Tablets and Chromebooks are becoming popular sidekicks to teachers and students in classrooms across the country. One particular district finds one device, the HP Elitebook Revolve 810, to be the best fit for their schools.

Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland wanted technology that was "familiar and easy to use", according to an article on EdTechMagazine.com. The district went with the Elitebook Revolve 810 "for its one-to-one computing program."

“Just about everyone has used a Windows machine, so we wanted to stay with a system that people would be comfortable with,” said Lloyd Brown, the district’s executive director in the article.

According to the article, "because the EliteBook Revolve 810 is a convertible device that can be used as both a notebook and a tablet, students and teachers can easily choose the form factor that’s best for the learning situation at hand. Brown says students often use the device as a notebook in the classroom, but as a tablet at home. The computers run Windows 8.1, and students have access to Microsoft Office 365 and 1 terabyte of OneDrive storage."

"As part of Baltimore County Public School’s Students and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow [STAT] program, the district will roll out 120,000 Elitebook Revolve 810 devices over the next four years," the article said. "In a pilot deployment last fall, the IT staff provided 3,200 computers to 10 schools in grades one through three, plus it outfitted all 8,500 teachers with devices."

Brown said the district "began by writing a digital curriculum focused on student-centric learning for the first three grades," according to the article. "The HP devices allow teachers to individualize instruction, give quizzes and obtain instant feedback."

“While we expect to write digital curriculums for all grades in the next four years, the students who start out in first grade will certainly have the advantage of using this technology throughout their entire school careers,” he said. “It’s really exciting to see how this will develop.”

Chris Silva, a Gartner research director who focuses on mobility, said in the article that "Windows compatibility is driving interest among organizations that are considering replacing desktops and notebooks with tablets."

“Organizations are much more willing to take the plunge and go with these devices because of their support for Windows applications,” he said. Silva also offered four hidden tablet costs in the article, including to "incorporate mobile device management software."

"Some organizations try to use the MDM features in existing client or wireless management tools, but organizations should plan to spend $4 to $10 monthly per device on a dedicated MDM tool," he said. "These products can wipe lost or stolen devices and push apps out to new devices."

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Article by Kassondra Granata, Education World Contributor