Don Ledingham’s Learning Log

Posted in ICT | 9 Comments

9 Responses to “All this for £169”

1. on 09 Nov 2007 at 10:17 am1 M Tennant

   Don,

   This is certainly a step in the right direction, although I don’t know how long it would take to get fed up of peering at a 7″ screen. Certainly the weight combined with the solid state storage are attractive and point the way to future devices - I’m constantly amazed how little flash memory costs nowadays. Interesting also the way linux is slowly making inroads into education products. Open source software could offer huge savings to education authorities, and is fast becoming a real alternative to commercial packages. (tech speak over!!)

   Hope the back is on the mend!!

   Mark.

   
   
2. on 09 Nov 2007 at 10:57 am2 Linux Code and More » Blog Archive » Comment on All this for £169 by M Tennant

   [...] TechnologyTales.com | Adventures in the world of digital and computer technology wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptInteresting also the way linux is slowly making inroads into education products. Open source software could offer huge savings to education… [...]

   
   
3. on 09 Nov 2007 at 11:46 am3 Linux Code and More » Blog Archive » Comment on All this for £169 by Linux Code and More » Blog Archive…

   [...] LinuxQuestions.org wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt…and computer technology wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptInteresting also the way linux is slowly making inroads into… [...]

   
   
4. on 09 Nov 2007 at 8:38 pm4 Terry Brown

   As one of the ICT Officers I can see the benefits of this type of laptop.

   Having linux on it may be good, but trying to get all of the software we use in the schools could be difficult

   The tabs would be very useful, only getting certain applications on these tabs would cut down in incidents called in to the helpdesk and would hopefully make the laptops available all of the time.

   The price sounds good too, a cabnet of these in a school would certainly save a lot of someones budget!

   
   
5. on 09 Nov 2007 at 9:51 pm5 Don Ledingham

   Thanks Terry - it’s good to get the perspective of someone who has to sort out all the problems. I think most people appreciate the support they get from your team.

   
   
6. on 09 Nov 2007 at 10:06 pm6 Terry Brown

   I like the ‘most people’ part

   
   
7. on 09 Nov 2007 at 10:41 pm7 Don Ledingham

   That’s human nature for you!

   
   
8. on 11 Nov 2007 at 10:45 am8 Ian Stuart

   Don
   The 7″ screens are not an issue. We use Samsung Q1 UMPC’s.
   We checked it out with local opthalmists and and Glasgow Eye hospital. They concluded if anyone feels any effects while using the 7″ screen then the problem is with the eye not the screen and should get their eyes seen too.
   Have played with the device for a short time, the problem is the build quality. How long they will last. This was an issue for us as we wanted the pupils to take devices home. May not be an issue if they are used in a classroom situation.

   
   
9. on 11 Nov 2007 at 3:08 pm9 Robert Jones

   As you know Don, I’m very excited about the prospect of trying these machines out at school.

   Interesting what Ian has to say about build quality - clearly that’s a big consideration.

   Terry - clearly we can’t put the commercial, closed source windows software that we use in schools onto these wee machines. But that doesn’t matter. No one is suggesting that we are going to bin all our desktops and use these things exclusively. What matters is whether or not the provision of these devices to pupils on a 1-2-1 basis has the potential to enhance learning and teaching. I would like to think that the answer is yes, but only if we deploy them in a planned, thoughtful manner, rather than the old “spray and pray”. Ian’s project points the way. [I was tempted to call it a pilot Ian, just to wind you up, but thought better of it ;)]

   
   

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