Bring Your OLD Device trial

The department acknowledges that schools generally keep their computing devices for many years, in an effort to increase the number of devices available to their students. But as Windows and Mac devices age, their performance decreases dramatically. It often comes to a point where they are too slow to start up, log on and perform basic functions. In addition, they are often stuck running older operating systems, which pose a security risk.

But this doesn't mean these devices are no longer viable for student use. CloudReady is an operating system built by Neverware, to run on almost any computer from the last 10 years. It turns them into fast, secure devices that operate the same way as Google Chromebooks. Installing CloudReady breathes new life into old hardware, allowing schools to get extra value out of devices that would otherwise sit unused.

NSW DoE will be exploring the value that Neverware CloudReady can provide to schools by running a "Bring Your OLD Device" Trial in at least fifty schools across the state throughout 2019.

Why Chromebooks?

• Google's G Suite is very widely used in schools throughout NSW and all over the world
• Chromebooks are now the most popular education device in the whole of the US and New Zealand
• As at October 2018, over 21,000 Chromebooks are now enrolled in the DoE Google domain, growing every day
• CloudReady is Google-endorsed and is a cost-effective way to introduce more “Chromebooks” into classrooms.

What's an OLD device?

NeverWare CloudReady works on old and new devices. It has been successfully tested on the following ex-DER laptops and old T4L laptop and desktop PCs commonly used by NSW schools:

• Lenovo 6077, 8813, 8814, 9211, 7360
• Lenovo ThinkPad X131e 3367-AH5, ThinkPad Edge 0328-A13, ThinkPad X130e 2338-A24
• Apple iMacs and Macbooks
• Neverware have also tested and confirmed it will also work on other Windows and Apple Mac computers

Does your school have thirty "OLD" devices?

It could be a trolley of old laptops or an old computer lab full of dated desktops. As long as your OLD devices still work and your school is willing to:

1. rebuild them as Chromebooks using a supplied USB stick
2. enrol them into the department's Google domain by following some quick 5-minute steps

then you should register your interest to participate in the department's Bring Your OLD Device trial.

We're interested, but don't have 30 old devices

The trial's aim is to allow for 1:1 access to devices for an entire class. Smaller schools can participate with a minumum of 10 old devices. The maximum number of CloudReady licences allocated to a school is 30. Successful participants will receive at no cost:

• Neverware CloudReady annual licences for one year
• Google Chromebook Management Licences
• Two ready-to-install USB sticks for Cloudready
• Complete instructions to build and enrol your old devices
• Online support from Neverware throughout the trial

Register your school's interest in this trial

If all of that sounds interesting and you have a pool of suitable old devices, please register your school's interest as soon as possible. The trial will commence during November.

STOP PRESS! The Bring Your OLD Device trial is now fully subscribed. Thanks to the 70+ schools that were so quick to register their interest.