Tablets: iPads, Windows, Androids | Chromebooks | Laptops: Apple, Windows

Changes in device requirements

We’ve made some changes to what we consider acceptable devices based on feedback from teachers and students. This does not mean that you have to buy a new device for your student. But when you do buy a new device, it should meet these new guidelines:

Battery life: The minimum battery life requirement remains the same at 7 hours. You might consider a device with a longer battery life if you will want your student to use their device after school as well as during school. Students are expected to come to school with a fully charged device each day.

Screen size: A few years ago we upped the minimum screen size to 9 inches.  Students tended to have more problems with smaller screened devices and students with larger tablets report that they are happier with their devices.

Tablet Storage: The minimum memory requirement remains the same at 16MB. Please note however that this is the amount of space that we recommend for school use. If a student will have their personal games, music, photos and videos on a device then you should look for a device with more memory, expandable memory or cloud storage.

Tablet Type: Students have had more problems with certain types of tablets than others. While these devices might work fine for some applications, they don’t work well for school work. We no longer recommend Android devices (including Kindles and Nooks). We also don’t recommend Windows Tablets that use the discontinued version of Microsoft Windows (Windows RT).

Tablets (iPads)

The majority of our students use the Apple iPad. They report very few problems with the full size iPads. Our teachers all have iPads and will be more likely to be able to help with iPads than with other devices. You can lease an iPad from Lincoln Lutheran for $17 per month.

All of the iPads listed below are current models, but last year’s models will work fine as well. At the recommendation of students, we no longer included the iPad mini in the list.

You might consider checking out the Refurbished iPads from the Apple Store. They come with completely new exteriors and a full warranty. Mr. Sommerer has been happy with the refurbished Apple products that he has purchased for school and personal use. The iPad models that are available from their refurbished section change frequently.

• The cost column is the lowest price we could find; typically refurbished or Black Friday.
• You can sort the tables by clicking on the column headings in blue.

Tablets (Windows)

If you are a Windows household, but would still like to use a tablet, these are the Windows tablets that we recommend. Note that two of the tablets come with a keyboard and one does not.

Tablets (Android)

Android tablets were the devices that students were least satisfied with for school related uses. We no longer recommend Android devices (this includes the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook). There are hundreds of Android devices. The ones listed below have the best chance of working as part of our 1:1 initiative. Be wary of purchasing a similarly named, but older version of these devices. If the prices are a lot cheaper than the prices listed here, make sure you are getting the same device. Again, based on our student survey results, we do not recommend these devices. But if you need to purchase an Android device, these are probably your best bet.

Chromebooks

Chromebooks were rated highly by our students this year.  They seemed to work well for school related tasks. Mr. Heibel has been using a Chrombook for the past 4 years. Chromebooks are not full-featured laptops. They are designed to use Google’s internet based applications. They also don’t cost as much as a laptop. There are other Chrombooks available, make sure you check their battery life before purchasing. The combination of a Chromebook and a smartphone may be a good combination for some students.

Apple Laptops

Apple laptops received high scores from our students. We recommend that you take a look at the refurbished ones on Apple’s online store. If you are buying local, Computer Hardware Inc (just South of O street on 70th) has always been very good to Lincoln Lutheran. NOTE: There should be a new model of MacBook Pro coming out this Summer. I would strongly recommend waiting until the new models come out before purchasing.

Windows Laptops

There are many more Windows Laptops with an acceptable battery life than there were just a few years ago. The list below is no longer a complete list of Windows Laptops that have a battery that will last at least 7 hours. The less expensive devices on this list are also much less powerful than the more expensive devices. TANSTAAFL.