"Why Chromebook Pundits Are Out of Touch"

[AnemicOak]

My nephew (middle school) used them in two classes last year. This year they issued Dell Chromebooks to the entire class that they bring back & forth from home/school.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

My nephew (middle school) used them in two classes last year. This year they issued Dell Chromebooks to the entire class that they bring back & forth from home/school.

Are those Chromebooks ruggedized in any way?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Are those Chromebooks ruggedized in any way?

Nope. Kinda shocked me that they're handing them out to teenagers and pre-teens with just a shoulder bag case. I'd guess, haven't checked, they have some kind of plan for a certain number to be broken and feel it's cheaper to just replace them (EDIT: see below) than to do some kind of ruggedization that could potentially double the unit cost.

EDIT: Looks like they offer insurance & if it's not taken then the parents agree to be liable for theft or damage...

School agrees to:

• Provide a Chromebook for each student, including a loaner device if Chromebook needs repairs.
• Provide filtered Internet access on the Chromebook.
• Provide Google Apps for Education and other educational applications that support learning in the classroom and at home.

The student agrees to:

• Take good care of the Chromebook in all locations.
• Bring the Chromebook to school every day, fully charged.
• Be a responsible digital citizen.
• Use the Chromebook for educational purposes. Only pursue personal interests that align with school policies.
• Report any damage or loss, whatever the cause, to your teacher as soon as possible.
• Take responsibility for any damage or loss caused by neglect or abuse.

Parents/Guardians agree to:

• Ensure your student understands appropriate care of Chromebook in all locations.
• Review responsible digital citizenship with your student.
• Support student learning and the exploration of personal interests that align with school policies.
• Ensure that any damage or loss is reported to school immediately. Report vandalism or theft to the appropriate police department.
• Pay the Personal Device Insurance fee or assume full financial responsibility for theft or damage.

In an effort to protect families from unknown expenses that may occur from theft or accidental damage while the Chromebook is in the care of your child, the district is insuring the Chromebook. The fee is $37 per year per student. If the student qualifies for free or reduced price meals, the fee is reduced to $22.

They also have cellular hotspots that kids with no internet at home can check out and bring home with them.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Nope. Kinda shocked me that they're handing them out to teenagers and pre-teens with just a shoulder bag case. I'd guess, haven't checked, they have some kind of plan for a certain number to be broken and feel it's cheaper to just replace them than to do some kind of ruggedization that could potentially double the unit cost.

EDIT: Looks like they offer insurance & if it's not taken then the parents agree to be liable for theft or damage...

Interesting. It's bad enough having to replace a textbook. Now try replacing a tablet or a computer? And what happens if the parents flat out refuse to pay for a replacement; does the child go without required reading material for the rest of the year?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Interesting. It's bad enough having to replace a textbook. Now try replacing a tablet or a computer? And what happens if the parents flat out refuse to pay for a replacement; does the child go without required reading material for the rest of the year?

I imagine the same rules would apply as by textbooks, so probably.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

They also have cellular hotspots that kids with no internet at home can check out and bring home with them.

McDonald's has free WiFi - feed your mind, feed your body

[ApK]

My son's class Chromebooks stay at school. They have access to the material online from any device, and at open house they said they'd make arraignments for anyone that did not have have Internet access at home. I don't think that's a very large group in my area at this point.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

McDonald's has free WiFi - feed your mind, feed your body

I regularly see the same people in McDonalds on their computers.

Used to be you only saw this at Starbucks.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by frahse

I regularly see the same people in McDonalds on their computers.

Used to be you only saw this at Starbucks.

That reminds me, some years ago we spent a week at the Grand Canyon and there would always be people, mostly young, on their computers or tablets at the two places where they had free Wifi. It was a pretty limited pipe, and 50 to 100 people would really choke it down.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by frahse

I regularly see the same people in McDonalds on their computers.

Used to be you only saw this at Starbucks.

The ongoing resistance to fast-food Wifi in New York is almost paradoxical, since commercial rents are far more expensive than most small businesses can afford. For every McDonald's in a given neighborhood, there are over a dozen niche coffee houses that are continually closing or being replaced by other such houses. Each is always in danger of the cost of rent, supplies and wages exceeding the amount spent by customers who hoard the same tables for hours and sometimes days. As glad as I am to frequent such places, they have a better shot at survival in cities like Chicago, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

The ongoing resistance to fast-food Wifi in New York is almost paradoxical, since commercial rents are far more expensive than most small businesses can afford. For every McDonald's in a given neighborhood, there are over a dozen niche coffee houses that are continually closing or being replaced by other such houses. Each is always in danger of the cost of rent, supplies and wages exceeding the amount spent by customers who hoard the same tables for hours and sometimes days. As glad as I am to frequent such places, they have a better shot at survival in cities like Chicago, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.

I have read that some restaurants cut off their WiFi during the busy hours to make people move along, while others put limits on how long a table can be occupied without reordering at least.

And then there is the McDonald's that older people were gathering just for a social get together without ordering much if anything.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by frahse

I have read that some restaurants cut off their WiFi during the busy hours to make people move along, while others put limits on how long a table can be occupied without reordering at least.

And then there is the McDonald's that older people were gathering just for a social get together without ordering much if anything.

Don't go inside. Just access WiFi from your parked car. That's what I've done.

[bullet]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Don't go inside. Just access WiFi from your parked car. That's what I've done.

If only WalMart had free wifi people could stream NetFlix from their RVs in the parking lot (on their Chromebooks of course). Life would be good.

Here's hoping this thread makes it to Post 1000 while staying on topic...

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by bullet

If only WalMart had free wifi people could stream NetFlix from their RVs in the parking lot (on their Chromebooks of course). Life would be good.
Here's hoping this thread makes it to Post 1000 while staying on topic...

No chance of that

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

No chance of that

No chance of what? Walmart offering free wi-fi, or the thread staying on topic?

Shari