School Laptop Programs

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#1552355 13-May-2016 19:28

Because they're a thousand bucks each and probably have a half-life of 2 years in kids' hands?

Nothing is free. Would I rather pay for my kid's device using my credit card or 2 kids' devices using PAYE?

Geektastic:
shk292:

If it's like my kid's school, they are not using devices for specific lessons to learn computing; they use them in most lessons for most work. So one room with computers is not a solution.

Our school "encourages" iPads (and was in the news for this) but in reality the kids mostly use browser, WP and presentation software. Google docs heavily used for sharing and assessment by teacher, which I think is great. A variety of devices in use and IMHO a chromebook would be the most suitable device - partly because kids seem to spend a lot of time on the family laptop at home doing tasks that are not tablet-friendly

I'd be fairly negative about buying a $1120 laptop for this purpose - as well as the cost, and dubious value of "extras" (household insurance and CGA, anyone?), a "full fat" 15.6" laptop is quite a heavy thing for a 10-12 year old to be lugging to and from school every day, especially those who walk/bike/scoot like mine

Geektastic:

So, why is not simply cheaper and easier to make the pupils have their lessons in one room where a set of computers are and have them log on like employees do?

Ok. Schools hand out text books. Why not loan school iPad as well?

loceff13

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#1552358 13-May-2016 19:53

I think that's a fantastic value offer they are letting parents take on, a reasonable spec laptop with 2 years insurance(ie cheaper than home contents excess if it's damaged) with next day repair and 2 years to pay interest free(with additional hardship support) or the option to just use the desktops which are already in the same classrooms.

As people have pointed out BYOD sounds like a nightmare.

Geektastic

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#1552459 13-May-2016 23:51

shk292:

Because they're a thousand bucks each and probably have a half-life of 2 years in kids' hands?

Nothing is free. Would I rather pay for my kid's device using my credit card or 2 kids' devices using PAYE?

Geektastic:
shk292:

If it's like my kid's school, they are not using devices for specific lessons to learn computing; they use them in most lessons for most work. So one room with computers is not a solution.

Our school "encourages" iPads (and was in the news for this) but in reality the kids mostly use browser, WP and presentation software. Google docs heavily used for sharing and assessment by teacher, which I think is great. A variety of devices in use and IMHO a chromebook would be the most suitable device - partly because kids seem to spend a lot of time on the family laptop at home doing tasks that are not tablet-friendly

I'd be fairly negative about buying a $1120 laptop for this purpose - as well as the cost, and dubious value of "extras" (household insurance and CGA, anyone?), a "full fat" 15.6" laptop is quite a heavy thing for a 10-12 year old to be lugging to and from school every day, especially those who walk/bike/scoot like mine

Geektastic:

So, why is not simply cheaper and easier to make the pupils have their lessons in one room where a set of computers are and have them log on like employees do?

Ok. Schools hand out text books. Why not loan school iPad as well?

Maybe they are not a thousand bucks if you are the New Zealand government ringing up and asking to buy 200,000 at once...!

reven

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#1552524 14-May-2016 09:05

to be fair, thats a pretty amazing weekly payment price, youll end up pay $1196 for it which is just interest of $76. So good on the school for that. but yeah $1120 laptop is overkill for kids, around $400-500 you can get a decent i3 these days, so why the heck do they need to spend $1120. Software does not cost $600 per child, they need to select much cheaper hardware. chromebooks are ideal for this IMO. picked up my sons one for $200 from dse.

Geektastic

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#1552535 14-May-2016 10:02

Microsoft would probably have sponsored the whole thing if we asked nicely...!

gzt

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#1552573 14-May-2016 13:04

reven:
to be fair, thats a pretty amazing weekly payment price, youll end up pay $1196 for it which is just interest of $76. So good on the school for that. but yeah $1120 laptop is overkill for kids, around $400-500 you can get a decent i3 these days, so why the heck do they need to spend $1120. Software does not cost $600 per child, they need to select much cheaper hardware. chromebooks are ideal for this IMO. picked up my sons one for $200 from dse.

Do you know the HP model the school currently supplies?

yitz

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#1552575 14-May-2016 13:13

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=388531401312600&id=273359769496431

It's the HP ProBook 430.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

gzt

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#1552583 14-May-2016 13:32

That was December 2014. Also does not state the model variant.

gzt

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#1552584 14-May-2016 13:38

The Facebook link states $11.50pw over 22 months. Approx $1100 total.

Edit: school also providing targus intellect backpack normal retail $30-$50.

shk292

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#1552656 14-May-2016 16:14

I'm guessing you've never worked in the public sector ;) I have for many years and extra special government deals are usually somewhere around RRP or higher, especially for tech where prices change quickly. I have lost count of the number of times it would have been quicker, easier and cheaper for me to buy stuff at DSE rather than through official channels, but that would be too easy for the "supply chain professionals"

Geektastic:

Maybe they are not a thousand bucks if you are the New Zealand government ringing up and asking to buy 200,000 at once...!

blakamin

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#1553716 16-May-2016 21:11

Geektastic:

Maybe they are not a thousand bucks if you are the New Zealand government ringing up and asking to buy 200,000 at once...!

HAHAHAHA *snort* HAHAHAHA

When even local govt pay nearly half a million for a toilet block, you really think they're going to get ipads cheap?

Probably double the price.

Customer: "Hello, I'd like to buy a hammer"

Hardware shop: "Yeah they're about $20"

Customer: "I work for a govt department"

Hardware shop: "Oh, ok... they're on special for you lot... $600"

Customer: "Awesome, I'll take 20 since they're on special!"

Batman

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#1553730 16-May-2016 21:34

I love public services. Other people's money, just spend it. Unless you work in health, then nope, not even if it saves lives. Unless it's to build a new ministerial building, then just spend it.

jmh

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#1553901 17-May-2016 08:05

joker97:

I love public services. Other people's money, just spend it. Unless you work in health, then nope, not even if it saves lives. Unless it's to build a new ministerial building, then just spend it.

You clearly haven't worked in the public services. It's not easy when your budget has been cut for the 5th year running, your MP and media are demanding better services, and you're having to turn away suffering clients/patients. Believe me, it's much easier with private sector money. All you have to do is turn in a profit to shareholders and the rest is easy. I've worked in both, and it was much easier to spend money in the private sector. In the public sector you have to justify every single cent, and then report on the outcomes. The biggest problem is the bureaucracy - frontline services can see how every dollar makes a difference. Privatisation doesn't improve that and just seems to make it worse.

vexxxboy

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#1553915 17-May-2016 08:55

or if you are lucky , this could happen . not sure if its not a kind of bribe

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/80062197/land-sale-approved-after-funding-of-school-ipads-and-laptops

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Fred99

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#1553953 17-May-2016 09:45

vexxxboy:

or if you are lucky , this could happen . not sure if its not a kind of bribe

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/80062197/land-sale-approved-after-funding-of-school-ipads-and-laptops

Goodness. If that's an accurate summary of events then it's an extremely odd way for the OIO to negotiate and begs further explanation. If the "deal" with OIO needed a sweetener like that, then the question is why would it - if the applicant met requirements? That implies that perhaps they didn't meet requirements, and that as you say, it was a bribe to make the "problem" disappear.

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