Sub-notebooks being investigated

The leadership team is currently looking at the eeePC notebook computer to see if it might be an option for students to use for the most common computer needs at school.

The key advantages seem to be:

Solid State hard drive – no moving parts and so the computer is more robust

Comes with the basic computing needs for most subjects as standard including

• wireless and wired networking
• Word processor
• Spreadsheet
• Web browser
• web cam
• microphone
• this list is not exhaustive but lists the tools that are in most demand

Cheap – depending on model cost starts from about $300

Linux Operating system – no issues with viruses and so on

Good battery life starting at 3.5 hours for earlier models

Very small (they are smaller than an average notebook) – they fit nicely on a standard school desk and so it is possible for the computers to be used in a standard classroom rather than having to go to a computer lab

Lower maintenance costs


The key issues seem to be:

• We have had issues with students connecting with their personal network drive. Other schools have got around this by students storing their work on USB sticks.
• They are not a machine for higher end applications and Windows programs will not work on them. They are great for the general purpose applications as listed above.
• The machine is great for online work where students create work to be submitted online. Creating printed versions of work via the network printers is an issue. Printing can happen easily via a printer attached directly to the computer.

Trials with students have been very positive.

It is possible, due to the lower costs of these machines, that more students are more likely to be able to own their own and bring them to school.

We are very interested in your feedback.