localzuk

So, from my understanding then, the volume licensed edition of Office Pro LTSC 2021 are licensed with a KMS key like it always has, so the user/shared computer licensing shouldn't matter? They're only for the 365 continuous install model? You just have to contact MS to get them to add a key to your account I think?

EES has device based licensing - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/device-based-licensing. The machines have their own license each, so it doesn't use a user's license. You are eligible for EES if you're over 100 EQU's, as there's a scheme that allows it now. Speak to Phoenix or Pugh software and they can tell you about it.

We got quotes recently, and the Acer TravelMate P2 and Probook 440 G8 come in at the tail end of your price. We got the quotes via the CPC portal.

Indeed, this is the method I've switched to here.

Shifting to 1:1 Chromebooks requires a root and branch rethink of how you use IT in your school. Simply trying to use existing technologies on an entirely different platform is doomed to failure - you are just going to take working technologies and make them work worse on a platform they're not intended for. We have issued Chromebooks 1:1 in our 2 middle schools - Y5-Y8. Our plan is not to entirely remove Windows suites from the schools though, we have left in place enough IT suite provision to handle curriculum computing lessons - so they can use things like Kodu and other more chunky apps. The Chromebooks get used everywhere else. So, I'd start at the very beginning personally - what is your school trying to teach. Is it possible to teach it on purely web based technologies right now? And work from there.

Facilities/Estates must have access to all areas of the site in my experience - there's a multitude of reasons why. Fire safety is just one of them. At every school I've worked in, they've had master key access to every room and I can't see an issue with this. Like our jobs are high trust positions, there's are too.

Running ethernet is far easier than running coax in my experience.

Consider also the likelihood of new cameras being added, and the cost of running coax, and moving that coax should your requirements change. Compared with structured cabling.

I think I expressed myself on this topic previously. Not a fan of companies suing groups of schools when they lose a contract. It may be legitimate, but it will definitely leave a bad taste in the mouths of people deciding in future.

Sorry, are you asking if the pricing includes details for migration costs? From what I've seen, yes, it does.

There's a process outlined in the documentation. You use the marketplace search engine to make a long list, then from that make a shortlist. You aren't sending tenders or procurement invites at all. Prices are listed on each supplier's page, and you use that pricing. You aren't allowed to do a request for quote or tender exercise under G Cloud 12.

I think one thing that MATs need to remember - if the total value of a contract is over a certain amount, their hands are tied regarding having to run a procurement exercise. You can't just "oh we don't want to" about it.

Only problem with that is, all schools are due inspections. Being inspected shouldn't stop you dealing with your financial obligations regarding contracting/tendering...

To anyone looking at G Cloud - be very careful with how you do it. Make sure you read the accompanying documentation on how to use G Cloud 12 - ie. you are not allowed to run mini competitions, ask for quotes/special pricing etc... The prices listed are the prices applicable. You can ask for clarifications and demos, but you must be fair to all suppliers you long and short list etc...

Server updated to 1.9.0

Gotta say, its a bold move. Buy a company with a customer-base which is using an already legacy system. Scrap the new product they've been working on for a decade, then tell everyone that the future means they're locked in to that legacy system for 3 years, pending hopeful releases of new modules that will be cloud based at some point in the future. Whilst expecting those customers to just say "oh, ok"... Not "what on Earth are you thinking?"...

SIMS already have a part cloud setup with Teacher App. So, I think people may be overthinking that aspect of it - the hybrid setup is already proven tech.

Well, this isn't really true is it? ESS is owned by Tiger UK Bidco Ltd which was set up by Montagu Private Equity specifically to buy ESS. It was then made part of ParentPay group via a circuitous route of companies Tiger UK Midco Ltd, Pp Newco 2 Ltd, Parentpay Newco Ltd, and Parentpay (Holdings) Ltd, with at least one of Montagu's directors being a director of ParentPay group. Also, my lord what a mess of nested companies.

There seems to be some confusion in this thread about access to KMS keys and the like. We moved from OVS to EES, with A3 licenses. We still have KMS keys, access to VLSC and access to ISOs? It may be different if you're looking at CSP though. But I think this is due to everyone needing to be careful about which scheme you're referring to exactly. A3 licenses are not a licensing scheme in themselves, they are a license. They are then bought through OVS-ES, EES, CSP etc...

They own Arbor and ScholarPack.

Its possible for suppliers, yes (we even managed to get 1 supplier to add a 5 year old order on for some devices we inherited when we took on a school in the MAT). Whether they will or not is a different matter entirely...

The only other ways are to go back to the supplier to ask them to retroactively add the devices at their end (though you need their ADP ID to add to your account to let them, and they need your ADP ID to do it too), or if you know the supplier's ADP number and the Apple order number you can add it your end.

It seems to be really common, there's dozens of posts around the net about this issue, but I've yet to find anything conclusive.

You can add them to DEP/ADP via Configurator 2.

Oh, I mean the banner ads.