What is the Best Device for Your School?
As an administrator, how can you be certain you are making the best possible investment for your students and your school?
It’s a big responsibility. Budget restrictions make school purchasing decisions extraordinarily important. You will want to make sure that every dollar is used to further the educational and administrative goals of your school. Just as every student has different strengths and challenges so do the various devices on the market. In addition, different schools have different need profiles: some schools give priority to a rugged and durable device, some want hybrid options, some are solely price driven while others are motivated by a combination of factors.
This article highlights a number of options that may be of interest to those in the education sector looking for a budget or mid-range device.
Asus
Asus makes attractive and well built devices. Although, they are known for their higher-end device options, they also make some really good mid-range devices that fit squarely within school board budgets. This brand ranked very highly in Laptop Magazine’s 2016 list of best laptops.
Asus Transformer Book T100
This is a relatively compact 10-inch tablet that can easily pass as a small laptop. The affordable Asus Transformer Book T100 gives students the chance to create their own mobile laptop dynamic. The T100 provides excellent value. Its innovative design and a great battery life make this device a great choice.
Asus Transformer Book T200TA
The Asus Transformer Book T200TA is a compact, budget detachable-hybrid tablet with a nice In-Plane Switching (IPS) touch screen. You can use it like a laptop or detach the screen for use as a tablet. The T200TA comes with an Intel Atom Z3795 processor with built-in Intel HD Graphics. Its performance on the PCMark 8 Work Conventional test is equivalent to that of a system with an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor.
Asus X205
The Asus EeeBook X205TA (X205) sure offers plenty of device for the price you pay. The X205 is a thin, lightweight laptop suitable for kids, for travel or for anyone looking for a small device that runs Windows and compatible software. The most noticeable attributes of this device are its sleek design and weight, it also has a decent keyboard, can handle daily tasks and multimedia activities. The X205 battery lasts for a long while on a charge and it is very, very affordable.
Lenovo
More than anything else Lenovo is known for having good quality, rugged multi-purpose devices. Those customers looking for a rugged device often choose a Lenovo option. This brand also ranked very highly in Laptop Magazine’s 2016 list of best laptops.
Lenovo IdeaPad B50
The IdeaPad B50 is very inexpensive. It is lightweight and very well made. Testing of this device found excellent battery life. This affordable 15.6 inch laptop is a well constructed ultraportable laptop that features a nice design, competent performance, and more than 11 hours of battery life. Did we mention it has a very low price?
Lenovo S21e
The Lenovo S21e is a capable budget notebook you can take anywhere. Featuring an Intel Celeron processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 64 GB hard drive, the S21e should satisfy the basic needs of students and those who want to travel light. The notebook has a smooth lid that shines in a silver, satin finish. It doesn't attract fingerprints, leaving it pristine even after days of use. On the right side is a USB 2.0 port, headphone jack and microSD card reader. On the left, you'll find a USB 3.0 port and micro HDMI port. It has a solid chassis and the keyboard is comfortable to use.
Lenovo G40
The Lenovo G40 is a reasonably priced entry-level desktop-replacement laptop with a battery life of almost 6 hours. Its textured matte-black chassis is plastic, but feels sturdy and doesn't show fingerprints. It boasts a glossy 14-inch display with a 1,366-by-768 resolution framed by glossy-black bezels. The screen is bright, and colour quality is good. The full-size, island-style AccuType keyboard has a firm feel and features spacious keys that provide a comfortable typing experience. With the Lenovo G40, you get a capable 14-inch desktop-replacement laptop that will handle a basic productivity workload without putting much of a dent in your budget. It's thin and light enough to travel with.
HP
HP products are well built and have a reputation for being some of the best-looking machines on the market. They have an excellent reputation that is well deserved.
HP STREAM 11 PRO
The HP Stream 11 is a fantastic deal. It is perfect for office tasks and school work, as well as web browsing. This device is often ranked by consumer magazines as one of the best budget laptops on the market. The HP Stream 11 stands out from the crowd with its flamboyant blue or bright purple casing. The wrist rest has a subtle polka dot pattern, with the colour getting lighter from top to bottom. It is sturdily made with a slimline chassis that measures just under 20mm thick and weighs only 1.29 kg.
HP ProBook
Built for productivity, the HP ProBook delivers the performance and security features essential for today’s classroom. The sleek and tough design provides a flexible platform to stay productive in or out of the classroom. Enjoy a rich user experience with the HP ProBook. It has a long battery life and has features designed to create a stunning visual and audio experience with options like an FHD display, an HD touch display, and DTS Studio Sound.
HP 215 G1
This small yet powerful notebook is ideal for students. It has a rugged design that will benefit schools that allow students to take the device home. Data on the HP 215 G1 stays protected from accidental bumps and bruises that might be encountered during transit. HP 3D DriveGuard senses when the PC moves and locks the hard drive to help protect data. The touch screen works well and real-life owners of the device have given it great online reviews.
HP STREAM 13
The HP Stream 13 is a very inexpensive full Windows ultraportable laptop. Its long battery life, great looks, and good speed resemble that of a much pricier system.The white chiclet-style keyboard is a nice contrast to the chassis hue, and is full size and easy to type on. The one-piece touchpad is responsive and easy to use.
Acer
Acer has a reputation for providing excellent value for the educational sector. Year after year, it continues to make greater and greater devices, while keeping its prices squarely within the budget range.
Acer Travelmate B115
For those with modest needs, small budgets, and smaller luggage, the Travelmate B115 is the device for you. It a very light weight machine. Suitable for the Internet, Microsoft Office, and some basic Windows applications. This machine is very portable and has a decent battery life. It also has a high quality trackpad.
Acer Aspire Switch 10
The Acer Aspire Switch 10 is the latest in a new breed of detachable Windows tablet, a category of small slates paired with docking keyboards to offer both the mobility of a tablet and the capability and comfort of a laptop. With a sleek-looking design and a magnetic multimode hinge, the Aspire Switch 10 is worth a look. The highlights of this machine include In-Plane Switching (IPS) display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3, a multiple-position dock that allows for four different use modes. It also comes with a free activation code for Microsoft Office.
Acer Aspire V5
Acer touts this device as thin, light, and charismatic! The Acer Aspire V5 has a decent design, midrange configuration, and a touch screen, all for a very reasonable mid-range price. The Acer Aspire V5 is a desktop-replacement laptop that offers all-day battery life and a reasonable feature set. The machine features a touch screen and the Nvidia graphics enhance entertainment options. The Acer Aspire V5 proves that a touch screen can work in a budget to mid-range Windows laptop without cutting too many corners.
Acer Aspire E11
The Acer Aspire E11 is a solid 11-inch budget Windows notebook with the option of a touch screen. It has Pentium and Celeron processors and provides a good balance between power and versatility. The 11-inch is a fanless design, which should cut down on weight, noise, and power consumption, while keeping the body about 21 mm thick, which is decent for an inexpensive ultraportable. If you're looking to stand out from the crowd, the E11 colors are cool silver, rhodonite pink, tiger's-eye brown and quartz blue.
How Can We Help?
Have a question? Want to chat?
Give us a call or send us an email. Get In Touch
Top 10 Reasons to Use Windows 10 in Your Classroom
Windows 10 is an effective tool for getting great results in the classroom. The best version of Windows yet, it brings you exciting new features and innovative new tools to get things done, fast. Windows 10 Education expands upon Windows 10 Enterprise, and is specifically designed to meet the needs of schools—staff, administrators, teachers and students.
There are many exciting ways and opportunities for classrooms to benefit from this tool. What makes this version of Windows rise above any other platform? Let us tell you about the top 10 innovations that caught our eye:
1. Windows 10 is Designed for All Styles of Learning
We all learn differently. A whopping 73% of teachers report that technology allows them to tailor their teaching methods in a way to best meet the various different learning styles of their students. Windows provides a range of modalities: voice, pen, touch, and gesture that allows students to interact with their PCs in a way that best suits them. A more natural fit lends itself to a better learning experience.
2. Think With Digital Ink
Windows 10 allows students to draw upon the benefits of old school tools while using new technologies. Studies have found that students can boost their science test scores by 25% to 36% when they diagram their problem solving with a pen versus those students who only use a keyboard. Windows 10 provides an awesome inking experience across devices and applications that engages students, enhances their learning experience and boosts their results.
3. Outstanding Assistive Learning Technology
A full 10% of the population is thought to be affected by specific learning disabilities that have a profound effect on individual educational outcomes. Windows devices are equipped with the widest array of assistive technology available that can help each student to reach their full potential. Teachers can easily create inclusive teaching environments that allow them to effectively reach and teach every student.
4. The Safest Windows Ever Made
Parents are rightly concerned with the safety and security of their children and and likewise the safety and security of their children’s data. Windows 10 is the safest Windows ever with new and improved safety and security updates. It includes innovative new tools for data protection, student identity authentication, and malware protection. Windows 10 delivers more built-in security features than ever before and updates are always enabled to keep your security current for the supported lifetime of the device.
In addition, Windows Hello makes everything safer and also means that students will never forget their passwords. It’s a fast password-free way to unlock your Windows device. Windows Hello uses a face, fingerprint or companion device to recognize the user.
5. Collaborative Learning Across All Devices
Collaboration is king and the ability to collaborate is a valuable skill that students will rely on throughout their lives. Digital tools encourage and allow students to work together easily. Windows OneNote collaboration enables students and educators to work on the same document at the same time, within the same classroom or across an ocean. Students can stay organized, share information and spark creativity while collaborating on homework, research or group assignments. Use Windows 10 to add personal notes on web pages and share them with others. Teachers are able to monitor student participation, because all collaborative contributions are tracked.
Students can also collaborate on Skype. They can show each other their work instead of just talking, which brings a much more personal aspect to the collaboration. Speaking of Skype, virtual field trips are a huge educational bonus offered by Microsoft. Students can virtually visit any museum in the world or listen to a host of awesome guest speakers.
6. A Platform That Will Never Be Outgrown
Not exactly one size fits all, but rather one platform suits all. Windows 10 provides a single platform that will continue to meet the needs of students of all ages. Students can go from learning their ABCs on Endless Alphabet to writing their dissertations on Office 365. Not only that, but younger students will learn practical skills that they will actually need to know and rely on as older students, like Word and Excel.
7. Work Across Devices and Compatibility is Easy
You can move easily between devices and open your files from any device and pick up right where you left off. Also, Windows 10 allows you to easily connect to printers, cameras, digital microscopes and all of the other external tools a student may need. Windows is compatible with the widest range of connected devices found in and for the classroom. In addition, you can access traditional educational resources as well as new educational resources, such interactive digital textbooks.
8. Windows Helps You Get Things Done
Demonstrations are essential to the learning process. Teachers overwhelmingly report that technology allows them to demonstrate concepts and ideas that they are often unable to demonstrate any other practical way. Windows multi-doing abilities allow students and teachers to get things done faster and save time, get things done in a snap with Snap Assist, virtual desktops, Task View and Cortana. For example, Cortana learns your pronunciation and vocabulary and allows a user to provide voice instructions for many tasks and allows you to get more done. Students can ask for Cortana to research a topic on the Internet while they keep on writing their paper. How efficient is that?
9. Deploy and Manage Your Way
Windows 10 makes deployment easy. Users will find and enjoy a seamless transition process. Windows provides educational institutions with simplified ways to deploy and manage their data including in-place upgrades and deployment assistance packages.
10. Get More for Free Than Ever Before
Affordable is good and free is better. With Windows 10, we can see a real emphasis on creating affordable devices and solutions for everyone. Microsoft is committed to providing schools and students with advanced technology at a price they can afford. Many free products and services for students and teachers are available. In addition, schools can take advantage of very affordable and cost-efficient Academic Volume Licensing and other special low-cost offers. Furthermore, tools such as Office 365 can be free for students based on the school board’s licensing. Student can now access the same tools at home that they use at school.
How Can We Help?
Have a question? Want to chat?
Give us a call or send us an email. Get In Touch