<div dir="ltr">Some fascinating calculations below .. of course machines like the eeePC and Acer Aspire One are in a different league but it shows you how much things have changed. You can see from this why they are blanketing the pacific island communities with these XO computers running Linux desktops. They might not entirely suit the senior secondary enviroment of our mainland schools but they snap into place like a dream with the primary schools on our neighbouring islands.<br>
<br>When I get the chance, I will post some screenshots of how we have been able to get a set of netbooks running on our school network with a Linux desktop (Ubuntu). Easy peasy .. (and the student technicians can take full credit!) .. I must revisit the sugar interface with my students and see what we can do.<br>
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<br>Regards Roland<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Bill Kerr</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:billkerr@gmail.com" target="_blank">billkerr@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: 2008/10/2<br>Subject: TCO (total cost of ownership)<br><br><div dir="ltr">Tony Anderson published his calculations for total cost of ownership of an XO compared with a computer lab in a long and acrimonious thread on olpc news<br>
<a href="http://www.olpcnews.com/sales_talk/price/5_year_tco_computers_in_schools.html" target="_blank">http://www.olpcnews.com/sales_talk/price/5_year_tco_computers_in_schools.html</a><br>
<br>his results:<br>OLPC <span style="font-size: 12pt;">4.5 cents per hour</span><br>computer lab <span style="font-size: 12pt;">$2 per computer access hour </span><br><br>if he's correct then that's 40 times more value for money roughly speaking :-)<br clear="all">
<br>Here are his calculations:<br>
<p>Surprise! TCO for XOs in schools is $437.50 (4.5 cents per hour)</p>
<p>I have attempted to recalculate the TCO based on a more realistic
description of the OLPC model, but using the numbers in the report.</p>
<p>The TCO model in the report is based on teaching ICT in a public secondary
school. The purpose of this training is to prepare university-bound students to
enter a course of study leading to a position in the computer field. Assume
that the school enrollment is 160 students. The study assumes 3.5 hours lab
time per day, 5 days per week, for 39 weeks per year (10920 available hours per
year). Shared among 160 students for an average of 68.25 hours per year per
student or 1.75 computer access hours per week. </p>
<p>The OLPC model is based on each child having an XO throughout the class day
and at home on evenings, weekends and holidays. It is also focused on primary
school education. Assuming a school of 160 students, at least 160 XOs will be
needed. Assume a steady-state situation in which each child entering the school
in the second grade gets an XO. Each child keeps his XO throughout the primary
years (grades 2 thru 5 as assumed in the study). The school purchases an
additional 5 XOs per class to provide for loss, damage, repair, incoming
transfers, and the teacher. In addition the OLPC model assumes a dedicated
computer (XS) per school which provides internet access, provides backup for
the XOs, caches instructional materials, and supports a CMS (Moodle). Each
child has a computer which could be used each day for six hours in class and
two hours at home (plus ten hours on weekends). This is approximately 1800
hours per year - let's assume 1000 hours.</p>
<p>First, look at the direct computer cost, excluding initial setup, training,
connectivity to the internet, electricity, and Tier 1 (software) support.</p>
<p>Case 1: Public Secondary
School (grades 9-12) sets up a computer lab with
16 desktops (one is also a server) to teach ICT. The total cost is $8000 with a
per seat cost of $125. This is a approximately $0.40 per hour for computer access
($125/312).</p>
<p>Case 2: Public Primary
School (2-5) provides each child and four
teachers with an XO. The initial purchase for this school is 160 + 4 (teachers)
+ 4 (reserve) for a rounded-up total of 170 at $200 each ($34000). The annual
buy is 45 laptops at $200 per student ($9000). A dedicated server per school
costs $500 (headless mainstream desktop). This is a total cost of $34500 ($216
per student). If we assume utilization of 1000 hours per year, the cost
is($216/4000) or 5 cents per hour. Note: if leaving students keep their XO, the
cost in the first four years is $34000 + $27000 (3 * $9000). </p>
<p>Other costs:</p>
<p>Case 1 the computer lab pays $33886 total for initial setup ($5351),
training ($10620), software support ($10920), hardware support ($2432), electricity
and internet connectivity ($5351), and damage and theft ($2640). This increases
the computer lab cost to $2500 (41886/16) per seat and approximately $2 per
computer access hour ($41886/16/4/312).</p>
<p>In case 2, the costs of Tier 2 and 3 (hardware maintenance) and the costs of
damage and repair are handled by purchasing extra XOs. In the OLPC case the
extra cost is $28314 (excluding $5072). The OLPC total cost is $70000 ($41500 +
$28316). This is $437.50 per student or 4.5 cents per hour.</p>
<p>Posted by: Tony Anderson on September 29, 2008 </p>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><br></div></div>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead<br>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead<br>
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