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Everything that you need to look for in your next classroom PCs

When it’s time for classroom PCs to receive a much-needed upgrade, here is everything that you need to look for to help your students learn.

The importance of keeping a classroom well-equipped is obvious. It provides students with the skills they’ll need to connect with digital technology throughout their lives going forward. It’s known to make learning more interesting and engaging, plus it helps students retain what they’ve learned.

In this post, we’ll look at the key things your IT department needs to consider when upgrading a classroom PC. What to look for in a classroom desktop If you’re in the market for upgrading or replacing classroom PCs, then why choose a desktop? For a start, they’re more configurable – and upgradeable going forward – than laptops are, plus often (but not always) they can offer more raw power at a lower price. The range of form factors for desktops also means that you can find a suitable model to fit any available space. ASUSPRO PCs, for example, offer a slim, compact and powerful Windows machine for your classroom that can be fitted to the back of any display with a suitable VESA mount. When choosing a desktop, be sure to choose a model with a tool-free chassis and modular internal design to make servicing, repairing and upgrading easier. Better still, look for a solution that ensures you have easy access to after-sales service and spare parts. What to look for in a classroom laptop Factors favouring laptops include – of course – portability, a must for field trips or moving machines easily around the school. They’re also a more affordable choice for 1:1 learning, and you can reduce costs further by encouraging a BYOD approach, allowing students to bring in their own laptops. ASUS provides a range of options to meet your needs and budget in this area. Look for thin and light laptops that are designed specifically for the classroom, with ergonomic, spill-resistant keyboards, durable 180-degree hinged displays and rubber-lined edges and corners perfect for protection against bumps and drops. Your IT department will also appreciate ASUS’ three-piece modular design, which helps with servicing and repairs.

The client-server solution for schools Another option is to look into Zero Clients, which basically eliminate the need for individual desktop PCs. Solutions like the ASUS Zero Client Solution are server-client configurations. All the heavy lifting is performed by a single server, while zero client displays and boxes connect through virtual machines over the network to provide a seamless computing experience. Benefits of this approach include effortless IT management and a lower cost of ownership. Plus, there are space savings to be gained by mounting the box to the back of the client display via its VESA mount. Which OS is best for schools? It’s tempting to think that Microsoft Windows is the natural choice for a school’s primary OS. But don’t overlook the benefits of Chromeboxes powered by Google’s ChromeOS, which again provide an affordable alternative to traditional desktop PCs. Education-friendly, Chrome-powered laptops are also available. They typically boast a rugged design to go with their large 14-inch screens and impressive battery life (up to 11 hours). Educational apps for learning The Google Play for Education store provides thousands of free apps to help teachers and students edit documents, create slideshows and even build websites. Thanks to the way ChromeOS works, students can easily move from one computer to another, signing in with their personal Chrome account to instantly access their own personal apps, documents and settings. When it comes to choosing PC hardware for the classroom, you need to make sure that you choose the best equipment that will help your students learn and develop, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to do it.

Find out more about how ASUS can help with solutions for all levels of learning