[senit] mobile computing

(no vested interest in ASUS nor any computer manufacterer/reseller,

I had one of the frist machines in the country, last year, and have 
still not found a spare battery, except from Hong Kong on E-Bay

John

Jocelyn Chappell wrote:
> (no vested interest in ASUS nor any computer manufacterer/reseller,
> nor pcpro referred to below)
>
> I've been thinking of one of the new mini laptops for our special
> school for a while now. The ASUSes are definitely in the running. In
> fact the Asus Eee PC 900 (£280) is on the PC Pro A-List
> (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/188277) as alternative choice under
> the heading Value Laptop.
>
> PROS
> + integrated webcam (VGA i think) and microphone
> + I haven't checked recently but as I remember you can buy just 1 USB
> 3G connection from your favourite mobile broadband provider and attach
> it to just one of your ASUSes and take your internet on the road with
> a crowd of ASUSes connecting through the one with the USB 3G
> + could add an extra dimension to outings, field trips (e.g. blogging,
> podcasting, or video blogging from the british museum before you catch
> the coach home. In fact recording a video conference of what everyone
> found as they explored the place following digital (text, audio,
> video) worksheets sounds kind of state of the art.
> + the excellent OpenOffice suite of programs which I also use on my
> windows laptop (I see no point in installing the MS programs that are
> costly and pretty redundant these days - software licensing seems to
> be moving to free and/or internet service based operation anyway -
> IMHO).
>
> CONS
> + largely under the heading how it all works out in practice
> + battery life -- need a spare for anything really innovative (ie untethered)
> + £200 is still £200 -- unless you buy a class set and then it is
> £2000 -- PLUS the 3G £??? P.A. -- PLUS a spare battery
> + not sure about reliability -- how do you tell with something this new...?!
>
> I am thinking as time moves on devices like this will become the norm
> (one per pupil) especially as we have years 7 through 11 and already
> operate 5 year renewal cycle for PCs on the LAN. In the meantime I am
> waiting for comparative reviews in something like PC Pro, views of our
> marvellous tech-head who makes ICT all work for us, and not to mention
> the elusive couple of hundred quid or so.
>
> Oh, I forgot to say my sons junior school has just bought a crowd of
> them. Mmmm, we have a birthday coming up at home. I wonder...?
>
> Then again, I notice a half way decent visualiser turns up for about a
> thousand pounds. It is a hard call to say which would improve learning
> more -- three visualisers or a class set of ASUSes with associated
> bits and pieces. I suspect the three visualisers would win hands down.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joc
>
> 2008/5/11 david fettes <davidfettes3 at yahoo.co.uk>:
>   
>> hi would ASUS Eee PC be useful in a special school
>>  (severe learning difficulties)context for students or
>>  staff(in school or home-school)?(from £199)
>>  (Linux Operating System ,512 MB Memory ,4 GB Hard
>>  Drive ,7" Display ,Built In Webcam ,built in WiFi)
>>  advert says it edits word,excel & powerpoint-would
>>  that need a special version of Office?Is there a
>>  windows based version of this?
>>  thanks
>>  David
>>
>>
>>
>>       __________________________________________________________
>>  Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
>>  A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
>
>