HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST COMPUTING EQUIPMENT
Steps to success
Quite simply, if you think about the following steps, you will have a much better idea about what you want from the computing equipment you want to order and whether or not you are being sold what’s right for your school.
1. What Kind of Equipment?
Choose between desktop, laptop and tablet computers.
Remember that portable equipment (laptops and tablets) also need some sort of permanent charging place.
3. How many units do you need?
This might be defined by space or budget. Choose a minimum and maximum number of units that would enable you to deliver computing successfully. There is no point just choosing an arbitrary number of computers and hoping it’s enough.
2. HOW LONG DO YOU WANT IT TO LAST?
The specifications you choose will determine how long it is useful for. Be realistic. Lower powered equipment will not last as long. A more expensive computer is not always a better one. Choose the specifications you require, not just the price.
4. What is the budget?
It might seem strange to consider this fourth, but with steps 2 and 3 completed, you are more likely to know precisely what your school needs and less likely to just buy what a salesperson recommends. You can then tweak your decisions from steps 2 and 3 accordingly.
Step 2 – Choosing your specifications
Keep it simple: once you know whether or not you want laptops, desktops or tablets, get the main specifications right – Processor, Memory and Storage. If you don’t know or haven’t yet read what those terms mean, check the link below before continuing.
Important: I can’t guarantee that computers you buy at these specifications will definitely last this long. I am simply saying how long I believe the equipment below would be good at effectively delivering computing in a primary school setting.
How to use the table: Decide how long you want the equipment to be effective. The specifications underneath show the minimum numbers you should be looking for. Your computer is as good as its slowest component. Drop below one of these numbers and you drop to the lower tier.
This information was last updated in Autumn Term 2021.
Laptop computers
Note: I have not included AMD Ryzen processors below to keep things simple, but they are just as good as the Intel processors detailed below. As a simple shortcut, Ryzen 3 = Intel i3, Ryzen 5 = Intel i5.
Recommended
(LAsting 5+ Years)
Processor (CPU): Any Intel i3 or i5 processor from the last 12 months. The number after i3 should start with an 11 or 12 (e.g. i3-1115G4).
Note – i5 is better than i3
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Medium term
(LASTING 3-5 years)
Processor (CPU): Any Intel i3 or i5 processor from the last 24 months. The number after i3 should start with an 10 (e.g. i3-
10110U)
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
SHORT TERM
(LASTING 1-2 YEARS)
Processor (CPU): Any Intel i3 or i5 processor from the last 5 years. The number after i3 could start with a 7 (e.g. i3-7130U) or 8 (e.g. i3-8130U). Maybe the latest Pentium processor might be OK here.
Memory (RAM): 4GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
NOT RECOMMENDED
(LASTING >1 YEARs)
Processor (CPU): Any Intel i3 or i5 processor older than 5 years. The number after i3 might start with a number lower than 7 (e.g. i3-5257U). I would include most Pentium or Celeron processors here too.
Memory (RAM): 2GB
Storage: 64GB SSD or any computer that doesn’t have an SSD.
Desktop computers
Note: I have not included AMD Ryzen processors below to keep things simple, but they are just as good as the Intel processors detailed below. As a simple shortcut, Ryzen 3 = Intel i3, Ryzen 5 = Intel i5.
Recommended
(LAsting 5+ Years)
Processor (CPU): Any i3 or i5 processor from the last 12 months. The number after i3 should start with an 10 or 12 (e.g. i3-10100F).
Note – i5 is better than i3
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Medium term
(LASTING 3-5 years)
Processor (CPU): Any i3 or i5 processor from the last 24 months. The number after i3 should start with an 8 or 9 (e.g. i3-8100)
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
SHORT TERM
(LASTING 2-3 YEARS)
Processor (CPU): Any i3 or i5 processor from the last 5 years. The number after i3 could start with a 7 (e.g. i3-7320) or 8 (e.g. i3-8100).
Memory (RAM): 4GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
NOT RECOMMENDED
(LASTING >2 YEARs)
Processor (CPU): Any i3 or i5 processor older than 5 years. The number after i3 might start with a number lower than 7 (e.g. i3-4370). I would include most Pentium or Celeron processors here too.
Memory (RAM): 2GB
Storage: 64GB SSD or any computer that doesn’t have an SSD.
Tablets and iPads
Tablets and iPads are not really a direct replacement for traditional computers. They do things very differently. As a result, your choice is probably a bit simpler. I have included the different iPad generations below as they can be a little complicated. Prices do not seem to vary much whether you’re buying newer or older generations, so if you want to buy an iPad, look at the newer generations first. The below are generally listed in price order.
Recommended
(LAsting 5+ Years)
Latest generation of iPad or equivalent
iPad 10.2″ (2020)
(8th Generation)
iPad 10.2″ (2021)
(9th Generation)
iPad Mini 6 (2021)
iPad Air 4 (2020)
iPad Pro (2021) or (2020)
Medium term
(LASTING 3-5 years)
Previous generation of iPad or equivalent, released within 2-3 years
iPad 10.2″ (2019)(7th Generation)
iPad Mini 5 (2019)
iPad Pro (2017) or (2018)
iPad Air 3 (2019)
SHORT TERM
(LASTING 2-3 YEARS)
Any tablet/iPad older than two years old or with less than 2GB RAM (not storage).
iPad 9.7″ (2018) (6th Generation)
iPad 9.7″ (2017) (5th Generation)
iPad Mini 4 (2015)
iPad Pro (2016) or earlier
NOT RECOMMENDED
(LASTING >2 YEARs)
Any tablet/iPad older than five years old or with less than 1GB RAM (not storage).
iPad Mini 2 (2013) or earlier
iPad 9.7″ (2012) (4th Generation) or earlier
iPad Air (2014) or earlier