New Tricks for Old Dogs:
Extending Computer Life
John C. Schinker
Technology Coordinator
Brecksville-Broadview Hts. Schools
Photo credit: anjouwu on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjouwu/2363960439/
www.tasteoftech.net
schinkerj@gmail.com
http://delicious.com/jschinker/eTechOhio09
www.EdTechTalk.com
Now What?
www.prezi.com
"Much more like a "real" computer..."
"This little machine is pretty cool"
"I can't wait to give it to a few third graders"
"My sixth grade son... loved it."
"We're always dazzled by all of the cool features yet end up usually just using the basic functions"
"This is a nice alternative to more expensive machines."
"...covers most of what we need a portable computer to do."
"Given the right application, this is perfect."
Can we make this...
... act like this?
Photo credit: Internet Business Blog http://www.internetmarketingfool.com
Photo credit: Internet Business Blog http://www.internetmarketingfool.com
Photo credit: Internet Business Blog http://www.internetmarketingfool.com
Photo credit: Internet Business Blog http://www.internetmarketingfool.com
Photo credit: Internet Business Blog http://www.internetmarketingfool.com
Photo credit: Piero Sierra on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/piero/207270981/
Photo credit: Chris Stickley on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissphonograpghy/473498116/
nLite
Photo credit: Yukari on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/yukariryu/122530930/
Photo credit: batmoo on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/batmoo/61938659/
Photo credit: Mai Lee on Flickr, http://flickr.com/photos/maile/274400729/
Everybody uses Windows.
It's what they use in the "real world"
Students have Windows at home.
We want to stay standardized on one platform.
The programs we use only work in Windows.
Photo credit: http://www.crystalxp.net/galerie/es.id.6415-3d-windows-logo-in-glass.html
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
schinkerj@gmail.com
www.tasteoftech.net
http://delicious.com/jschinker/eTechOhio09
Source: eTech Ohio 2007 Biennial Educational Technology Assessment
Source: eTech Ohio 2007 Biennial Educational Technology Assessment
Source: eTech Ohio 2007 Biennial Educational Technology Assessment
Source: eTech Ohio 2007 Biennial Educational Technology Assessment
Source: eTech Ohio 2007 Biennial Educational Technology Assessment
Source: Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Services
Source: RealtyTrac
Source: Education Tax Policy Institute
Source: Brecksville-Broadview Hts. Schools Budget, 2005-2009
Criticism
"The touchpad... really slows navigation."
"The keyboard is tiny and hard for me to type on."
"There is no CD-ROM drive."
"LOTS of problems getting these to work on [our wireless network]."
"The screen requires a lot of scrolling."
Praise
Listen to Your Users
Photo Credit: Jonas Christian Hansen on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonaschansen/476908525/
Focus
On What's Most Important
Photo Credit: Antonio Machado on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/antoniomachado/2352384135/
Set Limits
Photo Credit: Illetirres on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/illetirres/1350906345/
Test
Photo Credit: Super-Structure on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_coleman/325107937/
The mostly-fail-safe $100 upgrade
Photo Credit: laughlin on Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/wurzle/659315/
"The host computer needs a license for Server 2003 or 2008 ($87.52). "
Mark Barhorst
Sidney City Schools

Techcoords Listserv
October, 2008
"For each nComputing device you connect you need a server student device CAL ($0.52), a terminal server CAL ($16.17), and an office license ($54.65)."
"The hardware piece for an x300 kit (3 devices to connect to 1 host) is about $200."
TOTAL COST
$300 in software
$200 in hardware
Plus a reasonably powerful computer
Plus 3 monitors, keyboards, mice
Joint communique from Microsoft and nComputing outlining OS licensing options
Photo credit: http://www.u-ask-us.com
"The truth is, our nation has lost more jobs in 2008 than in any year since World War II. In Ohio alone we lost more than 100,000 jobs."

-- Governor Strickland
"Housing foreclosures more than doubled in 2008 from the already record levels of the year before."

 -- Governor Strickland