edutech4schools

This is how we do it.

Rather than creating a new pros / cons list for the Surface Pro, I have added some info to the Windows 8 section. If I get a few more differences I will create a seperate list.

You are correct but none of my primary schools will be using heavy software like Photoshop but I will update my top post to reflect the choice.

If it was down to me I would be getting Windows 8.1 as everything is in place for them to work, but I have decided to let the schools decide the course they take.

Only the full OS not the RT

I would like to create a pros / cons list that will help me decide a product type for each of my primary schools, taking in to account the fact they have limited funding and already have a MS servers and system in place. This is not a bashing post so please keep information on topic and to the point as I do not want this post to get locked. Anyway, I have made a start and pulled some info from other posts. I will edit and add to this top post any relevant info I find in the following posts. I also understand that this is a subjective subject (As you will see I am not an Apple fan but willing to be enlightened), what I might love someone else will hate but between the mighty herd of edugeekers I am sure we could come up with a handy list that is not too biased. iPads Pros Lots of Apps (1 Million apps) ?????? Cons -Expensive (£400 - £500) although the iPad Mini starts from £250. -Not very upgradable from a hardware angle. -Non user replaceable battery -Almost impossible to fully lock down and secure. I know of some schools via a forum on edugeek that they are having to fully re-install the I-Pad at the end of every day due to children messing with the settings. -Probably requires other systems to work properly in a school environment such as an Apple server or Mac Book. -Designed for single user usage (Pupils can’t log in as themselves) -Only has single Profile -Not Easily integrated with current systems or software -More people are buying and using Android for example, 65% of all tablets expected to ship in 2014 will be Android, 30% will be I-Pads and for the phone OS (which is important) By the end of this current year, 798 million of them will run Android, 294 million will run Apple’s iOS (Canalys: Half Of All PCs Shipped in 2014 Will Be Tablets; Android 65%, Apple 30% | TechCrunch) MS Windows 8.1 Pro (I was thinking of something like the ASUS Transformer Book T100, which is cheap £350 and both a laptop and a tablet) ASUS Transformer Book T100 Convertible Notebook Tablet, Specs & More. If the ASUS is not powerful enough something like the Surface Pro would be a good choice but you will need to factor in the extra cost. Pros -Best of both Worlds, can be used as a tablet or can be used as a laptop -Compatibility – Will work with all current software purchased in the school including Sims and Smartboard software. -Depending on the make memory can be upgraded. -Very secure -Works with existing network including printers -(Not a shared user profile) Each user logs in and get their own profile, software, network drives, and security. -Windows is used in the workplace -Although the Windows App store is new and small you still have access to all the normal windows software which I would imagine is too many to count and way more than I-pad or Android have. -Works with current Office software -Very easy to manage MS devises on the network. -No additional hardware or software will be required to run this type of system in the school. -No additional time will be required to add users as they are already setup Cons Windows 8.1 standard Pros ??????? Cons ??????? Windows RT Pros Has ability to have multiple users, but does not give you the ability to log in "as yourself" on them Cons Has ability to have multiple users, but does not give you the ability to log in "as yourself" on them Android Pros -Lots of apps (1 Million apps) -Depending on the make memory can be upgraded -OS software is very customizable (You can choose to have icons or widgets on the desktops etc or completely change the look and feel of the device, You can even make an android device look like an I-Pad) -Integrates with Google Apps for Education -Has ability to have multiple users, but don't give you the ability to log in "as yourself" on them Cons -Almost impossible to fully lock down and secure. -Has ability to have multiple users, but don't give you the ability to log in "as yourself" on them -Not Easily integrated with current systems or software LearnPad - LearnPad - The Tablet Computer Designed for Education Pros -Has its own Educational App store in addition to the Android app store - Store - LearnPad -Different user profiles. Users can log in and get a different desktop profile and apps. For example you can login as a senco and get a nice senco orientated device. SEN Profile - Store - LearnPad -Can connect to a users home drive -Very secure can be locked down to prevent access to settings. -Can be set up to change profile and apps simply by scanning a bar code (Pupils love this) -Entire sets of tablets can be controlled by the teacher from a very easy web system. You can also display a single tablet display on the smartboard to help a pupil or show the class something someone is doing. Cons ????

Wow that's going back a few years. All my schools now have 2 physical servers, one of which is running hyper v with 3 virtual server one of these is a second DC, another runs remote desktop server and one wsus etc.

Do you work for MS as that is not the case. Rather than pushing what you or I thought was the best option I signed all my schools up to Office 356 and Google Apps for Education and gave them the choice. None went with Office 365. So as you can see you do need to use you brain a bit. Sorry for the sarc but it is 7am and I have been at work for 2 hours.

Probably a great company but the constant sales calls I got a few years ago after calling them about a product I was interested in was enough to stop me calling them back.

I found Sims was way too expensive when looking at going direct to capita.

Anyway why can the Dr not go back in time and stop the daleks ever coming in to existence? seems like a better option than using a weapon that will kill both sides.

Well I thought that as we are going on so much about the Mail (spit) in this (is it thread or post) that I would post a link I had seen on edugeek a while back as it seemed to fit the situation and just in case you had missed it. Maybe I should have just linked to the original post but I already had the website link in my favs, so that was easier for me.

I will re post this from another forum. How Much Are You Hated By The Daily Mail? - by UsVsTh3m

Just noticed this and thought I would pass it on. Protecting Your Data: Grading the Major Websites - Tom's Guide

200mins 200 txts 2gb data + I also want a good phone and currently the Nexus 5 on contact is £25 pm.

I would so laugh if it turns out one of the schools neighbouring houses has an open wireless unit and the school laptops are jumping on to that and you have just changed the password on it.

Or you can buy a sim free phone and ask for a much cheaper contract. I pay £5 pm for my contract.

I would try out both Office 365 and Google Apps for Education and see which you like. Both can have emails that do not leave a domain etc.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

No, but in my case it will be a few years before the primary get another batch of computers.

thats the one. Its been a loooong day.

Post edited Same as me. I had a few machines to do at a primary and did not have the need to setup wds on the server at this school. I was going to use gimagex when someone on this site pointed me to Clonezilla. Both work in a situation like this although Clonezilla give you an iso to pop on a disk or use the usb tool and it is done and ready to image in 2 mins. remember to run sysprep before you take the image. In its most basic form it will give each computer a unique SID key which is needed to join a server, although I a few schools that just join the laptops to the domain with the same sids but I am sure it will cause you an issue down the line.

If the la need you to do something as a requirement should they not be setting this up and paying for it. Our LA gives all the schools access to an email encrypting service as it is something they have asked for.

Had a load of network crashes and a lot of head scratching until I found the cause was a HP black and white laser printer. When removed from network all worked fine.

just found this in my notes Login to your old Easymail Click ‘Options’ Click ‘Contacts’ Click ‘Export Contacts’ which should download a file to your computer.