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Ask Slashdot: Best Choice of Linux Laptops For Elementary School?

Posted by samzenpus on from the while-they're-young dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I work in the tech department of an elementary school and I am trying to show the tech director the world of Linux. I will be installing edubuntu but I am not sure which laptop to get. I know there are companies like System76 that sell laptops with Linux already installed but I wanted to ask you for your thoughts. We want something small and light weight for the kids. We do not need much horsepower as the main use will be internet/email/word processing and whatever other apps come with edubuntu. Basically, what we really want is something MacBook Air-like but not nearly as expensive. Thoughts?"

6 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Need? by colinrichardday · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do elementary-school students really need laptops?

    1. Re:Need? by Mindscrew · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why would you EVER buy a 6-11 year old child a 300+ dollar piece of technology to take to school?

      Are you really trying to just throw you money away?

      If a school district ever required my (nonexistent) child to carry a device around that costs hundreds of dollars, i would pull my kid out of that district fater then they can say "but its our requirement!"

      Are you KIDDING me? The last thing i want is for some 5th grader to steal my child's ipad that i paid for with my hard earned money.

      If they want to provide them... and provide support.... and provide replacements to stolen ipads... free of charge from me... than fine. But this would never happen with our education budgets.

      And dont come to me to replace the stupid thing when it comes up missing.

      Im sorry but that is ridiculous.

  2. Netbooks by subreality · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't want an Air. That's basically taking the parts from a full power, full featured laptop and using heavy integration to cram it into an extra thin case.

    Doing that for cheaper is basically the definition of "Ultrabook".

    But you're looking for less powerful and less expensive. That's square on what Netbooks were created for. Pick your favorite 12" model.

    If you want something with more midrange performance, look at the Thinkpad X130 series. It's not a real Thinkpad, but more of a premium-grade netbook.

  3. Re:Are you fcking Crazy ? by jedidiah · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What "educational opportunites"?

    Computing is about gettting stuff done. It's not about using particular branded products. Even if you do choose to fixate on a particular brand, it's rather likely that the brand won't be recognizable by "later in their careers".

    Schools should be teaching concepts not products.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  4. Stop It by KalvinB · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You know what would educate kids better than some flavor of laptop?

    Teachers.

    --
    Work Safe Porn
  5. Re:Lenovo mini by wvmarle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why pay a premium?

    Warranty and overall build quality (including strength and durability of the casing) come to mind. Children are not the most careful bunch.