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Recommended Specification for the BYOD Programme

As a school we don’t believe that mandating a particular device is necessary, and because individual student needs differ, this can be a complex question to answer. We have however put together the following minimum specifications for a suitable BYOD device at Mahurangi College:

A device is one that allows students to create and edit documents efficiently. Students do not require a really powerful (expensive) machine, nor do they need a large hard drive. 

In most senior subjects, the recommended device for students would be a laptop rather than an iPad/tablet device. This is because the students need access to desktop software such as Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Flash, Fireworks, Dreamweaver as well as VectorWorks (graphics), Sketchup (Graphics), Web authoring (Digital technology and Web Design), Insight for L3 Maths with Stats

One of the many realities of computing in a school environment is that students require a highly portable device with a long battery life. Students must carry their device from class to class every hour and will not be able to rely on having an opportunity to recharge their battery during the day. In addition to this, the device must also be wireless capable and be robust which often means the build quality of the device should be high.

When considering a device, please also bear in mind that the student will be responsible for ensuring that it is kept in good working order, as Mahurangi College cannot offer technical support for damaged personal equipment.

Other considerations:

• Warranty – students using the device regularly will want faults fixed quickly, the school will not provide technical support or repair services.

• Insurance – make sure you are covered for replacement if lost or stolen; the school insurance does not cover personal property.

We encourage you to buy a product that includes the features above to ensure your child has the greatest possible access to the educational resources that will support and enhance their learning. The device you do choose to buy needs to satisfy the minimum specifications. Anything less than this will be a false economy.

Funding Options

We are able to offer the following purchasing options

1. Cyclone Computers

We have negotiated a package deal with Cyclone Computers. This includes a number of devices, that meet the specifications required. They have a number of iPads and laptops available for purchase. 

Please check other suppliers as prices vary day-to-day.

Go to: http://www.cyclone.co.nz

Select – Mahurangi College under the institution list to the right hand side of the screen

Enter the BYOD code: code is available on the student login page from www.mahurangi.school.nz

Press Submit

You are not expected to buy through Cyclone Computers. If you have a suitable device at home please bring that one. This is simply a service that has been set up to make choosing the right device easier and they can offer a range of payment optons

2. Alternatively, Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, PBtech and the Stationery Warehouse have a number of options available, with regular specials. However, please make sure they meet the minimum specification listed below and offer full support in the event of any technical issues

Specifications:

Minimum Specifications for a suitable BYOD device for Yrs 7-10 ( Junior and middle school)

Screen size 7.9 inch tablet or greater such as an iPad mini or iPad Air which has built in wireless along with long battery life or laptop as for seniors - see below

Minimum specifications for a suitable BYOD device for Yr11-13 (the Senior school)are:

Screen size: 11 inch or greater

Processor: Dual Core (i3, i5 or i7 recommended)

RAM: 2GB (4GB recommended)

Built in wireless: 802.11g or 802.11n

Protective carry case

The suggested devices in this case would be a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro 13in. These follow the devices that we have been using at Mahurangi College for many years and have proved simple to use and reliable. All new Apple devices come with the latest versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote, (Apple's Microsoft Office compatible software) as well as the ilife products of iPhoto and iMovie. Any Windows intel Core 2 Duo and above with 4 gigs of Ram minimum would be suitable, but do check the reliability of the model and battery life. 

Second Hand Macbooks and Macbook Airs are available from $500-$600. The minimum model macbook would be  the last of the white Macbooks (it has a model number of 5,1) and any silver Macbook Air or Pro. with 4 gigs of RAM. These are all able to run the latest OS X operating system (Yosemite) which is available for free from the Apple website. www.apple.co.nz