4 NEWS FEATURE
FEBUARY 7, 2020
STA implements new computers
In January and February of this year, all STA students will receive a Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 computer to replace their Surface Pros. Story by Carmon Baker I Web Editor
“I could wake up [at 7:45
a.m.] and turn [the Dell computer] on and it won’t be dead until maybe midnight that night, even if I use it all day during school, come home, do more homework. Caroline WilLis
“
B
etween Jan. 21 and Feb.18, every STA student will be issued a new laptop computer. Students are switching from the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet to the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 computer. According to STA technology coordinator Matt Stewart, the process for deciding which new computer to give students started with a variety of options, but was eventually a decision between 5 different computers. “We first started researching the new models of computers that were available,” Stewart said. “Then we made a list of items that we knew we had to have, like better battery life, digital inking, touch screen functionality, etc. Then we reached out to our vendors and other colleagues in the tech field and narrowed it down to around five different models.” Over the summer and into this school year, a group of 12 students tested computers to decide which model to implement at STA. These students tested three different computers—the Dell Latitude and two versions of the Chromebook. Senior Caroline Willis was one of the students involved in this group who tested the Dell laptop. “I basically used it during the school day,” Willis said. “I completed reviews of it. We had little group discussions over it. There were about three different
computers, and we all came together and chose this one.” Stewart believes that the involvement of students was important to the decision making
process. “The student involvement in this process was really incredible,” Stewart said. “The students who helped test the new devices were really amazing, and the feedback they gave us was crucial in our decision making process.” According to Willis, the students who tested computers were looking for a variety of characteristics in their laptops, including an attached keyboard, no overheating and better connectability to classroom technology. “A big issue was, as [STA network administrator Jeff Zimmerman] would say, the ‘lapability,’” Willis said. “A lot of people, including myself, would have issues using the Surface Pro in their car if they were on a road
