Hypothetical School Network

chicken4thewin

Reputable
Mar 4, 2014
209
0
4,710
If I were to setup a computer network to replace an existing one for, say, a hypothetical high school with outdated hardware and software (early 2000's), would it be feasible to replace the majority of them with Raspberry Pi's (assuming the existing computers are worth approx. $50 and the adapters for HDMI->DVI; SD cards; power cords;cases;etc. are bought in bulk) without it costing the hypothetical school too much dough?
 
Solution
NO. Being infatuated with new technology that 'seems simple' does not account for nor include a Business Analysis. A true Business Analysis does not provide a blanket 'one solution' as there is many things that come into play. To start with off the top of my head is

A) All School Office staff are used and do all business on Microsoft Office product lines, to ensure compatibility with both District computers, County officials, State oversight offices, and Federal Agencies (Department of Education), Microsoft Office is ONLY on Apple OR Windows based computer lines.
B) To accommodate retraining staff to use 'other' type of software (different UI, different steps to save in a Microsoft Office file type, etc. etc.) additional costs will...
NO. Being infatuated with new technology that 'seems simple' does not account for nor include a Business Analysis. A true Business Analysis does not provide a blanket 'one solution' as there is many things that come into play. To start with off the top of my head is

A) All School Office staff are used and do all business on Microsoft Office product lines, to ensure compatibility with both District computers, County officials, State oversight offices, and Federal Agencies (Department of Education), Microsoft Office is ONLY on Apple OR Windows based computer lines.
B) To accommodate retraining staff to use 'other' type of software (different UI, different steps to save in a Microsoft Office file type, etc. etc.) additional costs will need to be incurred, as well as a performance matrix to validate they can perform at the required levels they do now before transferring to the new systems.
C) Business's don't just 'Order on Amazon' with their Credit Card, especially BULK (more then 2) purchases. Business (even High Schools) buy in BULK of items expect a discount for buying so many units MORE then would be sold to 'consumers', require a set delivery date to work with the overall plan your trying to develop, and have more warranties (imagine and has happened, that half the machines come delivered water logged how do you replace them? or what if there is a manufacturer problem that some, not all, do not work 'out of the box' as advertised?). Lastly purchases are done with Purchase Orders, this is not only the type of contact specification already mentioned (delivery dates, warranties, etc.) but also are bough on 'credit' based on expected fulfillment of delivery or be on budget based funding limitation (schools don't have a bank full of money, they get 'approval' for funding for projects or expenses, which is dispersed at specific times of the year to them to 'use' at that time ONLY, say May then not till Jan).

And so on. There is alot that goes into it, and I would suggest taking a few business classes before offering such ideas, as there is alot that goes into it to be considered.
 
Solution