All Together, Now

Space is so tight at most schools that they can’t consider getting traditional desktop PCs. Enter the latest round of all-in-one computers that combine everything from the processor, RAM and optical drive to graphics electronics and screen into a svelte package that is often only slightly larger than a monitor. Because they have control over every component, all-in-one PCs can cut costs and power use as well as space, making them must-haves for the classroom.

Based on an 18.5-inch display, Viewsonic’s VPC100 is thoroughly up to date and its Atom processor can handle most classroom or library activities, from Web research to word processing. It comes with 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and a Super Multi DVD drive that can work with a wide variety of discs, although not Blu Ray ones. On top of wired networking, the VPC100 includes wireless WiFi and Bluetooth so that it can connect with a slew of accessories. The PC costs $600 and consumes about 60 watts when being used, or about half that of a traditional desktop computer.  

Forget about what a desktop PC costs, because an inexpensive system can cost hundreds of dollars a year in electricity bills. Tangent’s VITA LT is an all-in-one PC with an 18.5-inch display that is small and uses only 24 watts, or about one quarter the typical desktop PC. On top of a built-in Web cam and networking, the VITA LT includes a flash card reader and DVD drive. Available in white or black, pricing for schools starts at $1,000.

Laptop Insurance

Regardless of whether they stay at school or go home with students every night, notebooks get stolen and it can cost a lot to replace them. Some schools add the equipment to their general insurance policies, but it can be expensive. Student Insurance Partners has another way, laptop insurance that can cost as little as $50 a school year for a $1,200 system and a $100 deductible policy; each policy requires a $5 processing fee. The insurance covers damage, destruction or theft, and is also available for other high cost items, like cameras and musical instruments.

Hear Every Sound

Classrooms can now be outfitted with a sophisticated sound system that doesn’t require the expense of running audio cables with Calypso’s WMC-RF Audio Systems. The system combines a digital radio frequency sound system with an infrared control to deliver clear and rich sound that’s always at the right volume. The system is smart enough to turn itself off when the teacher goes into the hallway for a private discussion and costs $1,000 with school discounts available. 

Sound from Above

When it comes to classroom audio, there’s nothing that compares with speakers that are mounted flush in the ceiling for sound quality, but it can be expensive to install. Califone has a new approach that can make installation of its ClearSound speakers quicker, easier and more budget-friendly. The kit comes with an adjustable steel frame that fits perfectly into drop ceilings and is UL fire rated. Each unit has a 6-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter for accurate audio reproduction.

Right Write

The pen and paper will seem so 20-th century when teachers and students get their hands onLiveScribe Pulse Smart Pen. It’s a modern marvel that not only remembers whatever is written, but captures sounds as well. It’s a little larger and heavier than the typical pen, is powered by a rechargeable battery and requires special paper that has tiny dots on it. Anything that’s written is captured by the pen’s built-in infrared camera and anything that’s said is recorded on the pen’s flash memory. The key is that LiveScribe’s software puts the two together so that everything from interactive research to department meetings get saved. In the hands of students, it can transform the classroom. With 1- or 2GB of memory, the Pulse sells for $150 or $200.

Plug Once and Forget About It

Is there anything worse than taking the time to set up a large screen monitor or projector with an HDMI cable only to find out that the video cable has worked loose? I can’t think of any. The latest cables from PPC lock in place, making it impossible to come loose. You don’t need any tools to connect and disconnect the cables, which come in 3-foot lengths for HDMI that cost $48.99.
 

The Art Room’s Monitor

Why shoot photos for an art project in high resolution when the monitor that the class views them on is strictly low-res? JVC’s Xiview LT-42WX70 is a 42-inch LCD monitor that can display 1080 high definition programming and 96 percent of Adobe’s color space. JVC goes a step further with 52 digital image enhancement techniques so they look, well, picture perfect. On top of 3 HDMI inputs, the display has a VGA, component video and audio. The monitor costs a hefty $2,400.

Gyms in a New Light

If you’re like most you don’t think about the huge floodlights in the gym all that often. That is, until the electricity bill comes and you wonder how one room could be so expensive to light. Lutron’s Athlite can put an end to utility bill sticker shock by cutting the amount of electricity that gym lights use by up to 80 percent compared to conventional metal halide lights. The fluorescent lights cut power use by 50 percent per fixture, don’t require 5 or 10 minutes of warm-up time to get to full brightness so they can be turned off when not needed and can be dimmed for different uses. All told, it can save a bundle and make your gym a little greener.
 

Space Saving System

Space may be the final frontier for science fiction TV shows, but it’s a day-to-day challenge for principals and administrators trying to find precious room for teaching at just about every school. Trying to squeeze computers into limited floor space takes several shapes, including netbooks, carts and thin clients. Lenovo’s IdeaCentre A600 is the first of a generation of all-in-one PCs that don’t skimp on performance and features while making every square inch counts.

By squeezing a lot of computer into a small package the A600 is full PC masquerading as a monitor. It occupies only 9- by 19-inches of precious desktop space, making it perfect for teacher desks, computer labs, libraries and the school’s front office. On the downside, the A600 is a tall design that has the possibility of screening the class from a teacher.

It may be small, but make no mistake, it’s a high-performance computer with a wide variety of luxuries, most of which fit well in to the classroom. Inside the sleek black case is a 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of system memory and a 1 terabyte hard drive. The center of attention is the A600’s super-sharp 21.5-inch screen, which is big enough for small group work but is too small for the typical 25-to-30 child classroom. The display can be tilted up and down by 20-degrees to avoid stray reflections, but it lacks the hardware to be mounted on a wall.

It’s a wireless wonder with Bluetooth and WiFi as well as a wireless keyboard, mouse and a remote control. While these items may seem like school luxuries, they can help make a digital classroom run better. For example, there’s nothing like roaming around the room with keyboard in hand, stopping to help a child by putting their work on-screen.

The big step forward is the remote control, which has four roles in the classroom. On top of starting up the built-in TV tuner and adjusting the channel and volume, it can double as a phone handset for VOIP systems. The remote can also control the on-screen pointer with a flick of the wrist, although it takes some time to get used to. There’re a few games that mimic the Nintendo Wii by using the remote as a game controller, but they’re crude by comparison.

Around the edge of the system is a great set of ports, allowing the A600 to connect with a variety of devices and screens. It has 6 USB, wired LAN, audio and FireWire jacks as well as a flash card reader that can work with the most popular types, except CompactFlash cards. On the right side is a Blu-ray optical disc player that can burn a variety of CDs and DVDs.

It all adds up to a powerful PC that rates a 659.6 on the Passmark Performance 6.1 benchmark, or about twice as fast as budget PCs. When it’s running, the A600 uses only 62 watts, about half the power of the typical PC, and only 1 watt when it’s asleep. All told, the typical school can save about $80 per year per system compared to a traditional desktop PC and separate monitor.

Unfortunately, the $1,400 price tag for the A600 is out of reach for many school districts faced with declining tax revenues, but Lenovo sells ones with slower processors and smaller hard drives for as little as $680. Either way, the A600 packs a lot of school computer into a small space.

A-
Lenovo IdeaCentre A600
$1,400

     + Space-efficient design 
     + High performance
     + Wireless mouse and keyboard
     + VOIP and air mouse remote control

     - Expensive
     - Tall design
     - No hardware for wall mounting

Gear that Stays Put

What school today hasn’t dealt with the theft of some piece of expensive digital equipment? The fact of the matter is that computers and even projectors are so mobile that they can literally walk out the door. Comprotec’s Sonic Shock can help stop school equipment theft with an alarm that sounds a piercing 117 decibel alarm. Just glue the small box to the device with the included high strength adhesive and whenever its electronic tether senses it’s been unplugged, the whole school with know. There’s a keyed on/off switch and the 9-volt battery lasts for up to 5-years. SonicShock 3 costs $100 and comes with a lifetime warranty.