Despite
competition from tablets, the notebook continues to hold its paramount position
at the center of the digital classroom. That’s because it can do so much for education
for so little. After all, a teaching notebook can cost less than the typical
tablet yet have a much bigger screen, a real keyboard, all the connection ports
you’d ever want and can use a school’s existing software.
Whether it’s
for a dozen systems that will live on a cart or outfitting an entire school, the
challenge is to get the most for the least. A little over a year ago, the Lab
set out of find the best notebook for teaching and learning, given that it had
to fit into the typical school’s tight budget of about $450 per system.
A lot has
changed in the year, although we’re a bit disappointed that we had to stick
with the $450 price ceiling. The current crop of classroom notebooks are not
only more powerful, but offer faster connections, more spacious hard drives and
more amenities for student and teacher. In other words, for $450 or less a
school can get more than enough notebook to satisfy the educational needs of
students and instructors.
To see what
schools have to choose from, we gathered together the five most appropriate
systems for classroom use and gave them a battery of tests to see how they fit
into the classroom. The Asus F55A, Dell Inspiron 15, Gateway NE56R37U, HP
ProBook 4545s and Lenovo G580 all have 15.6-inch screens, at least 320GB of
hard drive space, at least 4GB of RAM and a capable optical drive that can read
and create DVD discs.
The biggest
difference with a year ago is that we are now in the Windows 8 age and all of
the systems came with Microsoft’s new operating system. This may seem more than
a bit ironic to school administrators considering that two in five schools
still soldier on with antediluvian Windows XP software. Microsoft plans to end
support for XP next April, so it’s as good a time as any to figure out a path
to the latest software.
The hardware
has evolved as well and these computers all going their own way. The majority
use a variety of Intel Pentium or Core i3 processors, although the ProBook
4545s comes with a 2.5GHz AMD chip. While they all have wired networking and
wireless WiFi, three of the notebooks lack Bluetooth so wireless keyboards,
mice and many peripherals are off-limits with them.
The proof is
in the performance and on average these systems are not only more powerful than
last year’s bunch but were able to run for an average of 20 minutes longer on a
charge. In a real sense, they provide the best of both worlds for students and
teachers.
While they
all can find their place in the classroom, one stands out from the crowd. Dell
continues to lead the world in squeezing more into a small and light
inexpensive notebook than any other company. Its Inspiron 15 model not only was
tiny compared to the others, but ran for nearly four hours, had a good assortment
of ports and had a clean sweep in connecting to a variety of peripherals.
It was neither the fastest nor the longest lasting on its battery, the Inspiron15 was
comfortably at the head of the class. It’s like the student that’s in every school
who excels at most subjects and does well in the others, but doesn’t have a
weak class. That makes the Inspiron 15 a model student.
Asus F55A
It may be thin and small, but the Asus F55A notebook skimps on some of its vital
equipment, creating a computer that lagged the field in performance and
amenities. Still, for $400, it is a bargain classroom system.
Overall, the
wedge-shaped notebook takes up 14.7- by 9.9-inches of desktop space and is
1.2-inches thick in the front, but is a hefty 1.6-inches at the rear. All told,
it is a little bigger than the Inspiron 15, but about 10 percent smaller than
the Lenovo G580. Its all-black ribbed plastic case looks great considering its
price tag.
At
5.4-pounds, it is in the middle between the heavier ProBook 4545s and the
lighter Inspiron 15. Add in the 9-ounce power adapter and you have a system that
can go from classroom to classroom at 6-pounds, even, half a pound heavier than
the Inspiron 15. Like the others, it uses a three-prong power plug.
The downside
is that it cuts corners on the equipment it holds. To start, it has 4GB of RAM
and a mid-range Pentium B980 processor that has two computational cores and runs
at 2.4GHz. It’s essentially a faster version of the B-series chip in the
Gateway notebook. This puts it a step or two behind the G580’s third generation
Core i3 chip and 6GB of RAM. Its 320GB hard drive should be plenty but is the
smallest of the bunch and second best compared to the larger and faster drives
on the Gateway and HP systems.
There’s also
an 8X DVD drive that can create and play discs of all types. The F55A comes
with a Webcam and microphone for keeping a video diary or videoconferencing.
Like the
others, the F55A has a 15.6-inch screen that can show 1,366 by 768 resolution.
It uses Intel’s HD Graphics and is the only system here that can connect
wirelessly using Intel’s WiDi technology, a big advantage in the digital
classroom of tomorrow.
It comes with
a sturdy keyboard with 18.8mm keys and a large touchpad that works well with
Windows 8 and can interpret two-finger gestures. It lacks the specialty keys
that the Gateway system has, though. Its Altec Lansing speakers are underneath
the system, which somewhat muffles the audio.
On the
downside, the system’s ports are skimpy with only two USB connections, one of
USB 2.0 and one for USB 3.0. That’s half as many as the ProBook 4545s or
Inspiron 15, the connection kings. There are also ports for HDMI, VGA and audio
as well as a flash card reader.
While it has
a wired Ethernet jack and 802.11n WiFi, the F55A lacks the Bluetooth radio
that’s on the Inspiron 15 and the ProBook 4545s. This severely limits its
ability to link with classroom accessories, like keyboards and speakers.
It all adds
up to a system that trailed the pack on performance. It’s Performance 8 score
of 797.6 was the lowest of the group by a wide margin and more than 30-percent
slower than the G580. During the benchmarking it came out that the F55A’s
B-series processor couldn’t work with
Microsoft’s DirectX 11 software, which is used in many games and some
educational software.
It redeemed
itself with a 3 hour and 56 minute battery life for its 4,400-milli-amp hour
cells, the longest of the five and half an hour longer than the Gateway
machine. It had a middle-of-the-pack WiFi range of 105-feet.
In daily
classroom use, the F55A did quite well, but its lack of Bluetooth meant it
couldn’t connect with our Bluetooth keyboard; it passed the other three
compatibility tests, though. It mastered the science simulations, NASA videos
and BrainPop teaching sequences, but occasionally left us waiting on it to
catch up.
It’s easy to
get inside the machine to do periodic cleaning and maintenance. Just loosen two
screens from the large panel underneath and the system’s RAM and hard drive are
in your face.
The F55A
comes with Windows 8, McAfee’s Internet Security and a bunch of useful Asus
utilities, the best of which is a metric converter app, something the others
don’t have. As is the case with the other four computers, the F55A has a 1-year
warranty, but Asus includes accident protection and shipping both ways. Unfortunately,
Asus doesn’t offer a warranty extension to three years, but it can be had at
Amazon.com for $80.
All told, the
$400 F55A is an economical choice for schools if battery life counts for more
than raw power or its ability to connect in the classroom.
Asus F55A
Price: $400
+ Low cost
+ Best battery life
+ Asus software
+ Can use WiDi
- Low performance potential
- No Bluetooth
- Only 2 USB ports
Dell Inspiron 15
Don’t let its plain Jane black case fool you,
the Dell Inspiron 15 holds a powerful notebook inside that is good at just
about everything and should fit right into the classroom. The bonus is that it
sells for $400.
Good things do come in small – and light –
packages and Dell takes the lead in stuffing more notebook into a svelte
profile that even a second grade can carry around. The Inspiron 15 weighs
4.9-pounds and with its AC adapter hits the road at a comfortable 5.5-pounds,
the lightest of the group by a wide margin and three-quarters of a pound less
than the ProBook 4545s weighs.
At 1.1- by 14.8- by 10.1-inches, it is the
smallest of the five by far and occupies 13-percent less space than the G580.
Its black case has a textured surface, making it easier to grip and harder to
drop, particularly for smaller hands. It has heavily rounded corners and a
prominent silver logo ion the display lid, but the machine requires a
three-prong outlet.
The system is built around an Intel 2365 Core
i3 processor, which is older than the third-generation Intel chip used by the
G580 or the AMD chip on the ProBook 4545s. In practical terms it doesn’t
include the ability to automatically ramp up its speed. Still, it runs at
1.4GHz and is more than powerful enough to get it through the school day. The
rest of the system is no slouch either with 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and
an 8X DVD driver that can create and play all kinds of discs.
Like the others in the group, the Inspiron 15
has a 15.6-inch display that can show 1,366 by 768 resolution; it uses Intel’s
HD Graphics. There’s a Web cam and dual-microphone array above the screen so
it’s ready to roll for videoconferencing. The system’s speakers are underneath
but sound fine and can get very loud, which can be a mixed blessing in a large
classroom.
Overall, it delivers a good mixture of old
and new ports, but with one noticeable exception: it lacks a VGA port for using
the system with an older projector or monitor. It does have HDMI as well as four
USB ports, two of which use the newer USB 3.0 protocol and two that use the
older USB 2.0 spec. There’s also an audio jack for using a headset.
The 18.9mm white-on-black keys should be fine
in the dark, but the Gateway’s keys show up better. It has a large touchpad
with a smooth surface that worked well with Windows 8 and simple gestures.
As is the case with the others, the Inspiron
15 comes with a flash card reader, wired Ethernet networking and 802.11n WiFi. Because
the system uses an Atheros WiFi device it can’t take advantage of Intel’s
proprietary WiDi system for wirelessly moving sound and images to a projector; only
the F55A can use Intel’s WiDi technology.
Just like the ProBook 4545s, the Inspiron 15
adds the latest Bluetooth radio so it can connect with wireless keyboards,
speakers and mice. It passed the Lab’s compatibility tests with flying colors.
While it can’t touch the G580’s power, the
Inspiron 15 was reliable and competent during testing. It managed an 897.1 on
Passmark’s Performance 8.0 suite of tests, right in the middle of the group,
but about 25-percent off the pace set by the G580. Its tiny 2,660milli-amp hour
battery is a modern marvel that lasted for 3 hours and 47 minutes on a charge.
That’s 9 minutes short of the F55A’s larger battery’s run time. Bottom line: It
can easily get you through a full school day of on and off work.
Its ability to put the science simulations,
BrainPop animations and the NASA video on screen smoothly and with detail was
without peer in the group. Everything was sharp, looked good and worked well
without a crash or momentary lag.
It stayed online up to 110-feet from the
Lab’s WiFi router and access to the Inspiron 15’s innards is easy. After
opening two Philips screws, it’s all there in front of your eyes.
The Inspiron 15 comes with Windows 8, McAfee’s
Security Center and a month of updates, CyberLink’s Media Center and a slew of
Dell software. Oddly, it lacks Dell’s customized Windows Mobility Center, which
is on other notebooks and puts everything you need to adjust on a single
screen. It has a one-year warranty, but upping the coverage to three-years adds
a hefty $140 – one-third of its base price.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that the
Inspiron 15 has everything that a teacher or student could want in the
classroom. The surprise is that the $400 system does it for so much less.
Dell Inspiron 15
Price: $400
+ Inexpensive
+ Small, light and thin
+ Good battery life
+ Four USB connections
+ Reasonable performance
- No VGA port
Gateway NE56R37U
A mix of old and very new, Gateway’s NE56R37U
system is well equipped and comes with an excellent array of components but the
system didn’t impress the graders in any one particular area other than its $420
price tag.
It buys a lot of notebook with the black and
silver NE56R37U model. The system feels sturdy, but is among the biggest in its
class. At 1.3- by 15.0- by 9.8-inches, it is only slightly smaller than the
G580 and is significantly larger than the Inspiron 15 or Asus F55A.
There’s a prominent silver Gateway logo on
the display lid and the machine weighs in at 5.3 pounds, right in the middle of
the group. Add in its small AC adapter and the NE56R37U has a 5.8-pound travel
weight, roughly 5-ounces heavier than the Inspiron 15. The power cord needs at
three-prong outlet, though.
It’s powered by an Intel Pentium B960
processor that runs at 2.2GHz, which, like the slightly faster one on the Asus
F55A, is starting to show its age. The chip has two computation cores but can’t
handle the latest DirectX 11 software or adjust its speed when up against tough
tasks. It worked well with Windows 8, however.
The system comes with a generous 6GB of RAM,
matching the level of the G580, and a 750GB hard drive, the largest of the
bunch. Like the rest of this group, the NE56R37U also has an 8X DVD drive that
can create and play all kinds of discs.
As is the case with the others, the NE56R37U comes
with a 15.6-inch screen that can show 1,366 by 768 resolution images. It has an
Intel Graphics HD accelerator behind it. Above it are a Web cam and a
microphone for video conferences and diaries.
The array of ports on the system is a big
disappointment because the system lacks the latest USB 3.0 connections that
offer speeds ten-times higher than the older USB spec. It has three USB 2.0
ports, one less than the Dell or HP laptops, as well as HDMI, VGA and audio
connections. The system has a pair of speakers just under the display that
sound fine for spoken word material and music but can’t get as loud as the
others.
It comes with wired Ethernet, 802.11n WiFi, a
flash card reader and a gem of a keyboard. The 18.8mm black keys have large white
lettering that’s easier to read than the others in a darkened room. There’re not
only dollar and Euro keys, but the keyboard has a unique social media key in
the upper right corner that can connect the system to a variety of services. Some
schools may not like this addition, but more and more classrooms are
integrating services like Facebook in their lessons. On the downside, the
touchpad feels cramped, but did fine with Windows 8 gestures.
Despite having the extra RAM, the NE56R37U’s
874.8 score on the Performance 8 suite of tasks was in the middle of the pack
and slightly behind the Inspiron 15. Its 4,400-milli-amp hour battery pack ran
for 3 hours and 26 minutes on a charge, a minute short of the G580’s battery
life, but half an hour short of the F55A’s group-leading run time.
The bright spot was the system’s 115-foot
WiFi range, just behind the class-leading F55A. It, however, does without
Bluetooth. This translates into not being able to connect with a wireless
mouse, keyboard or speaker. As a result, it did fine on three of our four
compatibility tests but failed on the Bluetooth one.
In addition to Windows 8, the machine
includes the NewsXpresso news aggregator as well as Norton Internet Security
with a month of updates. Like the G580 and ProBook 4545s, the system comes with
a one-year warranty, but can be boosted to three years for a reasonable $100.
Overall, it is an inexpensive and competent
classroom computer but one that lags on performance.
Gateway NE56R37U
Price: $420
+ Excellent configuration
+ 6GB of RAM
+ Keyboard
+ Large hard drive capacity
- No Bluetooth
- Lagging performance
- No USB 3.0
HP ProBook 4545s
The HP
ProBook 4545s may be big and heavy but it offers an alternative to Intel
technology and is one of the best classroom configurations for the money.
At 5.6-pounds,
the ProBook 4545s is the heaviest of the five and is more than half a pound
over the weight of the Inspiron 15. With its AC adapter, the system has a
travel weight of 6.4-pounds, nearly a pound heavier than the Inspiron 15, and
it has a three-prong power plug.
Its dark
silver case occupies 14.7- by 9.7-inches of desktop space and is 1.3-inches in
the front, but 1.5-inches in the back, making it decidedly wedge-shaped. Only
the G580 is bigger.
Rather than the
Intel Core i or Pentium processor used on the others, the ProBook 4545s goes
its own way with an AMD A4-4300 chip that runs at 2.5GHz. It is not only the
fastest chip of the bunch, it is the only one of the five systems here to be
able to automatically boost its speed to 3GHz when needed to compute itself out
of a jam. The system comes with 4GB, a high-performance 500GB hard drive and an
optical drive that can read and write a wide variety of DVD discs.
As is the
case with the other four systems, the ProBook’s 15.6-inch display can show
1,366 by 768 resolution, but rather than Intel hardware, it has an ATI Radeon
HD 7420G graphics accelerator. This means it can’t use WiDi to wirelessly
connect to a projector or TV screen. There’s a Web cam as well as a dual
microphone array that can help your voice get through on a video conference.
Its array of
ports is second to none with a pair of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA and
audio. It can get online via wired Ethernet jack or 802.11n WiFi and includes
Bluetooth. The black keys measure 19mm and are comfortable to use and the
system’s large gray touchpad worked well with Windows 8. It is also the only
system of the five to include a security-conscious fingerprint scanner.
Despite
having SRS premium sound built into the system, the ProBook 4545s’s audio
sounds tinny and thin. It, however, can get very loud.
As far as
performance goes, the AMD hardware didn’t disappoint with the ProBook coming in
second place behind the G580. Its 1,022.4 score on the Performance 8 benchmark
was 22 percent faster than the lagging F55A. The system lasted 3 hours and 41
minutes on its 4,400 milli-amp hour battery pack, slightly off the F55A’s pace,
but lost contact with the Lab’s WiFi LAN at 95-feet, the shortest of the bunch.
As a teaching
and learning tool, the ProBook 4545s did an excellent job of connecting to our
classroom devices. It also did well displaying BrainPop, NASA videos and the
University of Colorado PHET science simulations.
To get inside
to clean it out or replace components requires loosening only one screw, but
that’s just the start. You’ll need to hold both battery release latches open at
once to release the cover, something that might require having a helping hand.
The system
comes with Windows 8 and an extensive array of security software as well as a
program that monitors the hard drive and prevents damage if the ProBook is
dropped. It was the only one of the five to include a disc for repairing or
replacing the system’s software and – like the G580 – its one-year warranty can
be boosted to three years for just $100, a bargain.
Although the
ProBook 4545s lists for $500, with HP’s educational discount, it can cost $450
for schools. This makes it not only an economical high performer but a great
package for teaching and learning.
HP ProBook 4545s
Price: $450*
+ High performance
+ High-speed hard drive
+ Great assortment of ports
+ Inexpensive warranty extension
- Thick and heavy
- Short WiFi range
*: with educational discount
Lenovo G580
Big and bold,
Lenovo’s G580 is a mixed bag for classrooms. Easily the largest notebook of the
five, it makes up for its heft with the latest processor technology and
excellent components that deliver peak performance.
The G580 is
easily the largest of the five, its glossy dark brown finish has sparkles in
its surface and actually looks black. It can be a lot to carry around at 1.4- x
14.6- by 9.6-inches, but weighs in at 5.2-pounds, the second lightest of the
bunch after the Inspiron 15.
With its AC
adapter, the system has a travel weight of 5.7-pounds, right in the middle
between the heavier ProBook and the lighter Inspiron 15. As is the case with
the others, the G580 has a three-prong plug.
It comes
extremely well equipped with the newest processor of the group: Intel’s third
generation Core i3 3110M model. Like the other Intel-based systems here, it
lacks Turbo Boost technology to automatically raise its base 2.4GHz speed for
tackling tough tasks. Only the AMD chip in the ProBook can do this. The system
comes with 6GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and a DVD drive for reading and
writing a wide variety of discs.
As is the
case with the other four systems, the G580 has a 15.6-inch display that can show
1,366 by 768 images. As opposed to the others, it is fed with pixels by the
newer Intel HD Graphics 4000 imaging engine.
Its keyboard
has comfortable 18.9mm keys, but the system lacks the social networking key of
the Gateway system. Its touchpad is mounted flush with the wrist rest and is
nicely textured, but its response was often too jittery. There is a Web cam
above the display as well as a microphone for making videoconferences a snap.
Around its
periphery the system has two USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 connector as well as HDMI,
VGA and audio. In other words, the G580 is one USB port short of the ProBook or
the Inspiron 15, but better equipped than the Asus or Gateway machines. In
addition to a flash card reader, the system has wired Ethernet and 802.11n WiFi.
The G580 doesn’t have WiDi built-in.
On the other
hand, the G580 lacks Bluetooth so it can’t link with a wireless keyboard or
mouse. Because of this, it got stuck on connecting with our wireless keyboard,
but it flew through the other compatibility tests. The system’s audio lacks SRS
or name-brand speakers, but was clear, although not particularly loud.
All told, it
is a high-output machine that ran rings around the group. Due to its up-to-date
processor and an extra 2GB of RAM, its Performance 8.0 score of 1213.0 was half
again as high as the F55A’s result and 18-percent faster than the next closest
competitor. The system’s 4,400-milli-amp hour battery powered it for 3 hours
and 27 minutes, only a minute longer than the Gateway system and at the back of
the pack. Its WiFi system lost its online connection 105-feet from the router,
roughly in the middle of the group.
To get to the
system’s RAM, hard drive and fan, just loosen a pair of Philips screws and
slide the large panel off of the bottom. Everything is at your fingertips and
ready for maintenance.
Overall, it
performs its instructional duties well with the ability to run the science
simulations, NASA video and BrainPop lessons without a lag or glitch. The
system comes with Windows 8, McAfee’s Security Center (with a month of updates)
and Cyberlink’s Media Suite of software. Its 1-year warranty can be augmented
to 3-years of service for a reasonable $120.
In the final
analysis, the G580 is a powerful notebook that can complete a classroom’s most
challenging tasks, but it’s a bit big for small hands.
Lenovo G580
Price: $450
+ Top performance
+ Lightweight
+ Latest processor technology
+ 6GB of RAM
- Thick, large case
- Doesn’t include Bluetooth
Download Classroom notebooks FT
How High and
Low Can You Go?
Big or small, you get what you pay
for.
There are as
ways to answer the question of how best to outfit a school with notebooks as
there are teachers, students and schools. The possibilities range from
ultra-cheap econo-boxes to ultra-luxurious budget-busters.
Sleek and
silver, the 15-inch MacBook Pro weighs 4.8-pounds, just slightly lighter than
the Dell Inspiron 15. It is powered by a 2.4- or 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor
that can be boosted to 3.4 or 3.7GHz, depending on the model, if needed. It
comes well equipped with 8- or 16GB of RAM and 256- or 512GB of solid state
storage, making it, simultaneously, one of the best-equipped and -designed
computers on the market.
The
centerpiece of the MacBook Pro is the system’s ultra-high resolution Retina
screen that can show 2,880 by 1,800 resolution. That’s five-times more detailed
than the typical notebook’s display. Oddly, at 15.4-inches, it’s slightly smaller
than the industry-standard 15.6-inch display.
In addition
to a pair of USB 3.0 and a FireWire connector, the MacBook Pro has audio and a
Thunderbolt port. This high-speed connector allows it to work with a small
variety of hardware that is available at the moment.
As beautiful and functional as the MacBook
is, there’s a big snag. It costs $2,200 for the base model or roughly what all
five of the machines in the main story cost, putting it out of the reach of
most schools.
At the other extreme is Dell’s Inspiron 17, a
large notebook that sports a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard
drive. It adds up to a 6-pound system that is not that all that much heavier
than the 15.6-inch systems here. The payoff is a huge 17.3-inch display that
makes it equal parts desktop and laptop.
It has a great group of ports, although, like
its smaller cousin, no VGA connection for older monitors and projectors. The
system can run for almost four hours on a charge and outperforms anything at
its price. The Inspiron 17 has something that the MacBook doesn’t: a DVD player
and writer.
At $450, it is my current Blue Light Special
for computers for schools because its large screen means that the Inspiron 17 is
a desktop computer that can go where you go.
Testing
Classroom Notebooks
To test these
notebooks, we used Scholastic Administr@tor TechLab test facility to mirror how
notebooks are used in the classroom, library and school hallways every day
during the schoolyear. After unpacking each notebook, we went through them
thoroughly measuring, weighing and trying out all of their major features.
To start, we
measured the system’s width and depth with a ruler, then used a digital caliper
to measure its thickness at the notebook’s feet, front and back. After that, we
weighed the system on its own with a digital scale and then with its AC adapter
and power cord, which is its travel weight. We checked whether it requires a 2-
or 3-prong plug, a big difference for institutions that have old wiring with
two-prong outlets.
After
examining each port and connector, setting up its WiFi networking and checking
for the presence of Bluetooth, WiDi and a Total Protection Module (TPM), each
system was put into a Mobil-IT notebook case to see if it fit without stressing
the bag’s seams. We then used a digital caliper to measure the size of the
system’s keys.
We then got
down to school business by opening the back, checking for how easy it is to get
to its internal parts. The emphasis here is on the ease of replacing the hard
drive and RAM as well as giving it a periodic cleaning with compressed air.
While each system was running full blast, we checked to see if it got hot and measured
the temperature with an Fluke 62 mini IR thermometer.
Continuing,
we connected each to the Labs’ WiFi and wired networks. This was followed by
benchmark performance testing, starting with the system’s WiFi range. After
establishing a connection with the lab’s Linksys WRT54G router, we loaded a
series of You Tube videos to run automatically and started walking away from
the router. When the unit lost contact with the router, we walked back 10 feet
to re-establish the connection and repeated this process until the system
consistently lost contact at the same place. To simulate the school experience,
there’s a long hallway along with several walls in the test area.
Next, we
looked at overall performance with Passmark’s Performance Test 8.0 benchmark suite of tasks that
simulate actual use. This series of tests exercises every major system
component, from the processor and memory to hard drive, CD and graphics. It
then compiles the results into a single score that represents its performance
potential.
No computer is an island, and we tried
to connect an array of typical classroom items to each system, including an
Iomega eGo external hard drive, a KeyRight keyboard and a Matias Bluetooth
keyboard (for those notebooks that had a Bluetooth radio). This was followed by
connecting the system to an NEC NP-UM330W projector with its HDMI port. With
it, we ran several digital lesson plans, looking for video lag, jitters,
jumpiness and out of synch audio.
To see how long their batteries last,
we fully charged each system and set their Windows Power Options to keep the
screen and hard drive from turning off and preventing the system from going
into sleep mode. We unplugged the system and set Passmark’s BatteryMon to monitor the battery’s rundown
while it played a series of You Tube videos. We waited for it to run out of
power.
Finally, we
used several online educational resources to gauge their interactivity. After
working with BrainPop’s history of the Harlem Renaissance and NASA’s video of
sun spots, we used the University of Colorado’s PHET vibration mode simulation
software. Every school is different and your results may vary from ours. One
thing is certain, however, all of these tests are available for you to use to
compare what notebooks you have or are considering.
