Laptop Selection Consideration for Middle School students
Usage – How will this computer be used, how long (battery life), connectivity (Wifi wireless or wired networking) what are the benefits?
Redundancy – How long will it function and operate effectively?
Performance – Are the specifications of the computer, are they adequate for its purpose and future software?
Cost effectiveness – How does this offering compare to market prices?
Support, Maintenance & Reliability - What support package is offered, what is the life expectancy of the laptop? Support is high priority for Kristin.
Warranty & Insurance - Does the warranty and insurance cover the life of the program? i.e. 4 years
Software - Currency of software, licensing costs, support for future software
Ergonomics – weight of laptop, screen size and type, keyboard configuration, pointing device
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)- Shared between Kristin and parents/students. Purchase prices are approximately 20-30% of the actual cost of the latop over it's lifetime. Support and ongoing maintenance are the largest components of TCO. A laptop program is not just about the cheapest laptop purchase.
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