On Friday 16 August 2002 01:31, Kyle Williamson wrote:
Not that free laptops are a bad thing - altough, in a school, running laptops that are not of similar specification is a pain when it comes to adding software - recloning, etc.
Every member of staff at Applemore has a laptop, varying from Acer 210's (700mhz/64mb ram), Acer 525's (700mhz/128mb ram), and Compaq Evo N110's (1100mhz/128mb ram). Hampshire have announced they are supplying Dell laptops to arrive before September, Dell XP Pro machines with 256mb ram.
I feel it would have been better to supply a choice of models to schools. Now we have to deal with a third supplier (Dell) as well as Acer & Compaq. However, a gift is a gift, and they will surely be well used ;-) I suppose the idea is to keep the cost down at the schools end of setting the machines up.
Its not a gift, its taxpayers money! Better to give the schools the money and just demand receipts to show they have spent it on laptops. The margins on laptops are small so bulk purchases are unlikely to make massive differences to the price, and the reduced flexibility and nanny state getting in the way are just not worth any savings - in fact looking at the prices charged by the approved laptop cartel I wouldn't be surprised if the "bulk purchase" actually cost more. Regards, -- Ian