Government laptops for fourth graders. We know the required specification. She is surprisingly reasonable

At the beginning of the week, Mateusz Morawiecki announced that the government would distribute computers to thousands of primary school students. Specifically, it is about children from the fourth grade all over Poland. Laptops are to be delivered to students in September this year, i.e. at the beginning of the 2023/2024 school year, and they will not have to be returned.

How much will each computer be worth? Easy to calculate

The prime minister also revealed some details during the press conference. Thus, we know that computers will be distributed to approx. 370,000. students, and for this purpose the government is preparing to spend as much as PLN 760 million (excluding VAT). It is therefore easy to calculate that the value of each device should amount to PLN 2,054 net.

After adding VAT, it comes out to about PLN 2668, and with this amount you can already think about buying a computer that will be most suitable for use by a school student. Especially with wholesale purchases, when the price of each piece is usually slightly lower.

The government, of course, will not buy 370,000. laptops in the store, but issued a tender for them, which specified the requirements for the performance of the computers. As indicated in the documents, the tender is being conducted for “the supply of computer equipment with the necessary software for the needs of the authorities running schools and educational institutions”.

We know the possible specification of computers

The procedure also included the minimum specification of computers, which includes quite specific hardware requirements. And so, each computer will have to be equipped with 8 GB of RAM, expandable to 16 GB, an SSD with a capacity of at least 256 GB, built-in speakers and an integrated graphics card. The tender did not specify the requirements for the processor, but it was noted that the computer must score at least 1100 points in the Crossmark benchmark.

Laptop screens are to be at least 13 inches and must display an image in a resolution not lower than Full HD. Screen brightness is at least 220 cd/m2 (nits). In addition, a battery with a capacity of 37 kWh, and charged using the USB type C standard.

The operating system is unknown. The tender requirements only stated that it must be a “legal 64-bit operating system” installed by the manufacturer. The maximum weight of the equipment is as much as 2.5 kg, and the minimum warranty period is 3 years.

Analyzing these requirements, it must be admitted that the minimum technical parameters have been defined in a thoughtful way and should ensure that students get computers for years. Laptops will not be able to overwhelm with performance, and 8 GB of RAM is the absolute minimum today, but the equipment should definitely be able to be freely used at work with a web browser and an office suite and most of the applications needed to study in primary school.