School Laptop Scheme – an update
The QM laptop scheme provides all that a girl needs from a laptop during her senior years at school. Not least of these are a full 3 year warranty and accidental damage insurance package. Further details can be obtained from the specification sheet and order form. To view these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the basic rules regarding the School’s laptop scheme as agreed by the School governors;
(i) A QM scheme laptop is compulsory for girls in Years V, the Lower and Upper Sixth, although girls in Year IV are able to purchase them if they wish
(ii) Only QM scheme laptops are allowed access to the School network, which includes a girl’s personal data storage area, email and internet access
(iii) It is not possible for a girl’s privately owned laptop to be configured to provide access to the QM School network
Scheme re-launch with Ergo Computing
Since First Technology went into administration we have spent a great deal of time and effort to identify a firm able to provide a replacement scheme for the supply of QM laptops. I know that for some of you this has led to expectations not being met- especially as Christmas and occasionally birthdays came and went! I am sorry that it has taken longer than first anticipated. I hope you will understand the need to ensure that we are as certain as we possibly can be that the successor firm are financially sound and able to provide the product and service required. We believe that Ergo Computing Ltd fits the bill.
Ergo, based in Nottingham, has been trading for 20 years and is a large privately owned company that assembles its own computer hardware using a state of the art automated assembly robot. Although not a household name it has a long tradition of supplying hardware to government departments, including the Ministry of Defence and the Education sector.
Girls will be supplied with the Ergo Microlite 521, which is lightweight, robust and has a specification that will easily meet their requirements at QM and beyond. We believe that the price to parents of £799 for the laptop package is excellent value for money.
While core aspects of the Ergo scheme are much as before there are some important changes. Firstly, the school will place orders directly with Ergo. The cost will then be added to your daughter’s next bill (or a cheque made payable to Queen Margaret’s School can be sent along with the order form). Secondly there will be only three deadline dates for placing orders. If a particular deadline is missed then you will need to wait until the next deadline and delivery date in order to receive your laptop.
Anticipated deadline dates for the future are as follows (exact dates to be confirmed in due course);
1. Mid-July for delivery at the start of the next academic year
2. Late October for delivery in time for Christmas
3. Mid-February for delivery in time for the Easter break
First Technology Scheme – Acer machines
Further to my correspondence towards the end of November last year I can confirm that all aspects of the QM scheme previously established with First Technology remain valid, including the extended warranties and accidental damage cover. The only difference is that repairs and servicing will be monitored and managed by our own ICT support staff.
Stephen Bentley
Bursar
21 April 2008
