Computer Operating System

[gwlip]

My DS graduates to Sec school next year. For computers, is it a must to use Windows or would Mac be ok as well? Is there a difference?

[SG_KP1]

gwlip\" post_id=\"2029950\" time=\"1625882520\" user_id=\"7486:

My DS graduates to Sec school next year. For computers, is it a must to use Windows or would Mac be ok as well? Is there a difference?

The school will select some device (PLD) for purchase under the NDLP. It could be either a Windows or Apple based device. You will have the option to bring your own device, but I believe it must be using the same operating system as the PLD selected by the school.

I would suggest check out the various school websites your son is interested in and see if you can figure out what operating system they are using if you want to buy now (hopefully they are all running the same thing). Or if possible, hold out until early next year to get a replacement (either your own device or purchase the PLD offered to the Sec 1s).

[sharonkhoo]

gwlip\" post_id=\"2029949\" time=\"1625882501\" user_id=\"7486:

My DS graduates to Sec school next year. For computers, is it a must to use Windows or would Mac be ok as well? Is there a difference?

Yes, there is a difference. It's best to wait till you know which school, and follow their recommendations.

[floppy]

gwlip\" post_id=\"2029950\" time=\"1625882520\" user_id=\"7486:

My DS graduates to Sec school next year. For computers, is it a must to use Windows or would Mac be ok as well? Is there a difference?

I don’t think there’s a universal standard. There is no must to use a Windows laptop or a Mac or a chrome book unless the school insists.

While there are similar softwares between them, they are two vastly different machines - one runs Windows while the other operates on OSX.

My suggestion is to stick to a Windows based laptop wherever possible, if you are thinking of getting one for school work (even though I’m a mac user and 90% of my household computing stuff are Mac-based). The cheapest Mac laptop is ~$1,400 while you can get a Windows based laptop for less than $1,000. Educational discounts will bring down those prices significantly. While the MacBook Air is undoubtedly a better machine, I doubt a secondary school student will be able to harness >50% of its computing power.

[SG_KP1]

floppy\" post_id=\"2029961\" time=\"1625885966\" user_id=\"97579:

gwlip\" post_id=\"2029950\" time=\"1625882520\" user_id=\"7486:

My DS graduates to Sec school next year. For computers, is it a must to use Windows or would Mac be ok as well? Is there a difference?

I don’t think there’s a universal standard. There is no must to use a Windows laptop or a Mac or a chrome book unless the school insists.

While there are similar softwares between them, they are two vastly different machines - one runs Windows while the other operates on OSX.

My suggestion is to stick to a Windows based laptop wherever possible, if you are thinking of getting one for school work (even though I’m a mac user and 90% of my household computing stuff are Mac-based). The cheapest Mac laptop is ~$1,400 while you can get a Windows based laptop for less than $1,000. Educational discounts will bring down those prices significantly. While the MacBook Air is undoubtedly a better machine, I doubt a secondary school student will be able to harness >50% of its computing power.

I believe this may have changed this year. I'll double-check but I am pretty sure my kid could no longer use MacBook once the DMA needed to be installed (i.e. now. At the beginning of the year and during prior years I think you could just bring whatever device/operating system you wanted).

Here is a FAQ from Maris Stella High. The first part of the answer is a bit unclear, as it only says strongly encouraged. However, further down I think they are saying you at least need a device with Chromebook OS.
https://sites.google.com/moe.edu.sg/mshsndlp/faqs#h.1rlyvtt3csni

Can my child not purchase the school-prescribed PLD? How will this affect his learning?

Every student is required to have a personal learning device for his learning and is strongly encouraged to purchase one through our school via MOE's bulk tender. Students are encouraged to use the device model prescribed by the school, as the uniformity of the systems and software used would ensure a common and smooth learning experience for every student. The device purchased through the school will come with the necessary warranty and insurance as well.

Students who do not wish to purchase a device because they have their own devices will have to check with the school to ascertain whether the specifications of their existing devices meet our school's requirements. These devices must also be installed with the Device Management Application (DMA) software to provide a safe learning experience for them and to prevent misuse of the devices.

The DMA is fully funded by the school and will be uninstalled from the devices when they graduate/ leave the school.

The DMA software is only compatible with ChromeOS, thus laptops or other devices operating on different OS systems will not be able to be used for learning in school.

[floppy]

Ok. Thanks for the update.


The word “strongly encouraged” means you should buy via the school’s bulk purchases. However, if you don’t want to, you will have to buy a system compatible with the school’s DMA, in this case for this particular school - for Chrome only. Chrome book happens to be cheaper than both Mac and Windows based laptops most of the time.

Given that DMA cannot be universally installed and is specific to the OS only, it’s better to wait till the kid is officially in the secondary school before considering a purchase.

[sky minecrafter]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2029956\" time=\"1625884971\" user_id=\"188234:

gwlip\" post_id=\"2029950\" time=\"1625882520\" user_id=\"7486:

My DS graduates to Sec school next year. For computers, is it a must to use Windows or would Mac be ok as well? Is there a difference?

The school will select some device (PLD) for purchase under the NDLP. It could be either a Windows or Apple based device. You will have the option to bring your own device, but I believe it must be using the same operating system as the PLD selected by the school.

I would suggest check out the various school websites your son is interested in and see if you can figure out what operating system they are using if you want to buy now (hopefully they are all running the same thing). Or if possible, hold out until early next year to get a replacement (either your own device or purchase the PLD offered to the Sec 1s).

Quote from (1 of my kids' Secondary) school briefing:-


If you do not wish to purchase the PLD, your child will not be able to use his personal computing device in school unless the DMA is installed on this device. This is subject to the personal computing device being compatible with the DMA. Please note that the DMA employed by our school is only compatible with devices running Windows 10.

Device Management Application (DMA):
• Mobile Device Management Service
• Classroom Management Service
• Usage Management Service


My JC2, however, uses Apple (school's PLD since Sec1), & if the student opts out, it is still a must to get a compatible device. Hence, my JC2 uses more than 1 device concurrently

[Imp75]

My girls schools don’t enforce DMA, its optional to parents.

[SG_KP1]

For my son’s school, Sec 1s must have DMA (either on school purchased PLD or own device), but for Sec 2s - JC2s it is optional. I cannot tell whether the Sec 2s and up can still use whatever device they want.