Students across Freedom High School have undoubtedly noticed a change in technology throughout the building. This includes the obvious laptop change, as well as some other unseen technology improvements. Unlike years past, laptops are now the same across all grade levels, which means students will no longer be forced to learn how to use a new laptop. The advantages of all students possessing the same laptop also eliminates the need for different chargers or parts. This means maintenance of the new machines will be effortless compared to previous years. In addition, the newer laptops have a wide variety of warranties available to cover accidental damage. The need for laptop replacement was based on both price advantages and out of date technology.
“They have an entire sales department at Dell dedicated to K-12 education,” Mrs. Marie Dohanich, IT Director said. “[The] quantity of units can also affect the price, the more you purchase the better price point you can receive.”
This no doubt relieves some strain on Consensus and other members of the FHS technology department, who no longer have to maintain a wide variety of machines. In terms of convenience, the new laptops will allow the ability to share chargers between students without the worry of compatibility. In other words, a student who forgets a charger at home no longer has to embark on a never ending quest to find a charger that works with his/her laptop.
“I believe the age of technology at the HS was the deciding factor for new technology at the HS,” Dohanich said. “Most equipment was out of warranty.”
In unison with its laptop change, Freedom has implemented new wireless internet technology in an effort to improve the online school experience. This year’s internet connection has been upgraded to a dramatically faster speed, and several new wireless routers have been placed throughout the building to eliminate some of the “dead spots” where students are experiencing connection loss.
“We are still working out some spots throughout the building where signal is weak or nonexistent, but it is improving,” high school principal Mr. William Deal said.
In terms of the laptops themselves, battery life and overall performance seems to have improved over the selected laptops from last year. According to Dell’s official website, these new laptops (the Latitude 13 education series) feature a “powerful Intel® 4th generation processor, a large 13.3” HD (1366 x 768) display and easy connection to classroom projectors, cameras or other devices.” In addition, this laptop features an activity light (the thin light strip on the lid of the computer) which lights up to alert teachers to students who “are on a network when they shouldn’t be.” It claims to hold up to thirteen hours of battery life and runs Windows 8 Pro with a durable design. These battery life values do not state under what conditions the computer is placed, such as screen brightness, however the battery lasts all day for most users.
Features of the Latitude are similar to those of laptops in FHS past, although this year they lack a CD/DVD disc drive and mouse control built into the keyboard. The laptop is no more tedious than any other computer device, although the lack of an alternative to the trackpad built into the computer can make it hard to do precise work without a residual mouse.