Netbook or a cheap Compaq for students?

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Re: Netbook or cheap Compaq: The problem I see (at least in my organization) it is never 1:1. Sometimes I wish we could get away with a netbook or using some of our older desktop hardware for lighter 1:1 usage. We bought a small cart of Netbooks for our special services department because they said all they wanted was something the kids could browse the net on and type on. So I loaded them with Ubuntu and OpenOffice and instantly got complaints that they wanted Windows and MS Office because they claimed they needed it to be just like a computer in the lab. So we compromised and installed Windows Home which the Netbooks came with and Office 2007 STD. Then they wanted to be able to log into the domain which required pro and they also wanted a complete list of programs added to the netbook to be more like the computer labs. It never ends. Long story short the teachers rejected the netbooks with a long list of complaints and pretty much demanded full feature laptops.

The same goes when we tried to use some older computers for a lite application called CyberEd. We put a bunch of these computers in our science class rooms and were told CyberED is the ONLY thing they will be used for. Well that was not the case and they wanted the computers to be full featured just like the labs and so on. Maybe this is just my district but from my experience with working with Schools in my area and talking with Tech staff from schools around the country that does not seem to be the case.

While I think the ultra-portability of netbook is nice I do think the small keyboard and screen are not beneficial. Also it has been my experience that the educational discount on a netbook is practically nothing and we can get a full featured laptop for $50 more in some cases.

Just my opinion based on my experiences working in education IT for the last 8 years.; Posted by: bobiroc Posted on: 10/13/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use