Cheap Laptops

[Les Beeavinu]

I wonder if anyone might be able to help. My kids' school is looking to buy 30 laptops as cheap as they can. The Parent Teachers Association (of which my wife is the Treasurer) are buying them from funds raised.

They must have XP and also have warranties (you know what kids are like). The school isn't allowed to buy from your usual retail outlets as they must collect 3 tenders and go through a selection process.

At the moment, they have only found silly arse prices which makes it impossible to justify - can anyone / does anyone know if they might be able to help?

 

[beesbeesbarmyarmy]

Do you know if the school is part of a confederation of local schools? If so it's worth talking to the other schools to see where they have got the best deals recently. Even better is if there are other schools looking to buy computers. You can often get a better price by putting in a joint order.

I'm head of ICT in a school (not part of a confederation) and we use Dell Schools. Have you tried giving them a ring? http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/k-12/df.aspx?refid=df&cs=RC1050272&s=k12

 

[Bigbee]

I wonder if anyone might be able to help. My kids' school is looking to buy 30 laptops as cheap as they can. The Parent Teachers Association (of which my wife is the Treasurer) are buying them from funds raised.

They must have XP and also have warranties (you know what kids are like). The school isn't allowed to buy from your usual retail outlets and buy as they must collect 3 tenders and go through a selection process.

At the moment, they have only found silly arse prices which makes it impossible to justify - can anyone / does anyone know if they might be able to help?

Is there any spec required?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Do you know if the school is part of a confederation of local schools? If so it's worth talking to the other schools to see where they have got the best deals recently. Even better is if there are other schools looking to buy computers. You can often get a better price by putting in a joint order.

I'm head of ICT in a school (not part of a confederation) and we use Dell Schools. Have you tried giving them a ring? http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/k-12/df.aspx?refid=df&cs=RC1050272&s=k12

Thanks - I know they've been looking for a while but I don't know if they have spoken to other school. I will ask the question. Thanks for the link - I'll have a look at that too.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Is there any spec required?

None that has been told to me so I anticipate "bog standard" - certainly not a high spec.

 

[vcmazz]

I wonder if anyone might be able to help. My kids' school is looking to buy 30 laptops as cheap as they can. The Parent Teachers Association (of which my wife is the Treasurer) are buying them from funds raised.

They must have XP and also have warranties (you know what kids are like). The school isn't allowed to buy from your usual retail outlets and buy as they must collect 3 tenders and go through a selection process.

At the moment, they have only found silly arse prices which makes it impossible to justify - can anyone / does anyone know if they might be able to help?

The hard part is finding anything with XP on it these days which is a real shame because it's my favourite OS. Not sure I understand this proceedure though. The school can't buy from retail outlets, want warranties and three 'tenders'? So suppliers are supposed to 'bid' to give the school something for f*** all? I hate all that council bollox. For that reason I'm out

 

[Carri Bee Un]

The school can't buy from retail outlets, want warranties and three 'tenders'?

Mental isn't it. I hope whoever came up with that b***ocks got sh*tcanned :bound:

 

[vcmazz]

Mental isn't it. I hope whoever came up with that b***ocks got sh*tcanned :bound:

I hope that too :yes:. It's the same with services. Our cab company for example have enquired about various council contracts. You're expected to tender a bid of less per mile than the cost of the fuel and they dress it up like it's some sort of exciting opportunity for you! You're supposed to be grateful to them!

 

[hobbsy]

Take a look at RM, they make one specifically for schools and will give you a good long warranty. Also they are particularly ugly so no thief/kid/parent in their right mind would steal them.

http://www.rm.com/shops/rmshop/Catalogue.aspx?nguid=0f30c1eb-5f92-4511-a362-3ce83cb94c70

EDIT: They will run XP if you ask them (phone them up rather than order on-line) , but will ship with Windows 7 and you will need to use downgrade rights. If your school has a site licence with Micro$oft that makes it easier.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Take a look at RM, they make one specifically for schools and will give you a good long warranty. Also they are particularly ugly so no thief/kid/parent in their right mind would steal them.

http://www.rm.com/shops/rmshop/Catalogue.aspx?nguid=0f30c1eb-5f92-4511-a362-3ce83cb94c70

EDIT: They will run XP if you ask them (phone them up rather than order on-line) , but will ship with Windows 7 and you will need to use downgrade rights. If your school has a site licence with Micro$oft that makes it easier.

Looks good - thanks for the tip which I've passed on. Anyone anymore thoughts?