Hardware

This is the area that the non-technical person can become most confused by. It is also the area of the most hype. The following are my own convictions after managing three schools over six years and I know not everyone will agree with me.

• PC’s & Laptops
• Processor type. Both AMD and Intel (The two main processor manufacturers) produce a more expensive processor and a cheaper version. For Intel the cheaper processor is called a Celeron and the more expensive Pentium. For AMD the cheaper is called a Duron and the more expensive an Athlon.
• In my opinion there is very little difference between these in educational use. If I was high end gaming user then I would want an Athlon or Pentium, but Key Stage 1 & 2 software just doesn’t tax a Celeron or Duron.
• The faster the processor the better as it adds future proofing.
• Laptops can have a mobile processor that is often slower but uses power better. These are a good thing and schools shouldn’t be worried by slower processor speed in a mobile processor.
• Hard Drive. Here two things are important, size in gigabytes (gb’s) and speed. An 80gb hard drive is the entry level size these days 7500rpm is the entry level hard drive speed.
• In my opinion KS1 & 2 educational use doesn’t need to go much higher than this but that said bigger is always better for future proofing.
• RAM Memory. This is the non permanent memory that users use to run programs in. It is cleared when the machine is turned off. The more you have of this the more programs you can use at one time.
• Windows XP Pro needs a lot of RAM memory. 256mb is the entry level that you see quoted on a lot of PC’s. This is the one thing I always want to upgrade. I would always buy at least 512mb of RAM per machine.
• Ram can be harder to upgrade in a laptop so get as much as you need when first purchasing.
• Motherboard. This is the least reported component of your PC but as everything plugs into it, it is crucial. There are so many firms making them that a synopsis is impossible here.
• Find out the name of the board and then type it into a web search with the added word review. This will at least tell you how old it is and how people rated it when it came out. School PC’s don’t need every bell and whistle but neither do they need to be created from a motherboard two years old.
• Graphics. There are two types of graphics, ‘built in’ which reside on the motherboard and often take some of the RAM and dedicated graphics cards which sit in a slot on the motherboard.
• Key Stage 1 & 2 educational use doesn’t need independent graphics cards at the moment. In my opinion you are quite safe buying the ‘built in’ type.
• Monitor. Your screen is important but as pupils don’t spend all day on the computer it is less important than say for an office user.
• Bigger is better. I think the minimum standard these days is a 17in CRT and a 15in TFT.
• TFT screens take far less space and this can be important if space is an issue however they are more expensive.
• TFT screens are often soft and can be easily damaged by poking. There is a glass fronted version and this is in my opinion is a must in Key Stage 1 & 2.
• If you need to change resolution size a lot (say for a pupil with bad eyesight) then a CRT may be more useful. TFT monitors seem to work best on one setting but lose clarity if the setting is changed.
• All laptop screens are TFT’s but you can purchase glass fronted laptop screens too.
• Mice come in many forms.
• In my opinion the wired laser mice are the best. They have no ball which can get clogged with dirt or removed by prying fingers. And as they are wired they won’t get lost like wireless mice can.
• Keyboards
• If you need a special keyboard for a SEN pupil there are some good products out there.
• If your keyboards are tired you can always replace them cheaply.
• USB Connections. You connect most things to your PC via USB2 these days.
• USB slots on the front as well as the back can make for easy use by pupils using items such as webcams or digital cameras.
• Make sure they are USB2 slots, this is the newer faster standard.
• Make sure there are at least 4 of them
• Network Connections Network cards come in 100mb and 1000mb variety. Wired or wireless.
• I would recommend 1000mb as it adds future proofing to your network.
• Where ever possible use wired network connections as these work at a much faster speed and each wire is providing dedicated bandwidth into that PC, whereas wireless connections share the bandwidth with other PC’s accessing the same wireless access point which slows down the connection.