I found these on eBay and was wondering has anybody seen one being used.
The EeePC has been seen to be very useful Schools, both due to its size and weight, and that it is priced so well to be affordable for many of us.
Add to this a Touch-Screen and Tablet like functionality and my mind is racing at the possibilities.
I’d be willing to buy one and the kit just to see how it performs. Now getting Asus to like the idea of these being modified, and retain warranty might be a major stumbling block. But, they might also see this as the way forward and integrate this technology into future products.
I for one will be keeping my eyes open.
Picture linked from the eBay advert here
4 comments ↓
Sorry I just don’t get this! These mini computers along with their sub $1000 full-sized relatives are often touted as “perfect for students” (by those who are trying to sell them). I’d say these machines are perfect for the office-bound exec who only uses them to check email, jot the occasional memo and check out the latest ups and downs on the ASX. Our students today need powerful platforms capable of running multimedia/drawing/authoring programs. Students today use all the power of computing thats available and they need to do this to get the experiences we want for them. Let’s not devalue the technology experience with cheap solutions.
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Graham, I see where you’re coming from on this. We also need to look at what is a cost effective way to integrate Technology. Unfortunately the Demographics of the region play a big part in this equation. If we were to go 1:1, using current Tablet PC’s and software that we already use in our ILLC class, we would loose more than 50% of our families. It’s as simple as that.
A lot of the Technology that we can use with our students doesn’t need super powered Computers. With the advent of Web 2.0, and the subsequent uses that are plentiful at the moment, a simple Web Browser and a decent Internet connection is all that is needed. I see it as not about the High Powered gadgetry, but connectivity, that is most important element here. Hey, I may be wrong, but that seems to be what everyone is pushing for.
Just my 2c worth.
Cheers,
Andrew.
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Well we’ll have to disagree on this one Andrew. I calculated the other day that one of our Toshiba Tablets is leased at under $3/day and we know they are stable and will surive for a good 3-4 years student use. And we know they will handle all that is required because they are supported by two good companies who have looked after schools for 30 years. If we chase the cheapies, we will lose that support and education in Australia will be the poorer for it. In 3-4 years time I expect many schools to be suffering for the misplaced and ill-advised economical decisions made now.
Only time will tell who’s right.
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Now of course I’m not saying that we are about to go down that route. As you know we have spent a few years getting our single class up and running and struggling with the after ILLC abyss. We are still working on that one, and have Cilla’s support now so will need to see where that ends up.
As you are probably aware we are starting to plan our expansion into Stage 3 in MS, which will then lead into either a Stage 4 Tablet Class, or the ILLC for the gifted and talented.
My initial point is, that there has to be a place for machines like this too. Technology is diverse, as are the ways in which it can and will be used. There is a little niche, in a school somewhere, that will be filled by utilising these Micro Laptops in some form. There has to be, as many vendors are madly developing them. Are they to become just an oversized PDA though?
By all accounts the biggest issue is their lack of storage capacity. Currently 8Gb Solid State, soon to be 16. Windows and Office will take that up in no time.
We also need to remember that this is early days though, and for some schools these machines will be “their answer,” for now. For that to happen Asus (HP, Intel, or whomever you use) will need to model support plans appropriately.
You are also correct, we have been down that path, and now have a very good working support model, which we are not about to throw away. But, we cannot assume that the same is not possible with these machines.
I cant help but keep an open mind on where these Micro’s will fit in. We’ll both have to sit back and watch.
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