Microsoft Surface Pro

[zyber]

Anyone received the Microsoft Surface Pro ? 20000 devices have been purchased by EA

https://www.eani.org.uk/news/education-authority-delivers-new-devices-for-teachers-in-partnership-with-microsoft-ireland

zyber

[Bluesky]

Not yet still waiting for them to appear on the WSM

[dfinney]

No word here either.

Also heard they are looking at replacing sims.

[LOUD]

yes

[Johnny]

Havent received one yet, was told should be by end of Jan but of course this didnt materalise.

[zyber]

How many will schools get?

zyber

[cully4299]

1 per full time teacher and 1 per part time ( think part time / split school is where they are based the most )

[zyber]

It will be interesting to see what happens with them. The original teacher laptops were never given to teachers in this school but put into trolleys. I am not in favour of giving teachers personal laptops as from experience they are mostly not used

zyber

[cully4299]

Some of ours have them but the majority dont bother with them.
 Ours got new ipads before christmas so theyre used pretty much as main device for a lot for general use cases. ( Emails, SIMS teacher app etc)

Will see how it goes and hopefully have some for general usuage as some of the older laptops are feeling a bit more sluggish these days.

[LOUD]

We have just rolled out 60 of them to our Sixth Form centre.  No need for teachers to get them in here either.  They all have a school iPad.
We have over 10 left.


They will go to certain staff that require VPN access to the school due to the job role.  (Timetabler, Exams)


Will keep one or two spare, so they can be booked if required for meetings in the school.


C2K never resolved the whole insurance thing with staff laptops.  Also we would be almost 20 devices short to cover all teachers in the school.  Makes it difficult for management to decide who gets one and why.  For those who don't some explaining would be required and no doubt it would cause issues in here.  Teachers feeling excluded etc.  Happen with the iPads at the start as we began that process.  Staff just couldn't wait their turn.


Note if you are using them in classroom, you will have to buy USB to VGA/HDMI adapters.  Plus a USB ext box.  Only have 2 usb ports on them.

[zyber]

Will the older teacher laptops be removed at some point?

zyber

[cully4299]

Will the older teacher laptops be removed at some point?

zyber

Removed with an option to be retained ( most likely paid like the old 790s etc)

[zyber]

Are video adapters supplied or will I have to purchase my own?

zyber

[LOUD]

purchase your own.


you get an ethernet adapter.

[zyber]

having now got the Surface in school, are these devices really suitable for a school environment? Some schools may give them to teachers but some schools might want to put them out in study rooms or computer suites. A very nice device but these are not going to stand up any abuse. Since Capita only insure the device for theft and device malfunction then the schiols insurance will be needed for accidental damage. Teachers chose this device as they were contacted by EA to get a picture of what teacgers wanted. I personally would never have put a device like this into a school. Any thoughts?

zyber