Chrome books at primary school?...

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Chrome books at primary school?...

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#191630 10-Feb-2016 23:45

Daughter has just started 4th year of primary school, and chrome books are on the stationary list.

Whilst we were told there were ample school supplied chrome books available, in practice there doesn't appear to be enough to go around. Those with their own are definitely at an advantage here, not having to share and 'buddy up'

Quite annoying as we saw some great Amazon specials come and go leading up to Christmas.

Anyhow, what do people recommend for this level? I know nothing about these devices and there seem to be many option levels available now. Interesting how these look to be competing very strongly with Apple devices in schools nowadays.

May place an ad in the wanted section also, as new is not critical in my view right now...

Thanks.

1 | 2 | 3

1634 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1041

#1490045 10-Feb-2016 23:50

Im no Chromebook aficionado! I have a child in primary school though. Whilst he's not at the age/level where they require their own devices in the classroom I have noticed that the school does often arrange specials with the local Noel Leeming. So have a chat to your school to see if that is the case there.

Edit: I see you can now get the Chrome Pixel through Google direct in NZ https://store.google.com/product/pixel_c

JayADee

2233 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 478

#1490062 11-Feb-2016 06:47

Quote: 'Interesting how these look to be competing very strongly with Apple devices in schools nowadays.'

They're a lot cheaper. A lot!

reven

3748 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

#1490064 11-Feb-2016 06:53

i picked up one at dicksmith for $200 before xmas, they had another one (similar specs but candy blue) for $180 as well. Not sure what dicksmiths going out of business sale is like now, but I would check there (and trademe).

michaelmurfy

meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1490065 11-Feb-2016 06:55

The standard Noel Leeming BYOD bundle will be plenty Here.

You could also order a Chromebook from Amazon for around $250 (cheaper one) however if you stick to the BYOD bundles both Noels and Warehouse Stationary have you won't run into any problems.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

reven

3748 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

#1490066 11-Feb-2016 06:56

michaelmurfy: The standard Noel Leeming BYOD bundle will be plenty Here.

You could also order a Chromebook from Amazon for around $250 (cheaper one) however if you stick to the BYOD bundles both Noels and Warehouse Stationary have you won't run into any problems.

thats the one dicksmith had for $180 :) I would shop around, $400 is a lot more than you need to pay for it IMO.

tripp

3848 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1220

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1490068 11-Feb-2016 06:59

nzkc:

Im no Chromebook aficionado! I have a child in primary school though. Whilst he's not at the age/level where they require their own devices in the classroom I have noticed that the school does often arrange specials with the local Noel Leeming. So have a chat to your school to see if that is the case there.

Edit: I see you can now get the Chrome Pixel through Google direct in NZ https://store.google.com/product/pixel_c

That would be android not the chrome OS.

Let's face it kids break things or things get stolen from school, best just to get a cheap one.

Looking on price spy it seems that pbtech has the cheapest ones around (from a retail store).

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NBKLEN67280&name=Lenovo-ThinkPad-11E-Chromebook--11.6-Intel-Celeron

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NBKHNB3012954&qr=pspy&ref=pricespy

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

tripp

3848 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1220

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1490070 11-Feb-2016 07:01

reven:

michaelmurfy: The standard Noel Leeming BYOD bundle will be plenty Here.

You could also order a Chromebook from Amazon for around $250 (cheaper one) however if you stick to the BYOD bundles both Noels and Warehouse Stationary have you won't run into any problems.

thats the one dicksmith had for $180 :) I would shop around, $400 is a lot more than you need to pay for it IMO.

Just had a look on DSE website and they show a buy now button but then the next page is empty of any products :(

At this stage I would keep away from DSE until we know what is happening.

reven

3748 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

#1490073 11-Feb-2016 07:11

tripp:

reven:

michaelmurfy: The standard Noel Leeming BYOD bundle will be plenty Here.

You could also order a Chromebook from Amazon for around $250 (cheaper one) however if you stick to the BYOD bundles both Noels and Warehouse Stationary have you won't run into any problems.

thats the one dicksmith had for $180 :) I would shop around, $400 is a lot more than you need to pay for it IMO.

Just had a look on DSE website and they show a buy now button but then the next page is empty of any products :(

At this stage I would keep away from DSE until we know what is happening.

I wouldnt buy from their website, no way. But to save 50%/$200 I would buy a chromebook from in store. similar to buying off trademe, just brand new instead of second hand. kids break/lose things all the time, I'd be nervous of my 7-8 year old taking a chromebook to school (which he will be doing next year, they also start at year 4 at his school)

michaelmurfy

meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1490075 11-Feb-2016 07:18

That Lenovo one on PriceSpy is quite good. If you're a BigPipe customer (or know where to find the pb affiliate code from bigpipes FAQ page) you can get it for $335.80incl.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1490085 11-Feb-2016 07:30

reven:
i picked up one at dicksmith for $200 before xmas, they had another one (similar specs but candy blue) for $180 as well. Not sure what dicksmiths going out of business sale is like now, but I would check there (and trademe).

Yeah that's the sort of price I saw from Amazon too etc over Christmas. Didn't think I'd need one at that time though.

I may yet send her along with an old MacBook Pro we have, as everything they do at school is browser based anyway.
Or sell that for a chrome book.

Does one setup a google account for the child?
Not sure I'd like one linked to our accounts and being sent to school?!

reven

3748 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 874

Trusted

#1490088 11-Feb-2016 07:34

im pretty sure the school will provide them with a google account, theres a google for school thing my brothers school uses (hes a teacher). however I'd rather create a child account for my son and get him to use that, just not sure if the school will allow that (they might need their account so teachers have easy access to work etc)

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Dynamic

4015 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1851

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1490096 11-Feb-2016 07:56

A Chromebook is just a low powered laptop with very good battery life that ONLY runs the Chrome browser. I really like them as a BYOD device - no Windows bloat or issues (performance/viruses), lightweight, good data creation capabilities (unlike a tablet which is a better content consumption device), and a relatively low price tag. Unlike a tablet which you can put into a rigged case, the Chromebooks I have seen are not robustly constructed (i.e. like most sub-$1000 laptops you do not want to drop it).

I purhased our Chromebook (for home) from 1-day.co.nz for $299 and they come up every month. Printing relies on you having a Google CloudPrint-ready printer.

I'm an IT professional with shocking handwriting because I use it so rarely and more kids than I can remember the names of. I do not support BYOD for Primary Schools (or Intermediates). IMHO these institutions are for learning the basics properly. In college where you are writing longer documents with multiple drafts or doing significantly more research online then a device is probably worthwhile or justifiable.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/72099399/computers-dont-help-pupils-learning

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

tchart

2396 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 577

ID Verified

Trusted

#1490109 11-Feb-2016 08:29

Just an FYI but we ordered one of these off Amazon a few weeks back (about NZ$300);

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/04/acer-chromebook-11-cb3-131/

Its semi rugged so can take a beating.

The biggest issue we've found with our kids is that they are very hard on Chromebooks - the Samsung ones are hopeless in terms of holding up to kids.

Stu

Hammered
8740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2391

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1490118 11-Feb-2016 08:39

They do have a hard life, even at high school. Noel Leeming offer a rather good accidental damage insurance. Have had to use it already due to daughter's Chromebook dying. Don't think there was any excess to pay. No questions asked, just a call to tell us to come and pick up a replacement (a newer model). Don't recall the cost of the cover, but it wouldn't have been too bad or we wouldn't have bothered with it. 3 year cover.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#1490122 11-Feb-2016 08:50

I couldn't think of anything worse as a teacher than students bringing all manner of different devices to school. I hate to think of teaching time being wasted sorting out little Johnny's MacBook and Peters windows 10 tablet and Suzie's chromebook and Tane Mahuta's iPad and Arthurs cheap a$s underpowered Android 10" tablet from the warehouse and Atarangi's old windows 7 laptop that was slow when it was released 5 years ago. What a nightmare.

I like that technology is being used at school, in that the kids get the exposure. In our case I think our kids are comfortable around that concept from home anyway, but it means a level playing field for all. I do agree though that one needs to balance that with having some basic core skills.

[rant mode on] I've been thinking a lot lately about what that means to me. English for example is always held up as a core subject, but really once you can spell and read, I do wonder if other subjects would be more practical/useful in the world. By high school I think I'd rather my child learnt about financial concepts, such as how to save, how to determine which is the better investment etc, sorting out if the kiwi target of owning ones own home (and paying 3x the price once interest is charged on the loan etc) is more sensible than renting etc. How to budget, how to make a meal plan, how to exercise, how to change a car tire, how to plan an event, how to wall paper a room, what political parties actually achieve and how they advertise, media studies, the legal process, consumer guarantees act, how to drive, how to prepare for work, turn up on time, look presentable, first aid, etc etc, Over breaking down a poem... Life skills. [rant mode off]

1 | 2 | 3