Netbook Dell wants to send to school.

Rugged outfit, bright colors, small prices: The PC manufacturer Dell Netbook wants to make standard in schools. Before this can succeed, but they are still a few hurdles to take - because the idea of a student Netbook is not new.

 

With a fancy calculator you just learn better. Of these Quarel James, Director of Solutions at Dell, with conviction. "Nowadays, students have the feeling that they were in the era of industrial revolution go back if they go to school," says the man to blogs ONLINE. Allen, despite technological developments, they should be in the classroom mostly still use chalk and paper, while at home naturally with computers, mobile phones and the Internet bypass. The school is going to break into the media.

That will now change Quarel, with a Netbook that is specifically for students and teachers has been developed. Equipped with such a device, as is Quarel sure students would prefer to go to school. Finally made it to the kids today have more fun if they are compatible with modern technology, fully networked flat, can learn. This infrastructure could also provide.

We have worked with hundreds of students, parents, teachers and IT administrators worked together to set the device on Tuesday proposed to develop, says Quarel. The result is a Netbook that is based on size, weight and equipment primarily for use in schools and universities is suitable. One might believe, for a mega-company like Dell. The result of all these efforts is still little from what other manufacturers have long been in the Netbook category offer.

Rubberdized instead Ruggedized

The ingredients are well known: Take Intel's efficient and cheap Netbook Atom processor, preferably in the current version of N270, including Intel chipset and graphics card. The pack is accompanied by a hard drive, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in a small enclosure with 10.1-inch screen, put a little more RAM and games to Linux or Windows XP to it - the Netbook is finished.

These blueprints Dell has also held - at least largely. Indeed, the Group has some of the details can invade the Latitude 2100 stand out the crowd. That's first and obviously the rubber of the housing. Dell Quarel manager described the protective sheath in accordance with the concept Ruggedized, for the most stable of the notebook is used as rubberdized, so gummed. Display lid and housing base are completely covered with rubber cushions.

The giblets should be sensitive to all hard blows to protect the device insensitive to the rough treatment, which his school life threatening. Under the rubber layer, however, the Latitude from the same plastic as other Netbook too.

A lamp entlarvt cheaters

But the rubber coating offers the possibility of Dell, the Netbook-students in five different colors to be able to offer by simply varying rubber protectors on the same chassis respect. It is likely that at least the students like: Colorful is beautiful. And anyway Personalization: Depending on how students and schools want it, can be either the name of the educational institution or the name of each student on the battery can be entered.

While this is purely cosmetic, have developers in the Dell-Netbook students actually built a couple of features that are unique. Above all, this is an on-line warning. The lights always on display lid on, if the user so that the Web is underway, whether via cable or wirelessly. Teachers, says Quarel the small lamp can thus immediately see if a student is online, if he's not to be. Cheaters should be so made life difficult.

Where is the money come from?

Above all, however, is the Latitude 2100, according Quarel Netbook probably the only one, which makes it a touch screen there - but only optional, but it exists. Ever the student Netbook many options - and really expected the low base in the fast increase. Knappe 279 Euro, then Dell advertises, the basic configuration will cost. This, however, excluding VAT and delivery.

In addition, each will cost extra money. The initial model will probably - we can only guess, since Dell has not exact technical data herausrückt - probably with only 512 MB of RAM and Ubuntu Linux on board delivery (because then it fits into the current Dell Netbook for pricing). For an additional charge are Windows XP and even Vista available. Software Group offers the gifts from his usual range. So, for example, Microsoft Office - if you can afford it.

Because money is likely one of the crucial factors when trying to Netbook in the education sector to pump. Before schools really are in great style in portable computers for their students to invest the company is likely still some persuasion to make. First, are schools, especially in Germany, not necessarily blessed with fat budgets. Especially not what IT purchases are concerned.

Reboot for education Netbook

Above all, however, makes unlikely a school IT administrator who is interested in the management of devices, software and networks running. This job usually take on teachers who are out of this one reason or another, the technique arrested or feel the order simply assigned.

ON TO ONLINE blogs

Touched: Plush computers for a small price (13.11.2007)

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Small Computer Trends: What the new generation of Netbook can really (03.04.2009)

But at least Dell ventured here and try a restart with Netbook price barrier, at least to lay down. "Six-year-olds has been because of the price barrier so far bought a PC, the Latitude, the 2100 change," argues Quarel. A good plan. But the idea had another company already.

As the end of 2007 Asus EEEPC the first was presented as a computer specifically for the little ones who should make the learning easier, in the classroom failure. Installed software from the manufacturer the same plant, placed first entirely on Linux. The success of the now designated as Netbook device class and the introduction of Windows XP as OS Netbook prevented but the success in the education sector, made the devices Jedermann-toys.

Since it will be interesting if Dell at the helm again herumreißen, the concept of Netbook back into the classrooms can bear. Send enough of this is the Latitude 2100 all - but this is not necessarily.