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NEA SEE Conference 2011 I'm really excited to be working with the folks at NEA SEE once again. I'll be heading to the Windy City this weekend and providing them some ideas for iPad use in professional...

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This Week in Android Apps Just thought I'd share the apps on my Android phone. I use a Samsung Captivate, rooted to run Android 2.2 because AT&T and Samsung can't get along long enough to...

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iPad: Consumption or Creation? About six months ago, I posted a note to my network asking people if the iPad was only a consumption device or if would ever been seen as a truly productive device for creation....

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Google Chrome - Faster and Cloudier I debated where to write this post because I wanted it to reach the right audience. I settled on using my personal blog to reach a more general audience. Typically, I...

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Networking in 2011: A Resolution to Innovate and Educate As an educator, I find myself looking to the end of a calendar year in June. This year, I had the realization that I should look at December as the end of my year and January...

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Dan Froelich, EdTech Incendiary Rss
0NEA SEE Conference 201100This Week in Android Apps00iPad: Consumption or Creation?00Google Chrome - Faster and Cloudier00Networking in 2011: A Resolution to Innovate and Educate0

Netbooks: Making 1:1 Affordable

Posted on : 01-10-2008 | By : dan | In : Edtech

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The Intel Classmate PCThe Intel Classmate PC

Intel Classmate PC, HP Mini Note 2133, Dell Mini, Asus EEE PC, Toshiba NB100, Lenovo S10,  the Advent 4211, and the OLPC XO are just some of latest iterations of netbooks that have begun to proliferate the market in the sub-notebook category. So what are the common features of netbooks? Do they have limitations? How we can utilize these devices in teaching and learning?

Netbooks are ultra-portable laptops that provide most of the hardware needed to get the job done. Most recent netbooks come standard with the follow features:

  • 8.9″ Display
  • 512MB- 2 GB RAM
  • Either SSD (solid state disk drive) or HDD hard disk drives
  • SD Card Reader
  • 1 or 2 USB Ports
  • VGA output
  • Headphone & microphone jack
  • Integrated webcam & speakers
  • Linux, Windows XP or Windows Vista Business Edition
  • Ethernet port and wi-fi adapter.
Limitations include:
  • Low performing graphics card or processor.
  • Runs sluggish with newer versions of Windows
  • Lack of built in optical drive
  • Limited number of USB ports
  • Smaller keyboard
  • Poor battery life (in some models

The limitations of netbooks must be realized when determining the purpose they will used for. If you are a ‘media hog’ and love to download or stream high quality audio or video, you might find that netbooks aren’t for you.

Market research indicates that 90% of Amazon’s notebook sales have been netbooks. So what does this mean to educators? While Amazon may account for a large portion of internet sales, school districts are not know for purchasing contracts with them…but families shop there. While many families need and desire a laptop for their 3 kids in elementary, middle, and high school, it is not affordable. Thanks to many of the cheaper models ranging in the $400-$500 range, families are making that wish a reality.

They weigh less than four pounds, don’t require any extra cables, and can run between two and four hours on a standard battery – making it a (nearly) perfect option for classroom note taking, research, product generating, and total curriculum integration.

How many of you are using these in your school? At home? For business? For pleasure?

What limitations have you encountered? In what ways can you see these netbooks become a part of district and state 1:1 initiatives?

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