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As we continue our ‘back to basics’ range of Apple device management, choosing the right devices is definitely an important part of the process. This week I’m going to look at the different devices in Apple’s hardware range and make recommendations on which devices are ideal for your K-12 and Apple implementations.
About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers has been running an enterprise IT network since 2009. Through his experience with the use and management of firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise-class Wi-Fi, 100s Macs and 100s iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple is concentrating. IT executives use Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the IT management trenches, and ways Apple can improve its IT department products.
The best Mac for K-12 and businesses
As of publication, the M1 MacBook Air is the best Mac for K-12 and enterprise deployment. In the future, I do not recommend schools or businesses to buy silicone laptops from non-Apple before you have a specific requirement, such as virtualization that is not yet completely ready.
MacBook Air
The M1 MacBook Air was the 9to5Mac Apple product of the year in 2020, and when I described it, I said the following:
I’ve been a Mac user since 2005 when I bought the PowerBook G4. It was the only PowerPC computer I owned since the Intel transition took place a few years later. In my lifetime, I can count on just a handful of technological transitions that felt like real breakthroughs: Wi-Fi, solid-state drives, and Apple Silicon.
In just a few weeks with the M1 laptop I can say that I never knew that the battery life on a laptop could achieve these results while I was so powerful. For the people who wanted Apple to release an ultra-portable Netbook, they finally did. Apple Silicon is just as important to Apple’s future as any consumer product they’ve released in their history.
For the majority of customers, the MacBook Air offers enough power. Unless you have specific reasons to upgrade to 16 GB, I would not recommend it if you buy bulk. 8 GB RAM on Apple Silicon performs very differently than 8 GB RAM on an Intel laptop.
The most important question is storage requirements that are unique to each organization. Apple is offering a special version for large purchases starting at $ 799 and containing only 128 GB of storage.
For my needs it will not be enough but for many organizations relying on cloud services 128 GB will suffice. You can use 256 GB for only $ 100 more, and if you buy a personal computer, it’s an easy choice. Buying hundreds and possibly thousands of laptops at a time can save you $ 100 apiece. It can yield a large amount of money.
Mac mini
For desktop, I would recommend the Apple Silicon Mac mini because it is the only desktop Mac with the M1 chip. Until Apple moves the iMac to Apple Silicon, I would only recommend buying the Mac mini. The same advice for RAM and storage follows here for this computer as well.
The best iPad for K-12 and businesses
The iPad series is a much more difficult discussion compared to the Mac. With the Mac it’s according to me Apple Silicon / M1 or nothing. On the iPad, several device options will meet your needs.
“Regular iPad”
The 10.2 iPad is the cheapest iPad from Apple, and it is being cut to $ 299 for schools and businesses for the 32 GB Wi-Fi model. If you need an iPad for mobility (hospital, retail, etc.), then this is the perfect iPad. It will probably be supported for another six years with iOS updates. It also includes support for the first generation Apple Pencil.
iPad Air with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil
The next step from here is the iPad Air. Because it costs double the cost of the 10.2 ″ iPad, I would only recommend this device for K-12 and businesses if it’s the only device you use and need support for the Apple Magic Keyboard and the second generation Apple Pencil . . Adding these products certainly adds to the cost, but it turns the iPad into a device that has to do with the functionality of a Mac.
Do you need AppleCare?
AppleCare is a frequently asked question I get about bulk businesses and K-12 purchases. For lower cost items like a MacBook Air, Mac mini or an iPad, I usually do not recommend buying AppleCare. If you look at a bulk purchase of one hundred basic MacBook Airs (sold in packs of five), the total is nearly $ 77,900, depending on the discount Apple offers your organization. I base my numbers on the prices of the company’s education. AppleCare for these computers costs more than $ 24,000.
Instead of buying AppleCare, an organization can actually buy another 25 MacBook Airs to keep as spare parts in case of repairs not covered by the initial one-year warranty. Statistically, most organizations will not see a breakout rate of 25% after year one. Even if an organization does not want to buy extra laptops, they can easily have a repair budget to damage machines.
Pack the best Apple devices for K-12 and enterprise deployments
As you consider the needs of your organization and decide the best Apple devices for implementing K-12 and enterprise, it’s important to consider how each upgrade will affect your budget. As I mentioned earlier, an extra saving of $ 100 per machine can add a lot if you buy hundreds of thousands of devices. Keep in mind that you still need to buy accessories, such as extra chargers, suitcases, etc., so you need to consider this during your budget process.
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