsung Netbooks rather than Sanyo Witch?

 

As for kit, for all in ones is it not worth perhaps going for the HP and Dell style where the base units bolt onto the back of the TFTs so you can keep swapping the base units over the whole things (thinking green and econess here myself)

 

Personally I just got for HP SFF PCs for my main areas and then normal mini-towers for specific areas such as my Media Editing rooms.

 

You say cases for your netbooks, someone at Bett had a really good moulded solution for them that was like a big suitcase on wheels that was also for charging but I've forgot the name of the firm again I may have the brochure in my bag at work though.

 

You mean the mPOD http://www.bretforduk.com/item.asp?iID=346

Edited April 29, 2010 by Alis_Klar

[Ex-MGSTech]

Our HP7900s seem to be holding up well.

 

Another vote for the HP 7900 we have the USDT ones with the builtr on screen (19"W)

[witch]

The netbooks are an ongoing issue - the Ruckus is due to arrive in early May (and of course I have to set it up) and then the boss will be panting for things to hang off it.

So....keep telling me about netbooks.

I like the Samsungs and the Dells ATM

[featured_spectre]

After a lengthy (and ongoing) legal battle with Acer, and having trialled Samsungs, Toshiba's and Dells (aswell as HP etc), I have to say that Samsungs are by far the best ones to go for in my opinion. With Windows 7 Professional (which is what I installed on each), it just worked, flawlessly. I cannot fault them.

[chrbb]

@witch what computers did you end up getting? Just been asked to get quotes - my favourite occupation NOT

[witch]

@witch what computers did you end up getting? Just been asked to get quotes - my favourite occupation NOT

 

We still havent!!!!. That school has decided that the wireless plus some sort of netbook - probably samsung will be enough for this year. BUT my other school is now being given the go ahead for a new suite of kit and I am awaiting quotes from a local co which will be unbranded, and then Simon at CP. I have asked for your basic dual core reasonable speed, 3 or 4 gb ram, hard disk size not an issue (all on network), smaillish tower or desktop. My heart yearns for Dells but I don't know if we can afford them. Whatever they are, they will have a three year guarantee!

I'll keep you posted

[glennda]

We still havent!!!!. That school has decided that the wireless plus some sort of netbook - probably samsung will be enough for this year. BUT my other school is now being given the go ahead for a new suite of kit and I am awaiting quotes from a local co which will be unbranded, and then Simon at CP. I have asked for your basic dual core reasonable speed, 3 or 4 gb ram, hard disk size not an issue (all on network), smaillish tower or desktop. My heart yearns for Dells but I don't know if we can afford them. Whatever they are, they will have a three year guarantee!

I'll keep you posted

 

in the end we got i3 dual core ht 4gb ram 160gb hdd's from stone for under £300 but we did buy 240!