MPs to get free iPads at taxpayer's expense

[flyinghaggis]

MPs to get free iPads at taxpayer's expense - Telegraph

 

Not sure what to make of this! I guess in some ways it's more secure than giving them laptops though.

 

All they need to add now is an expenses App

Edited May 2, 2012 by flyinghaggis

[LeMarchand]

I have one thing to say:

[Flatpackhamster]

Thieving scum. The bloody EU parliament did exactly the same thing. "Ooooh, a shinie, I want it and taxpayers should pay for it!"

[teejay]

It's actually a more cost effective solution than the chopping down half a rainforest paper based solution they had before, so I've no problem with this. I do have a problem with their subsidised bars which mean they turn up to vote so p:censored:d that they can't remember where to go to vote!

[zag]

I think its a great idea personally.

 

I don't subscribe to this "mps don't deserve anything" view. I think they should be given the tools to get on with their jobs.

 

EDIT: I just read the entire article and its highly misleading. It actually says they will be given the option to have an iPad instead of their current laptops. Its the same policy as we have in school. iPads are actually cheaper than new laptops.

Edited May 2, 2012 by zag

[reggiep]

Some teachers have them in our school. Not sure if they should be classed as scum?

[AngryTechnician]

Related to the subsidised bars point, I remember reading in the paper at break today that in future, Commons bar staff "will be encouraged to stop serving anyone who has had too much to drink".

 

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I worked in a pub many years ago, and I'm pretty sure that under the Licensing Act it's illegal for bar staff to serve someone who is already drunk, and I was backed up 100% by the landlord if I refused. So why exactly are Commons staff only now being told to actually follow this law?

 

I don't have a problem with them having iPads if they actually use them for their work. But the minute we get a still from BBC Parliament of someone playing Angry Birds in the chamber, or watching pr0n, I want them beaten to death with it.

Edited May 2, 2012 by AngryTechnician

[teejay]

You're absolutely right @AngryTechnician, unfortunately a lot of laws don't apply in the House of Commons bars, such as the smoking ban and iirc some of the licencing laws. It really is one rule for us, one for them.

[LeMarchand]

It's actually a more cost effective solution than the chopping down half a rainforest paper based solution they had before, so I've no problem with this.

 

Hmmm, so you think that a) this was the (real) thinking behind it and b) they won't be getting all those print outs?

 

 

I think its a great idea personally.

 

I don't subscribe to this "mps don't deserve anything" view. I think they should be given the tools to get on with their jobs.

 

EDIT: I just read the entire article and its highly misleading. It actually says they will be given the option to have an iPad instead of their current laptops. Its the same policy as we have in school. iPads are actually cheaper than new laptops.

 

When the MPs/teachers find that typing etc isn't so easy on their iPads they will no doubt have a laptop funded as well.

[mthomas08]

Hmmm, so you think that a) this was the (real) thinking behind it and b) they won't be getting all those print outs?

 

When the MPs/teachers find that typing etc isn't so easy on their iPads they will no doubt have a laptop funded as well.

And this is why i have an issue with them, they will still want print outs and they will still resort to a laptop - I bet.

 

And lets not forget - we are still in a country that is suffering from the financial crises let alone Unemployment issues.

 

Nevermind though as long as people get their fancy toys?

Edited May 2, 2012 by mthomas08

[LeMarchand]

Some teachers have them in our school. Not sure if they should be classed as scum?

 

Maybe scum is a bit harsh, but I'm certainly not impressed by those staff members (most of whom are on double my wage) that have managed to get the school to finance their toys when staff hours are being cut and it's hard to get books bought.

[zag]

We have iPads in school now and they have been a great success so far. Really impressive to see what teachers have done with them. Its the future for sure.

 

As for a keyboard, there are some brilliant bluetooth keyboards these days for the ipad.

 

Kickstarter project aims to turn iPad into MacBook Air | iPad Atlas - CNET Reviews

[penfold_99]

Related to the subsidised bars point, I remember reading in the paper at break today that in future, Commons bar staff "will be encouraged to stop serving anyone who has had too much to drink".

 

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I worked in a pub many years ago, and I'm pretty sure that under the Licensing Act it's illegal for bar staff to serve someone who is already drunk, and I was backed up 100% by the landlord if I refused. So why exactly are Commons staff only now being told to actually follow this law?

 

I don't have a problem with them having iPads if they actually use them for their work. But the minute we get a still from BBC Parliament of someone playing Angry Birds in the chamber, or watching pr0n, I want them beaten to death with it.

 

You're absolutely right @AngryTechnician, unfortunately a lot of laws don't apply in the House of Commons bars, such as the smoking ban and iirc some of the licencing laws. It really is one rule for us, one for them.

 

They are exempt as they are technically in the palace of westminister, all royal palaces are exempt from most legislation along with embassies.

[LeMarchand]

They are exempt as they are technically in the palace of westminister, all royal palaces are exempt from most legislation along with embassies.

 

So if the law does not apply there does it mean that someone could walk in, take out the trash and not be considered a murderer?

 

To any monitoring agencies: I am not suggesting that anyone should do this, merely wondering what the legal stance would be if it happened.

[Flatpackhamster]

It's actually a more cost effective solution than the chopping down half a rainforest paper based solution they had before, so I've no problem with this. I do have a problem with their subsidised bars which mean they turn up to vote so p:censored:d that they can't remember where to go to vote!

 

This isn't going to affect the amount that's printed. Nor are MPs going to use them to work on. It's a pisstake is what it is.

[CAM]

So if the law does not apply there does it mean that someone could walk in, take out the trash and not be considered a murderer?

 

To any monitoring agencies: I am not suggesting that anyone should do this, merely wondering what the legal stance would be if it happened.

 

I think the key word is most legislation.

[GrumbleDook]

So what are people angry at? That MPs are getting new tech such as tablets to replace existing tech or that money is being spent on iPads?

 

Consider the scenario that MPs might already be using tablets but they are funded personally and purchased via the high street at full price and then claimed back? They use tech as part of their job so why not? Surely the tech should be procured in the most cost effective way if it is going to be purchased anyway?

 

And then consider whether these devices are going to have a bit more control over them than some attempt at BYOD by MPs? I would rather see Govt IT having some oversight of the config of these than a half-baked setup with no consideration for data protection.

 

Perhaps we might even be able to see the remit behind it all, the processes and how MPs are expected to use the tech and then translate it to how staff can use it in schools?

 

I know from chatting with a number of folk in the office (who are not geeks) that tablets make a significant difference to how people work especially compared to using laptops and lots of paper.

 

Just a few thoughts.

[Flatpackhamster]

So what are people angry at? That MPs are getting new tech such as tablets to replace existing tech or that money is being spent on iPads?

 

Consider the scenario that MPs might already be using tablets but they are funded personally and purchased via the high street at full price and then claimed back? They use tech as part of their job so why not? Surely the tech should be procured in the most cost effective way if it is going to be purchased anyway?

 

And then consider whether these devices are going to have a bit more control over them than some attempt at BYOD by MPs? I would rather see Govt IT having some oversight of the config of these than a half-baked setup with no consideration for data protection.

 

Perhaps we might even be able to see the remit behind it all, the processes and how MPs are expected to use the tech and then translate it to how staff can use it in schools?

 

I know from chatting with a number of folk in the office (who are not geeks) that tablets make a significant difference to how people work especially compared to using laptops and lots of paper.

 

Just a few thoughts.

 

 

What I'm angry about is that MPs can already claim for an IT allowance. Their IT equipment is already supplied and if they somehow urgently need an iPad there's a budget for it. There's already a parliamentary network and there's a parliamentary IT support team (who are no doubt going to be thrilled with this).

 

No, this is the same 'Oooh, shiny, make the taxpayer pay for it' that the EU parliament did. It's IT-illiterate twits deciding they want a free shiny and thinking they can pretend it's for 'work purposes'. Yeah right, just like that duck house was.

[CAM]

But how do you know the iPads were bought on a whim and not pre-planned? I don't see any mention of them "suddenly" being demanded by MPs, for all we know they could have been procured months in advance.

 

And we have to remember, the slate market hasn't been in the public's mind very long. It is a strange product in that consumers view it as a fad and a luxury item whilst businesses have a work purpose for it that you wouldn't know about until you use one.

[CyberNerd]

It could even lead to a saving if encouraged them ditching their reliance on traditional apps

 

Interior Selects Google Apps for Government for Cloud Email and Collaboration Services

[Heebeejeebee]

Knowing recent government contracts I bet they end up paying £34,000 for each iPad, never take delivery and pay a middle man 20 million for brokering the deal.

 

HBJB

[GrumbleDook]

It is so funny to see the whole "tablets are new and are just a fad", when they are neither new nor a fad. Businesses have been using tablets for years, usually in niche markets where it fits the right processes. They have been used in education around the globe already in Spain, US, Canada and yes ... the UK. Even if you go back to the XO-1 design for OLPC the ideal of using it as a tablet is there. The clever folk are looking at the mistakes and successes in those areas to see where it can be done better this time round. The key thing is to use them where appropriate. If an MP can do what they need to do on a tablet and can swap their existing laptop to move over to it then surely that is a good thing?

 

As for iPads ... well, Android tablets are not quite there corporately yet and Windows 8 is not out. Go back to XP Tablet edition? (Actually, not too bad an idea to be honest ... )

[CyberNerd]

 

As for iPads ... well, Android tablets are not quite there corporately yet and Windows 8 is not out. Go back to XP Tablet edition? (Actually, not too bad an idea to be honest ... )

 

Android seems leaps and bounds ahead from a management perspective from what I've seen, either from apps such as those supplied by Toshiba or by policies enforced by administrators.

[GrumbleDook]

Android seems leaps and bounds ahead from a management perspective from what I've seen, either from apps such as those supplied by Toshiba or by policies enforced by administrators.

 

Most of the MDM providers I have spoken to over the last 3 months are shuddering about Android devices. 2.2 became more management friendly but the main objection which has been pointed out to me is the fragmentation of the OS versions with worries about the length of support and patches on particular hardware (pretty sure there was a thread mentioning that previously too but my EG search-fu is lacking tonight).

 

Most still seemed to prefer Blackberry and Windows Mobile on the phones, but they are still trying to look at the models by which they traditionally locked things ... whereas the consumer drive (rightly or wrongly) is forcing a rethink to consider what is locked and what is a bit more flexible to give *some* personal use.

[CyberNerd]

Most of the MDM providers I have spoken to over the last 3 months are shuddering about Android devices. 2.2 became more management friendly but the main objection which has been pointed out to me is the fragmentation of the OS versions with worries about the length of support and patches on particular hardware

 

It is true that Android is designed to be hackable and as usual, with all hackable devices, it is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

The same was said by the major vendors about Linux servers, which now make up the majority of mainframes and a good 20% of business systems.

The remote management tools do ensure passwords security, device encryption, block cameras, remote wipe, automatic lock etc.