Bring Your Own Device – Buyers Guide

Hardware

Key things to look for

Device battery life is always very important. Your student will need their device to last most of the school day without needing to be charged. Ideally 6+ hours is recommended. Anything less, and your child may not use their device as much as their teachers will expect, due to the hassle of having to charge the device in the classroom.

Performance is an important factor also, is the device powerful enough to perform the required learning tasks? Check with your child’s teacher at the school for details about how the device will be used.

Is the device strong enough to handle knocks and drops at school? We have a range of devices that are built to meet stringent durability / damage and spill-resistant standards.

Weight is significant as well. Is it light enough to carry to and from school every day? Most devices are built to be extremely lightweight and compact. Under 2kg is recommended. Keep in mind that your children will also have school bags, books and sports gear to carry.

Choose your operating system (OS) based on your school’s requirements. The large majority of schools will recommend Windows, IOS and Chrome OS. These are the most respected and frequently used OS globally.

Chromebooks use the Chrome browser operating system. This is a web-based OS that uses web based applications and cloud storage.

Windows is a hugely popular operating system guaranteed to meet students’ needs and get them completely up-to-speed for full computer literacy as an adult. With Windows you will have access to a wide variety of applications and software that can be used. You can even run and use Chrome OS applications through the Chrome browser.

Schools will outline which particular operating system will meet their curriculum requirements with regards to software and applications.

Select a screen size that provides excellent viewing but isn’t too awkward to handle. Between 10" – 14" is usually the ideal size for efficient use, easy on the eyes, but also keeps the device reasonably compact and convenient. This strikes the perfect balance between easy viewing and easy to handle size.

Accessories

A wireless mouse, wireless keyboard and laptop bag can all be extremely useful for getting the most out of your child’s device and protecting / transporting your device. Laptop bags, laptop sleeves or laptop backpacks are all important options for protecting and transporting your child’s device.