Mobile Computing

After much emailing different people we have now made solid progress! I have been in contact with manufacturers of Android tablets and Windows themselves regarding our needs from a tablet and our concerns about the issues we might have with the world famous, fruit based brand.

I have continually struggled with the application of a non-windows based OS in our school environment. I do not intend to have a high maintenance ICT program, I enjoy the freedom and cost effective nature of using free software in our teaching and as such have been struggling with the idea of a more app based OS. I would like to avoid a tablet device that would require us to, for example buy 12 tablets @ £400 and then spend further money on each and every app, especially if we wish to avoid adverts. Initially, we would wish for a word processing facility, just in case. For the iPad, the best is Pages. £4.99 per app on 12 tablets is another £60 spent for one app, scaled up to all the iLife apps for iPad would see us spending another £200+ on apps very quickly.

This in mind, I was keen to try the Windows tablets that are appearing. Microsoft themselves do not, at present appear to be committing to placing Surface in schools as they have not fully rolled out their Surface Pro and associated infrastructure to liaise with schools. The Surface Pro, I was informed by someone at Microsoft, is the only tablet of the Surface range that will support Domain links.

I was stumped, until I saw a link to the ASUS VivoTab SMART (ME400) a Windows 8 based tablet (or Windows 8 Pro) for around £400. "Bargain," I said to myself and promptly contacted ASUS to see about trialling one. 2 Days later and a quick phone call and I am currently awaiting the arrival of our test device which we have for 2 weeks. This represents fantastic service from the guys at ASUS and I hope to see how we get on.

So... for now this is it, detailed testing will hopefully proceed. Have we found the Windows based tablet for the school market? I would love to report back.