Meris Stansbury summarizes results of the recent webcast about one to one computing in schools with Ultra Portable Computers. The Consortium for School Networking hosted by the event.

“The first thing you have to do," said Bob Tinker, chief executive officer for the Concord Consortium, "before you purchase is stop thinking about what you don’t want—and start making a list of what you do want.”

Tinker suggests buyers for one to one school teaching-learning require that UPC capabilities include: (1) Can browse the internet and run Flash. (2) Can run some unusual, creative software. (3) Can use productivity software packages. (4) Can execute Java applications (5) Can run probeware applications.

Webinar participants discussed attributes of three UPCs:

1. The XO from One Laptop Per Child initiative. They liked the XOs screen that can be viewed in direct sunlight and darkness, and noted the built-in wireless mesh networking that connects multiple laptops and to a central network. Drawbacks includ small drive size, lack of support for commercial software, and limited availability in the U.S. Tinker considers this UPC as a constructivist.

2. The Intel Classmate, which runs Windows XP or Linux and can run Microsoft Office or Open Office applications. Tinker considers this UPC as a teacher.

3. The Nova5000 by Fourier Systems runs Windows CE software and can run productivity, drawing, handwriting recognition, and probe software.

Starting the purchase process with identifying what you want a computer to do seems like a "Daa!" But, interestingly, more people than I would have imagined purchase various mobile PCs because they can do so, and forget to start with the primary question, "What do I want my mobile PC to do for me?"

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