devices in education ebook (aug 2013)

Which one is right for you?

Devices in Education

education

The Microsoft Brand Guidelines for Education | 27

the microsoft visual identity

2 Devices in Education

Introduction The search for the right device for both yourself and your school can be challenging. What type of device will I get? What do all the specs mean? Which device will best cater for my needs? The problem is, with the broad collection of form factors now available, and the vast price range, there is no ‘one size fits all’ device as every individual has their own needs. For some, a traditional laptop may still be ideal, others may benefit from a hybrid device that offers a tablet with a detachable keyboard, and, in some cases, a tablet may be the ideal choice for a primary device.

So how do you select the right device for yourself or your students? We’re going to introduce you to some of our favourite Windows 8 devices across a range of categories and prices*, each selected to assist you in your decision and match your needs.

* Each device falls within a price bracket, which are defined as follows: Budget – Under £450 | Mid-range – £450-£800 | High-end – Over £800

Devices in education: Which one do you choose?

education

“Which device will best cater for my needs? ”

3 Devices in Education education


Device types

Ultrabooks

Ultrabooks are a high-end variation of a laptop. They have all the performance of a laptop, but possess a lighter and sleeker form factor. Ultrabooks are rarely more than 20mm thick when shut, come in a range of screen sizes, and have great battery life.

Hybrids/Convertibles

Hybrid devices bring you the best of both worlds, with the ability to transform from a laptop into a tablet, when needed, to offer a flexible device to suit your needs. They come in many forms, from swivelling screens to those which completely detach from the keyboard dock, giving you the freedom to choose the best device to suit your working style.

All-in-Ones

With a full-sized (sometimes touch-enabled) screen, All-in-One PCs combine all the internal components of the machine into a single convenient and stylish device, with a smaller footprint than traditional desktop PCs.

Tablets

Tablets (also referred to as slates) are portable, touchscreen devices which fall in-between a laptop and mobile phone. Perfect for on-the-go lifestyles, tablets are lightweight and come in a variety

of sizes. The integrated technology such as the accelerometer (which detects the devices physical movements), storage drives, touch keyboard and wireless capabilities mean that you can use the device for almost anything, from reading your favourite novel to writing up a piece of work.


Primary School Student

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Immersive and interactive, touch based experiences, are particularly well suited for primary school age learners and devices that help enable these experiences should be prioritised wherever possible. Younger learners are also conceivably the users most likely to test a devices resilience, so you want to ensure that the devices you provide them with are durable enough not to shatter if they are accidentally dropped or banged on tables.

With this in mind, the following devices would be well suited for this audience:

Intel Classmate PC

Surface RT

RM Profile


“Younger learners are conceivably the users most likely to test a devices resilience.”


Specification Specification

1GB or 2GB DDR3

Intel Celeron

10” HD touch

241mm (width) x 215mm (depth) x 39mm (max. height)

1.41kg

Intel Core i5 Processor

LED 10-point multitouch, 1920 x 1080

541mm (width) x 61 mm (depth) x 338mm (height)

8.5kg

Memory:

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Weight:

RM ProfileIntel Classmate PCAll-in-One – High EndHybrid – Budget

Touch

60GB

Hard DriveScreen Size

10”

Windows 8Battery Life

10h

Touch

320GB


21.5”

Windows 8

What it can do for you

A solid device for any accidental drops and knocks, the Intel Classmate is light enough for young children to carry, but provides everything they need to have fun and learn at the same time. We love the 2MP front-facing and 5MP rear facing cameras which are great for interactive learning using services such as Skype, and the retractable handle only helps to prevent those inevitable drops.


We know that primary students need robust devices which also deliver on performance, and this RM device definitely provides that. The optional touchscreen is perfect for children, and less-experienced users, who often take to touchscreens much faster than a mouse and keyboard, and the 10-point multi-touch gesture capabilities allow students to get creative with others. The integrated webcam facilitates collaborative learning, which would be perfect for capturing classroom life for group projects.


Mains Only

Specification

ARM

32GB or 64GB

ClearType HD Display, 1366 x 768, 16:9 (widescreen), 5-point multi-touch

Up to 8 hours mixed activity, 7-15 days idle life

274.4mm (width) x 172mm (depth) x 9.3mm (height)

676g

Processor:

Hard Drive:

Screen:

Battery Life:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Surface RTTablet – Budget

64GB


10.6”

Windows RTBattery Life

8h


Microsoft’s first device offers a no-compromise tablet that allows both great app experiences and full productivity. With Office 2013 Home and Student included, and, unlike many tablets, a USB port, students get the best possible work experience. Surface RT is quick to boot and lasts up to 8 hours, meaning you can focus on being productive, rather than being constantly on the lookout for the next power source.

Touch


Secondary School Student

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education

A secondary school student needs their device to be quick and powerful to allow them to research and create content using many different tools – Office 2013, Windows 8 apps, websites, search engines etc, but need something with great battery life to get them through a full school day.

Here’s our pick of what would suit their needs:

Acer Iconia W510

Ergo Hybrid

Viglen Integra

“A secondary school student needs their device to be quick to allow them to research and create content...”



Intel® Atom Processor Z2760 (1066MHz)

LED-Backlit TFT LCD (1366 x 768), 5-point multi-touch screen

186.5mm (width) x 258.5mm (depth) x 9.9mm (height)

1.26kg (docked) and 680g (undocked)

Range of Intel processors available

Up to 1TB

75mm/100mm VESA mount, supporting a range of displays from 17” to 22” widescreen with Hard screen and touchscreen options

270mm (width) x 200mm (depth) x 400mm (height)

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Processor:

Hard Drive:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Viglen IntegraAcer Iconia W510All-in-One – Mid-rangeHybrid – Budget

Touch

32GB


10.1”


9h

Touch

1TB


22”

Windows 8


A sturdy, stylish solution for students, this device provides the performance they need to get all their homework done. As a hybrid, the device offers students flexibility to fit into their lifestyle, and allows both high performance and convenience in its laptop and tablet forms. Have fun with the 5-point multi-touch capability, which provides a real hands-on experience, and document school work and your personal life with the full HD audio and video recording.


A flexible all-in-one PC, the Integra is great for classrooms thanks to its simple design and compact footprint. With the choice of display size from 17”-22”, you can get this to suit your needs, whether you want a large screen for creative media work or a slightly smaller one to fit neatly into your classroom, and the height adjustable stand means that individual students can alter the screen height to suit them.


Mains Only

We think the Hybrid is perfect for providing you with the functionality of a laptop without sacrificing performance, as the included docking station allows you to switch easily to and from the full laptop experience. The headphone jack lets students use applications and research tools which require sound without disrupting the rest of the classroom, and the USB ports let them connect to other devices or peripherals so they can get the class involved with their work from their own device.

Specification

Up to: Intel® Core™ i5-3427U

LED screen, 1366 × 768 resolution

Up to 5 hours standard battery, up to 8 hours with docking station

300mm (width) x 198mm (depth) x 13.5mm (height)

1.78kg with 2800mAh battery

Processor:

Screen:

Battery Life:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Ergo HybridHybrid – Mid-range

Touch

64GB


11.6”


8h



Further and Higher Education Students

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education

A student in further or higher education needs a device which can handle intensive use while they research and write essays, create PowerPoint presentations and collaborate with their peers, whilst also being able to handle the demands of their personal life, such as playing games, socialising or even making computer and mobile phone apps.* They want something smart and sleek which they can show off, but need something portable enough to take to and from class.

* Some students will require more unique devices due to subject choices where they require a device designed for ‘heavy-duty’ use such as programming, media and design.


Stone NT310

Toshiba LX830-11D

Sony VAIO Duo

“A student in further or higher education needs a device which can handle intensive use.”

For students looking for a sturdy and productive, yet entertainment ready, All-in-One device for their bedrooms, or institutions looking to kit out their computer labs with a universally user-friendly device, look no further. The i3 processor in the LX830 provides all the speed a student needs to complete their work, and the 1TB hard drive gives them enough space to store it all once it’s complete. We love the HD graphics too, which bring images and videos to life on the big touchscreen, and are great for keeping you engaged when doing research for projects.



3rd generation Intel® Core™ i3-3110M Processor

LED touchscreen, 1920 x 1080


Intel® Core™ i5-3317U processor (1.70GHz, 2.6GHz with Turbo Boost, 3MB L3 Cache)

LED, widescreen, VAIO Display Plus, Full HD 1920 x 1080

Approx 5 hours (sheet battery optional to double battery life)


1.5kg

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Processor:

Screen:

Battery Life:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Toshiba LX830-11D Sony VAIO DuoAll-in-One – Mid-range Hybrid – High End

Touch

128GB


11.6”


5h

Touch

1TB


23”

Windows 8

What it can do for you What it can do for you

A gorgeous alternative to standard form factors, the Duo can be transformed from a tablet to laptop in seconds with the SurfSlider™ screen, which slides up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, perfect for getting your college and university work done. The Digitizer stylus allows a fluid and natural writing style, which you can use to make notes during class when typing isn’t enough. The Intel i5 processor delivers a fast performance, automatically providing a boost of speed when needed. What more could you ask for when juggling study and personal life?


Mains Only


Designed to withstand the trials and tribulations of daily use, this device perfectly suits a college environment, and is both stylish and durable. The Intel i7 processor delivers the swift, instant response you need as a student, no matter what you’re doing, and the 15.6” HD LCD screen gives you plenty of real-estate to multitask using the Windows 8 snapping function.

Specification

Intel® Core i7-3612QM Processor

Up to 1TB 7200rpm hard disk drive or 500GB solid state drive

LCD HD (1366 x 768) Slim 16:9 LED Display (Non-Gloss)


2.2kg

Processor:

Hard Drive:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Stone NT310Ultrabook – Budget

1TB


15.6”


6h


Educators


Educators

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Any educator requires a PC to enable them to prepare, teach and communicate within the education environment. They use their devices for a diverse range of activities, from electronic grade records, to communicating with students, parents and other educators, to designing lesson and assignment plans. Their device is often used as the primary teaching and projection device in a classroom, and may therefore be used for video-conferencing and web browsing in addition to the aforementioned. Consequently, they need a device which can keep up with their fast-paced lifestyle, and has the ability to perform multiple functions without slowing down.


ASUS VivoBook S200E

HP Envy x2

Acer Aspire S7

“Consequently, they need a device which can keep up with their fast-paced lifestyle.”

Boasting up to 14 hours of battery life when attached to the keyboard base, this device will take you from home to work, and survive the journey in between so you can continue your work when commuting. The detachable tablet is perfect for portability, allowing you to move your demos and teaching around the classroom rather than being stuck behind the laptop stand, and the Intel Atom processor, combined with 2GB of RAM, come together to give a smooth experience when multitasking.


Specification Specification Specification

Intel® Pentium B987

11.6” 16:9 HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlight


1.4kg

Intel® Atom™ Z2760 processor

HD BrightView LED-backlit, 1366 x 768

Up to 14 hours attached and up to 7 hours detached


1.41kg, Slate only: 0.7kg

Intel® Core™ i7-3517U processor

Active Matrix TFT Colour, 1920 x 1080, LED backlit, multitouch screen

323.3mm (width) x 223.5mm (depth) x 11.9mm (height)

1.3kg

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Processor:

Screen:

Battery Life:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Weight:

HP Envy x2 Acer Aspire S7ASUS VivoBook S200EHybrid – Mid-range Ultrabook – High EndUltrabook – Budget

Touch

64GB


11.6”


14h


A sleek, lightweight device with a price point starting at under £350, this ASUS is perfect for a teacher just starting their career. The touchscreen allows you to make the most of Windows 8, but you still have full laptop functionality for those all important lesson plans and emails. The devices size is only a plus, and is easily portable for when your bags are full of various textbooks and worksheets. We know that connection ports are important for teachers, as you need to connect to display equipment, peripherals and other devices, and the ASUS doesn’t let you down, being able to connect to almost anything with its VGA, HDMI and USB ports.


This beautiful looking device is great for teachers who want to get things done while looking professional at the same time. The screen can be opened to 180 degrees and laid flat, making it perfect for collaboration, and the Acer Crystal Eye HD camera allows you to video conference with other classrooms around the world using services such as Skype. The Intel Core i7 processor provides a seamless experience, whether browsing the web or running multiple applications, giving you more time to work and less time waiting for things to load. If you want a high performance, lightweight and visually impressive device that provides you with everything you need as a teacher, this is the device to choose.

500GB


11.6”


5h

Touch

128GB


13.3”


6h

Touch

Educators


Senior Managers and IT Professionals



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HP Envy 23-d010ea

Surface Pro

Lenovo X1 Carbon

It may seem strange for us to group senior managers and IT pros into one section, but there is reason behind the seeming madness. While these two groups consume different content on their PCs, their requirements are actually quite similar. In their roles, they both need devices with high performance, professional looks and ample storage.

“ In their roles, they both need devices with high performance, professional looks and ample storage.”

Senior Managers

Senior managers are often in and out of meetings with governors, staff members, parents and external businesses. They need their device to be portable and sleek in order to give a professional impression, yet high-powered so that they can do their work without the technology slowing them down.

IT Professionals

An IT professional’s main requirement in a device is its performance. In order to manage the school’s ICT infrastructure, an IT pro needs a device which will keep up with them and allow them to run multiple, heavily intensive management applications without slowing down. In the same way as senior managers, they may often find themselves in internal and external senior meetings due to their influence on the school’s ICT choices.

With the ability to run all the apps and programs you care about, digital ink capabilities and the option to join a corporate domain for full access to your institutions network, we think the Surface Pro is the perfect choice for senior management and IT professionals within academic institutions.



Intel® Pentium® G645

Full HD 1920 x 1080

580mm (width) x 21.4mm (depth) x 455mm (height)

Intel® Core™ i5 or i7 processor

128GB or 256GB

HD+ Anti-Glare (1600 x 900) (300 NITS) Wide Viewing

Rapid charge up to 80% battery life in 35 minutes


1.36kg

Processor:

Screen:

Dimensions:

Processor:

Hard Drive:

Screen:

Battery Life:

Dimensions:

Weight:

Surface Pro Lenovo X1 CarbonHP Envy 23-d010eaTablet – High End Ultrabook – High End All-in-One – Mid-range

256GB


14”


8.2h

Touch

128GB


10.6”


4.5h

Touch

500GB


23”

Windows 8


The Envy’s 3rd generation Intel® processor provides a fast processing speed which gives all the performance that senior managers and IT pros need. Its structure is smart, with edge-to-edge glass design, but doesn’t compromise performance, and you can even mount it on the wall. With the 10-point touch sensitive screen, you can introduce a truly hands-on approach to leadership meetings, or get your team of IT technicians involved in the solution planning process.


Another visually stunning device, the Lenovo X1 Carbon has everything you could ask for, and more. The long battery life allows you to stay unplugged all day, so if you’re walking around the school offering support, or in and out of meetings, you can rest assured that your laptop will last as long as you do. The Intel® vPro technology enables you to manage, protect, repair, and locate assets from anywhere in the world, which we know is important to those leading the school and staff. Being on the move can leave you with little time to charge your device, but with Lenovo’s rapid charge technology charging the battery up to 80% in 35 minutes, you needn’t worry about those busy days out of your office.

Touch


Mains Only

Specification

3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i5

128GB

10.6” ClearType Full HD Display

4.5 hours mixed activity, 7-15 days idle life

274.4mm (width) x 172mm (depth) x 9.3mm (height)

676g

Processor:

Hard Drive:

Screen:

Battery Life:

Dimensions:

Weight:


Conclusion

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“ There really is no reason to get a ‘generic’ device which doesn’t suit your needs.”

With the number of devices on the market, there really is no reason to get a ‘generic’ device which doesn’t suit your needs. We’ve only shown you a small selection of what is available, and we know that a device has to be personal for it to feel right, but we hope that this eBook

has provided you with some guidance as to what type of device will enhance your lifestyle. Whether you choose to buy one of the devices we’ve mentioned, or find something of your own, we want you to enjoy your PC experience, and get as much out of your device as possible.
