What computer should I buy?
Computer specifications are:
- Windows 10
- At least 64GB storage
- At least 4GB ram
We apologise that for now we do NOT support Chromebooks, iPads, or Apple laptops.
We highly recommend purchasing through the Learning With Technologies portal.
Do - let us setup your child's computer
We are happy to setup your child’s computer.
We understand, though, that you may be eager to get started. In that case, please read through and follow the 2020 BYOD Laptop Setup Instructions very carefully.
Don't - purchase Microsoft Office
The school will provide Microsoft Office for your child.
Some laptops come pre-installed with a trial version of Office – we will un-install this.
Don't - install Anti-Virus software
The Department of Education recommends using Window’s built in anti-virus software “Windows Defender”.
Installing any other anti-virus software disables Windows Defender.
Third party anti-virus software is generally no better than Windows Defender, and may make your child’s computer run slower.
Don't - use a picture or pin as a password
Once a student sets up a picture password or a pin, they often forget their original password.
If they have a problem with their computer, it may not be able to be fixed without the real password. When this happens, they must back up all their work and their computer will be restored to factory default.
Don't - use an email login
If we set up your child’s device or you correctly followed the Setup Instructions, then your child will have a normal (local) login.
Unfortunately, your child may end up with an email login, because Microsoft push very hard for you to do this and make it difficult to setup a normal login.
When we come across email logins on BYOD devices we convert them to normal logins.
Why we prefer that you don’t use an email login:
- Microsoft prefer email logins because it allows them to track information.
- Sometimes, to repair your child’s device we will need to “reset” it. In certain circumstances, when there is an email login, the device cannot be reset without the email account password (irrespective of the computer password) and we will not be able to fix the computer.
- In the worst case, if the computer is “locked” to the email account, and for whatever reason you lose access to that email account, the computer may not be repairable (“Bricked”) if something goes wrong with it.
