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This month Guy Bates, XMA's Business Development Director comments on the rise of netbooks....

Why size matters

Ask most adults what size they want their computer screen and the answers will usually be ‘big’, ‘bigger’, or ‘widescreen’.  Keyboards are the same, with big fingers needing big keys.

However, show a school child a handheld unit with a small screen and small keyboard that will do 90% of what a notebook computer will and their answers to the same question may be very different.

This size issue is now very significant to schools wanting to give their pupils the best devices for the best start in life with ICT.  Major vendors like Toshiba and Samsung are bringing a new range of products to the market that they believe will capture this big (or small) market!

Smaller devices with no moving parts (solid state) and long battery life can be obtained at a lower cost because the size of screen has a major bearing on unit cost. Largely children either don’t care because like the screen, they are smaller too.  Many positively like a smaller device because it is more personal and portable.  Where would the iPod be if it were A4 size?

Until recently this format of education targeted small devices was the domain of niche vendors, but demand is growing. Now some of the major issues have been worked through, some of the IT ‘heavy weights’ are bringing products to the market that they believe will make it easier for schools to provide units for every pupil, whilst keeping the all important ‘Total Cost of Ownership’ (TCO) down.

‘The concept of Anytime Anywhere Learning (AAL) has always been challenged by cost and mobility’ XMA’s Divisional Sales Director Guy Bates comments.  ‘These latest offerings enable learning through wireless Internet access and the longer battery life makes their use across the school day more practical.  Pricing is reaching levels that will enable many schools to provide whole class sets to be provided for fully inclusive learning and teaching.’

For further details on how XMA can help the provision of ICT in your school please speak to your Account Manager or email the education team direct at education.team@xma.co.uk. 

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