Converge Technology Partners, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Northern Micro
Ottawa, ON – November 10, 2017
Converge Technology Partners, Inc. (“Converge”) and Northern Micro Inc. today announce that Converge has completed the acquisition of Northern Micro, a leading Canadian IT solutions provider from client devices to data centre infrastructure.
Northern Micro will continue its strategy of providing best of breed technology solutions from the endpoint to the data centre for its customers in the Canadian Federal Government and Education Sector. Herman Yeh, President of Northern Micro, will continue in his current position along with the senior management team.
“We will continue to make investments in our people and remain committed to the success of our customers and OEM Partners,” said Yeh. “By joining Converge, Northern Micro will have access to new technologies, knowledge, and resources, enabling us to become more competitive in the marketplace for future growth.”
“Northern Micro’s reputation as a solution provider focused on customer outcomes is incredible. We believe that adding Northern Micro’s unique warehouse configuration, imaging, and asset tagging capabilities will strategically enhance the value we deliver to our customers,” said Shaun Maine, President and Chief Operating Officer of Converge Technology Partners.
In a world of accelerating technological change, customers need reliable, flexible, and innovative technology solutions more than ever. Northern Micro, together with Converge will continue to provide solutions that deliver on this mission.
“Northern Micro’s reputation as a solution provider focused on customer outcomes is incredible."
About Northern Micro
Northern Micro is Ottawa’s premier provider of Information Technology hardware – from client devices like notebooks and desktops, to data centre infrastructure. We create IT solutions that solve unique business challenges. Highly trained experts, coupled with focused partnerships with the biggest names in the industry form the foundation on which Northern Micro is built.
To learn more about Northern Micro, visit www.northernmicro.com.
About Converge
Converge Technology Partners is building a national platform of regionally focused IT infrastructure firms in the US and Canada by connecting best of breed services and solutions to clients.
To learn more about Converg, visit www.convergetp.com.
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Northern Micro Named Ottawa's Fastest Growing IT Solution Provider by CRN!
Ottawa, ON, August 8th, 2017 – CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Northern Micro to its 2017 Fast Growth 150 list. The list is CRN’s annual ranking of North America-based technology integrators, solution providers and IT consultants with gross sales of at least $1 million that have experienced significant economic growth over the past two years. The 2017 list is based on gains in gross revenue between 2014 and 2016, and the companies recognized represent a total, combined revenue of more than $16,717,688,643.
“The companies on CRN’s 2017 Fast Growth 150 list are thriving in what is now a very tumultuous, demanding IT channel climate,” said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. “This remarkable group of solution providers has successfully adapted to a landmark industry shift away from the traditional VAR business model to a more services-driven approach, outpacing competitors and emerging as true channel leaders. We congratulate each of the Fast Growth 150 honorees and look forward to their continued success.”
The Fast Growth 150 list is highlighted in the August issue of CRN and can be viewed online at www.crn.com/fastgrowth150.
“The companies on CRN’s 2017 Fast Growth 150 list are thriving in what is now a very tumultuous, demanding IT channel climate”
About Northern Micro
Northern Micro is Ottawa’s premier provider of Information Technology hardware – from client devices like notebooks and desktops, to datacenter infrastructure. We create IT solutions that solve unique business challenges. Highly trained experts, coupled with focused partnerships with the biggest names in the industry form the foundation on which Northern Micro is built.
For over thirty years, our award winning team has been recognized year after year for our commitment to customer service excellence, community involvement, employee engagement, and sustainable environmental contributions. Northern Micro is the proud recipient of the HP Global Partner Conference 2016 Canadian Personal Systems Partner of the Year and the 2014 EMC Federal Partner of the Year for environmental contributions.
To learn more about Northern Micro, visit https://nmicro.wpengine.com/
About the Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com
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Northern Micro Ranked 72nd in the 2017 Branham300 list!
Ottawa, Ontario – June 13th, 2017 – Northern Micro is named one of Canada’s top ICT companies by Branham 300
Highlights:
- Ranked 72nd on Branham300 Top 250 Canadian ICT Companies in 2017.
- Ranked 18th, up from 22nd, on Branham300’s Top 25 Canadian ICT Hardware and Infrastructure Companies in 2017
Northern Micro is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Companies by Branham300, ranking 72nd on this year’s list. Branham300 is recognized as the most authoritative listing of Canada’s top ICT companies in the technology sector.
“For a second year in a row we are proud to be ranked with the top technology companies in Canada.” said Herman Yeh, President of Northern Micro. “2016 was an amazing year for our team. We worked hard to provide the best, and this ranking validates that hard work.”
Canada’s Top 250 ICT companies delivered another banner year in 2016, generating a revenue total of $105.3 billion, an increase of 9.6% compared to 2015. That new record number was driven by the impressive performance of Canada’s Top 250 tech companies: 73% of the Top 250 generated revenue growth, and 54% delivered double- and even triple-digit increases.
“Technology is the industry of the future, and Canada has the ability to compete on the global-economy stage. The companies on our Top 250 list are the ones that will build Canada’s place in that economy and ensure our future competitiveness,” said Wayne Gudbranson, CEO, Branham Group.
“For a second year in a row we are proud to be ranked with the top technology companies in Canada.”
About the Branham300
The Branham300, now in its 24th year, is the best-known and most widely referenced listing of Canada’s top public and private ICT companies, ranked by revenue. The list also tracks the top ICT multinationals operating in Canada plus Up and Comers, those young Canadian companies Branham thinks will be big hits soon.
To learn more about the Branham300 visit www.branham300.com
About Northern Micro
Northern Micro is Ottawa’s premier provider of Information Technology hardware – from client devices like notebooks and desktops, to datacenter infrastructure. We create IT solutions that solve unique business challenges. Highly trained experts, coupled with focused partnerships with the biggest names in the industry form the foundation on which Northern Micro is built.
For over thirty years, our award winning team has been recognized year after year for our commitment to customer service excellence, community involvement, employee engagement, and sustainable environmental contributions. Northern Micro is the proud recipient of the HP Global Partner Conference 2016 Canadian Personal Systems Partner of the Year and the 2014 EMC Federal Partner of the Year for environmental contributions.
To learn more about Northern Micro, visit www.northernmicro.com
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Northern Micro Ranks in the 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500 list!
Ottawa, Ontario – June 9, 2017
Today Northern Micro is pleased to announce that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Northern Micro to its Solution Provider 500 list. The SP500 ranks the top revenue-generating technology integrators, solution providers, and IT consultants in North America. The CRN’s list has recognized the top partners in North America each year since 1995.
“CRN’s Solution Provider 500 list spotlights the North American IT channel partner organizations that have earned the highest revenue over the past year, providing a valuable resource to vendors looking for top solution providers to partner with,” said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. “The companies on this year’s list represent an incredible, combined revenue of over $318 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands. We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of these top-performing solution providers and look forward to their future pursuits and successes.”
Ranking #266 Northern Micro is recognized as one of Ottawa’s largest IT Companies.
“Northern Micro is honoured to be recognized again this year by the SP500. We continue to increase our relevance to clients by staying ahead of their business technology needs.” said Herman Yeh, President of Northern Micro. “It is the amazing team here at Northern Micro that makes delivering the ultimate in customer satisfaction possible.”
The complete 2017 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at www.crn.com/sp500 and a sample from the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine.
“It is the amazing team here at Northern Micro that makes delivering the ultimate in customer satisfaction possible.”
About Northern Micro
Northern Micro is Ottawa’s premier provider of Information Technology hardware – from client devices like notebooks and desktops, to datacenter infrastructure. We create IT solutions that solve unique business challenges. Highly trained experts, coupled with focused partnerships with the biggest names in the industry form the foundation on which Northern Micro is built.
For over thirty years, our award winning team has been recognized year after year for our commitment to customer service excellence, community involvement, employee engagement, and sustainable environmental contributions. Northern Micro is the proud recipient of the HP Global Partner Conference 2016 Canadian Personal Systems Partner of the Year and the 2014 EMC Federal Partner of the Year for environmental contributions.
To learn more about Northern Micro, visit https://nmicro.wpengine.com/
About the Channel Company
The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace.
www.thechannelco.com
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Microsoft's New Surface Laptop - Everything You Need to Know for Canadians
May 4, 2017
By Northern Micro Staff
On Tuesday, Microsoft announced this new addition to its Surface branded line of products. From the videos and pictures available so far, the device looks beautiful and will be a great addition to the Surface Lineup. Microsoft’s hardware design and engineering team should be proud of their accomplishment. Northern Micro’s product management staff have summarized the currently available information for you here. We look forward to testing the device out in person!
Here is a list of things you should probably know:
General Info & Availability in Canada
The good news for Canadians is that the Surface Laptop will be available in Canada as a launch market
- Release date June 15th in Canada.
- Canadian pricing starts at $1,449 CAD for the Core i5 7300U 8GB/128GB
- Premium design with full version of Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors
- Not the less expensive, fanless Core m.
- Claimed to be faster than i7 MacBook Pro
- Claims to have 14.5 hours battery life (video playback) – more than the current MacBook Air
- Runs on Windows 10 S – Microsoft’s new cloud based Windows OS
For a full price list, see the spec sheet below:
Intended Market
University and College Students, Definitely.
It’s quite clear that the Surface Laptop is a direct attack towards the Macbook Air:
- Designed to meet the needs of students leaving high school and entering post-secondary institutions – taking aim at Apple laptops
- Designed for the individual consumer, not the commercial customer.
- For Education customers, Windows 10 S is a qualifying OS. Details of how to switch to Windows 10 Pro will become available soon.
What About Surface Laptop for your Company? It Depends...
Surface Laptops could be a good fit for commercial customers in the following scenarios:
- The organization is using a cloud-based infrastructure and is using Azure AD, Mobile Device Management and the Windows Store for Business. Domain join is not supported.
- All of the apps run by the customer are available on the Windows Store.
- To preserve security and performance, traditional, Win32 apps are not supported.
- The customer uses the Office Online products available through a web browser.
- Office Pro Plus, the version of Office aimed at businesses, which features desktop applications like Skype for Business, is not currently available through the Windows Store.
- The customer uses modern peripherals which have drivers available through Windows Update.
- Custom drivers such as legacy printer drivers cannot be installed to preserve performance and security.
For the best possible experience, Microsoft recommends that customers only purchase Surface Laptop if the value proposition of Windows 10 S aligns to their needs.
If customers are looking for a premium device to run Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise they recommend devices that ship with Windows 10 Pro – i.e. the Surface Pro and Surface Book.
The Windows 10 S Operating System is not designed for corporate use but can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro.
Currently, for a limited time, the upgrade is free but it will cost $49.00 US in the future.
The Surface Laptop's Physical Characteristics - Simply Beautiful Dimensions
Microsoft engineers and designers have hit it out of the park with this one:
- Clamshell design – four colours available (platinum, graphite gold, burgundy and cobalt blue)
- NON-detachable 13.5” screen (not a 2-in-1 design like the Surface Book)
- Invisible hinge with No kickstand
- Just over 2 lbs.
- Aluminum finish on the outside of the clamshell
- Italian Alcantara stain-resistant fabric keyboard base similar to Surface Pro 4
- Thinnest LCD touchscreen ever put into a laptop and is also pen sensitive – 3.4 million pixels
- Speakers integrated underneath the keyboard – invisible to user
- Inconspicuous fan vents at back of laptop
- Ports are Surface connector (same one on Surface Pro 4), USB, Mini DisplayPort and headphone jack – No USB Type C
Windows 10 S Operating System - the S is for "Something?"
Windows 10 S is looking like a real challenger for the Google Chrome OS:
- OS is Windows 10 S – this is a scaled down version of Windows 10 Pro that Microsoft claims was streamlined for security and performance (not sure what the “S” stands for but we bet MS would say either “security” or “streamlined”)
- Designed to only run apps from the Windows Store – eliminates worry about security since MS verifies the security of all apps on their store
- The Windows 10 S Operating System is not designed for corporate use but can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. Currently, for a limited time, the upgrade is free but it will cost $49.00 US in the future. With a Microsoft Account, the customer can manually apply the switch at the Microsoft Store.
- For Commercial customers, Windows 10 S is not a qualifying OS, which means they must take additional steps to re-image to the licensed Windows OS of their choice.
Bottom Line
The team at Microsoft Surface continue to show why their devices are one of the best choices of Windows PC on the market today. Adding yet another option that’s actually attainable will surely make a splash in the broader market. Although the device is definitely targeted towards Education and consumers, we do think there is the possibility of using the Surface Laptop in a commercial environment, but only if the conditions are right.
Northern Micro is one of Canada’s top suppliers of Microsoft Surface devices since 2013 when the Surface Pro 2 was released. We are proud to be a partner with Microsoft Surface and we work closely with our customers to efficiently deploy large fleets of devices within their organization.
Got a question about the Surface Laptop in Canada, or want a demo unit to test out for yourself?
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Northern Micro Named Nation’s 16th Largest, in CDN Top 100 Solution Providers Ranking of 2016
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – April 28, 2017
In CDN’s annual ranking of Canada’s Largest IT Solution Providers, Northern Micro ranked 16th in 2016, up from 25th place last year making it the largest IT solution provider headquartered in Ottawa.
For the tenth year in a row, Northern Micro has ranked among Canada’s Top 100 Solution Providers in 2016, placing 16th, up nine spots from 25th in the 2015 ranking. The ranking is based on 2016 calendar year revenues.
Herman Yeh, President of Northern Micro said “We are proud to be recognized by CDN for our hard work in this highly competitive industry. Our focus has always been to deliver the ultimate in customer satisfaction, and our revenue growth and ranking is evidence that we continue to exceed our customer expectations in 2016.”
The CDN list recognizes Northern Micro as the largest solution provider headquartered in the City of Ottawa. Northern Micro delivers unique IT solutions with partnerships from best-of-breed manufacturers such as Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco.
"We are proud to be recognized by CDN for our hard work in this highly competitive industry."
About CDN Top 100
Each year, CDN, the voice of Canada’s IT channel community, connects with IT solution providers across the country to collect data for an industry benchmark report which, once compiled, presents an overview of this market segment as well as trends. The data is also used to determine our annual ranking of the Top 100 solution providers as measured by revenue ranges, for which a gala is held to celebrate the contributions of these solution providers to the growth of the technology sector in Canada.
To learn more about the CDN Top 100 Solution Providers, visit www.computerdealernews.com
About Northern Micro
Northern Micro is Ottawa’s premier provider of Information Technology hardware – from client devices like notebooks and desktops, to datacenter infrastructure. We create IT solutions that solve unique business challenges. Highly trained experts, coupled with focused partnerships with the biggest names in the industry form the foundation on which Northern Micro is built.
For over thirty years, our award winning team has been recognized year after year for our commitment to customer service excellence, community involvement, employee engagement, and sustainable environmental contributions. Northern Micro is the proud recipient of HP Inc.’s 2016 Canadian Personal Systems Partner of the Year Award, and the 2015 EMC / VCE Converged Partner of the Year Award.
To learn more about Northern Micro, visit www.northernmicro.com
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Microsoft Updates Intune Boosting their Education Offering to Compete with Chromebook Management Console
January 24, 2017
Today, at the BETT conference in London, Microsoft made some major announcements to enhance their standing in the education technology space against Chromebooks.
It’s no secret that the adoption rate of Google Chromebooks in education has caught Microsoft flat footed in the United States. One of the key differentiators of the Chromebook platform is the Management Console, to which, Microsoft had no reasonable competitive offering – SCCM was far too heavy duty. In addition to very low cost hardware at under $200 per unit, this really put a lot of pressure on Microsoft and their OEMs.
Microsoft Intune
Check out the video for a quick explanation of Intune.
Microsoft Intune for Education
Realizing the importance of this market, Microsoft has delivered their answer with Microsoft Intune for Education.
Easily setting up and managing classroom devices has long been a challenge for administrators to deal with. According to Microsoft, there are over 150 granular settings to choose from, making it easy to manage settings and deploy applications.
The tool will be made available for preview “in the coming weeks” and “broadly available this spring for $30 per device, and via volume licensing”.
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Northern Micro Profiled by Business in Focus Magazine
December 2016 – This month’s edition of Business in Focus Magazine featured a five page article about Northern Micro
Business in Focus Magazine is an international magazine distributed across North America with over 360,000 copies distributed monthly.
We’re so excited to be spotlighted as a local Ottawa business and get international exposure in the media!
Read the full article here:
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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.
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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.
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