Laptop prices reduced to be gained by all!
A blog response to- Why Colleges Are Making Laptops A Must-Have
By ALEX ALTMAN
( link to article )
In further research to be below blog I have found a possible solution from America. Lenovo (a computer company) is an exclusive dealer of laptops to universities. Although I am never ok but limited choice in any capacity all it means in this case is that the universities beg for cheaper lap tops and the students get them! It was commented in the article-
“When institutions have purchasing agreements with technology companies, they generate aggressive discounts — more aggressive than the consumer market offers,” says Mike Schmedlen, an education industry executive at Lenovo, the world’s fourth-biggest PC maker.
Would it be possible for a similar system where schools sold computers loaded up with the software programs and the protection devices included as highly reduced prices so that students can take their digital classroom where they want to go!
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October 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I agree Katryce with the idea that it would be a good I dea for students to carry their digital classroom with them wherever they go. I believe this has great benefits particularly for students from low socio economic backgrounds. After doing my prac at a country schoolI discovered that a large chunk of students did not have access to the technology that you or I may take for granted. Mant of these students were unable to provide their own stationary let alone have access to a computer at home. I believe that a system where students can be issued with laptops at school and be able to take them home under a strict security system is a great idea and allows all students equality in the classroom
October 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Ideally this is what would happen, however you then face the problem of students at different levels of technical ability (need to start the training in primary?), students losing or breaking their computer (remember the cheap calculators?).
This is part of the issue that I see with the roll out of the computers for schools program, I worry how useful it is going to be and how much would have been gained if the money had be spent in different areas…
November 6th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Katryce, another viable option is to sign up for a laptop lease. lets face it as students it is very rare that we have more that $20 on us at any given time. Even for those students who struggle through working in demeaning jobs still don’t really have the cash to even buy a cheap laptop, so the idea of leasing a laptop for a certain price each week could be very helpful.
Ohhh and just one other thing, for anyone who is technologically savy. getting the cheapo laptop isnt a great idea becausethey do not have the efficiency or capabilities of the higher specification models.