Re: Classmates vs Netbooks vs Macbooks vs ??
EDTECH Editor-Jones
We're using ClassmatePC Convertible netbooks (running TabletXP) in grades 6&7
and Toshiba M700 tabletpcs in grades 8&9 as we expand our tablet 1:1 program
through our school. Prior to last year, we'd used traditional laptops in
grades 7-10. We're now expanding to use tablets 6th-12th grades. The
Classmates were an affordable way to expand.
We began evaluating the ClassmatePC netbooks last school year when I heard
about the "convertible" or tablet model. As soon as they were available, we
requested two for evaluation - one with the XP Home OS and one with XP Tablet.
We realized that we'd need XP Tablet to do what we wanted with OneNote, so we
piloted a cart/class set last spring with the software I thought was essential
to our teachers. The pilot went well, so we decided to implement in grades 6 &
7 this year (our current 8th graders had new Toshiba tablets last year, so it
made sense to keep them for their grade). We've been using them since school
started with 7th graders taking them home in September and 6th graders taking
them home next month (using 1:1 during the day since Sept.).
Primary apps in use - Office 2007 w/OneNote (necessary to have Office rather
than Google Docs or Open Office to use inking features on tablets), Audacity,
Comic Life, and various tablet apps.
As a side note, we've thus far found the Classmates (semi-ruggedized netbooks)
more durable than $2000 Toshibas. I wouldn't put Photoshop on them, but the
apps we're using respond well.
Tami Brass
http://www.spa.edu
http://www.tech4teaching.org
tam...@mac.com
tbr...@spa.edu
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who
hustle.” - Abraham Lincoln
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SIGNOFF EDTECH
EDTECH Editor-Jones
Tami:
Thanks for the detailed description and rationale. Could you tell me one more thing: how much did it cost per Classmate PC netbook?
Susie
Indianapolis
EDTECH Editor-Jones
They vary in cost from vendor to vendor by model. The starting price for the
Classmate Convertible is under $500, but it will depend on your configuration.
We added a 2nd GB of RAM, XP Tablet (had to buy Vista and retro), Office 2007,
and several other apps we put on all of our hardware.
I suggest you check with one of the Classmate vendors. We use Equus - they
have an offices throughout the US, so you can deal with live salespeople rather
than just an online webstore. http://www.equuscs.com/ They'll meet (and
probably beat) any advertised prices. They also sell several other netbooks,
including traditional Classmates and their own netbooks.
Let me know off-list if you want the name of our sales guy.
Tami