Category: Laptop

The main aim of the articles is to give the general information on the new concept of laptop manufacturing, and discover the factors, which led to the failure of XO laptop. Version 2.0, which is described in the article by Marks (2008), is the serial variant of the model, while the probationary period of the first variant has previously succeeded.

The main consideration, represented in the article is associated with the fact, that the new model of laptops for children is a very successful and highly potential solution of the educational issues, and the maters of computer education for kids. All the aspects, which are closely related with implementing laptops for the school education, have been regarded in the article, and, there is strong necessity to emphasize that the original purpose of manufacturing these laptops is to improve the educational system in countries of south and central Africa, as well as in Latin America.

Taking into consideration the fact that computer literacy is one of the most important aspects of the nowadays education. Originally, the implementation of this device into the educational systems of the schools will be able to improve the curriculum in general and simplify the completion of the studying assignments for children, as they will be able to make them using their laptops.

The problems, which will be associated with this implementation have been regarded as the challenges, that have been already solved, or will be solved within the nearest time. These problems are closely linked with safety of the data, health issues related to the PC use by children, and the matters of software availability. Originally, it was the perfect idea to provide the free, Linux based, software for the equipment, as free operational systems are more comfortable in comparison with shareware or paid OS.

Political issues, which will be associated with the providing of the new educational plan, will touch upon the matters of the curriculum, educational plans, and teaching strategies. As the article states, some teachers refused to retire, after they had tied to teach with the help of the new laptop for children. Thus, the curriculum will have to be changed in accordance with the new realities. Schools will have to provide the proper infrastructure for implementing these laptops, and achieving the new educational practices.

In the light of the fact that the implementation of this system in some countries of Latin America caused serious safety problems, as Marks (2008) emphasizes following fact: In Colombia Negroponte and colleagues needed a 200-troop bodyguard to supply laptops and a satellite dish to a school in a region controlled by the FARC guerrillas.

Marketing positioning of the new XO computer is regarded to be successful enough for increasing the sales all over the world; nevertheless, the company makes emphasis on Africa and Latin America, while it is hard to compete with giants of computer technologies.

The unsuccessful launch of the project revealed the fact that there were serious problems, which had not been taken into consideration by the managerial team. Evans (2009) gives clear argumentation why the project is a piece of crap. Jon Evans has compared XO laptop with his Acer netbook, which is in the same price segment; nevertheless it is miles better from the XO device.

Taking into consideration the fact, that it is hard o compete with the giants of computer technologies, XO manufacturers wished to solve all the possible problems in a single project, thus, they failed to solve any. The detailed analysis of the failures is represented in the article, consequently, there is strong necessity to emphasize that managers of the project have failed to keep up with the realities of computer industry, and failed to manage the project properly.

From the managerial point of view, if the decision was to manufacture principally new device, the problems and the issues should have been solved gradually, starting either from hardware or from software. Linux based Sugar software is the optimal decision for education, nevertheless, it hardly runs on the hardware of the XO laptop. On the one hand, children could learn to use Linux based operational system in order to avoid expansive Microsoft Windows OS, however, on the other hand, children should be aware of how to use UI systems, as currently they are widely spread all over the world.

This is the origin of another managerial and marketing problem: market researchers did not study their target audience, and did not test, whether children will be using their products with pleasure, and whether it is comfortable for the study. (Howes, 2006)

The technical performance of the project is even lower than the software aspect. The hardware is cheap and unreliable. The communication technologies are not powerful and smart enough to get connected with the encrypted Wi-Fi connection, thus, the issue of data safety has not been solved either.

Originally, the idea of creating a cheap and available laptop for teaching and study is the perfect idea, nevertheless, the perfect ideas require perfect performance, which entails the primary study of the market segment, study of the target audience, the opinions of the teaching committee and teachers in schools. The aim of this research would be whether the use of XO laptops will be comfortable for improving the teaching process, how the children will be using them in the educational needs, and how the curriculum should be changed, in the context of the effectiveness of the educational process with the use of XO laptops.

The manufacturers should have started with one aspect of the project: software (elaboration of the required soft on the basis of technical solution by other company), or hardware (providing the best technical solution for a widely spread Operational System)

The subject of the article is associated with the problems, which are originally the causes of poor management and improper approach towards solving the set problems, consequently, the failure of the project One Laptop Per Child was condemned to failure. (Reiss, 2005)

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the project of XO laptop seemed to be rather potential, as the concept of a netbook for childish education is the necessary facto for improving the educational principles and providing the increased computer literacy for children and for adults. The failure of the project is emphasized by improper management of project performance, while the solution of the stated problems was not performed properly.

Bibliography

Evans, Jon. One Laptop Per Child: What Went Wrong. The Walrus, 2009.

Howes, Norman R. Modern Project Management: Successfully Integrating Project Management Knowledge Areas and Processes. New York: AMACOM, 2006.

Marks, Paul. One Laptop Per Child ready for version 2.0. Newscientist. 2008.

Reiss, Geoff. Project Management Demystified: Todays Tools and Techniques. 2nd ed. London: E & FN Spon, 2005.

Mac Book is the modern portable Apple computer currently available in the industry. It was first introduced in the market in January of 2006 at the Mac World Expo to replace PowerBook G4 and the iBook models. They are the cheapest models in the Mac line with good quality and consistency just like other Apple brands. Generally, there are two types i.e. Mac Book and Mac Book Pro, with the former being cheaper but with lesser power, limited battery life, low RAM and without SD card opening. (Krakow, 2006)

Compared to their predecessors the iBook computer model, Mac Book is slimmer although it occupies large space horizontally. Some other features include the already installed iPhoto and iMovie software and easy to upgrade software programs. The upgraded programs can reach the limit of eight gigabytes in memory while about five hundred gigabytes for computer internal drives. The Bluetooth, the Firewire port, camera and at least two ports for USB cables are some of its unique features giving an advantage over the PCs besides the DVI output. (Canlas II, 2008)

Looking at the speed of the CPU, Mac Book has incorporated new mechanisms which have boosted its speed to 2.16GHz from the original 2GHz. This has resulted in efficiency in carrying out the programmed tasks. The machines performance has also zoomed up with the enlarged memory size from the original 80GB up to120GB in the current model. The level can be as high as 160 GB hard disk which is double the original in the case of the black Mac Book. This large memory has limited the need for other portable stage devices such as the CD, MP3, Floppy disks and flash disks for storing and carrying additional information and data. (Krakow, 2006)

Considering the physical outlook, the new Mac has identical features i.e. 13.3-inch wide monitor with about 2.30kg in weight. Though its portable, this is slightly heavier as compared to the similar size laptop which weighs only 1.8 kg. They also have good looks with either black or white color options, however, most people prefer the black model despite it being expensive. The DVD drive, network and modem ports are also situated separately from other computer connections which are located on the right side together with the eye camera. This makes the drive easily accessible and to work with due to its tidy layout. (Canlas II, 2008)

Based on the fact that they can run the UNIX system, the Mac Book is regarded as the most excellent computer model for use in graphic arts tasks. However, the major challenge is the inability to run the Windows unless the Boot camp software is first installed and only after dividing the hard disk drive for that purpose. For this matter, the PCs still dominates the computer industry as it has most of the main office software. Generally, the Mac usually doesnt come with installed less important software but contains simple and useful software such as iPhoto, iChat and iMovie as customary and immediate usage for the iTunes software. (The Apple Mac Book Air-Efficiency and Simplicity, 2009)

In most cases, Mac Book buyers are usually issued with a year warranty which is possible to extend, through the acquisition of a protection plan at a cost. The care plan price of about 250 dollars enables the machine users to access cheap and prompt repair services from the Apple Store in case of a problem. Nonetheless, Mac Book costs much when compared to the PC but the prices are at par with that of Dell XPs.

On a broad spectrum, the decision to purchase Mac Book can be a better option. Modeled laptops like the Dell XPS, yet for someone considering the fashion, its a computer model worth taking into account considering its speed and that of its predecessor. It might also not be as light as the PC.

References List

Canlas II, Lynne.H. (2008). Evaluating the MacBook: Is MacBook worth every penny spent? Web.

Krakow, G. (2006).Back in Black: MacBook worlds best laptop. Web.

The Apple Mac Book Air-Efficiency and Simplity. (2009). Web.

The main aim of the articles is to give the general information on the new concept of laptop manufacturing, and discover the factors, which led to the failure of XO laptop. Version 2.0, which is described in the article by Marks (2008), is the serial variant of the model, while the probationary period of the first variant has previously succeeded.

The main consideration, represented in the article is associated with the fact, that the new model of laptops for children is a very successful and highly potential solution of the educational issues, and the maters of computer education for kids. All the aspects, which are closely related with implementing laptops for the school education, have been regarded in the article, and, there is strong necessity to emphasize that the original purpose of manufacturing these laptops is to improve the educational system in countries of south and central Africa, as well as in Latin America.

Taking into consideration the fact that computer literacy is one of the most important aspects of the nowadays education. Originally, the implementation of this device into the educational systems of the schools will be able to improve the curriculum in general and simplify the completion of the studying assignments for children, as they will be able to make them using their laptops.

The problems, which will be associated with this implementation have been regarded as the challenges, that have been already solved, or will be solved within the nearest time. These problems are closely linked with safety of the data, health issues related to the PC use by children, and the matters of software availability. Originally, it was the perfect idea to provide the free, Linux based, software for the equipment, as free operational systems are more comfortable in comparison with shareware or paid OS.

Political issues, which will be associated with the providing of the new educational plan, will touch upon the matters of the curriculum, educational plans, and teaching strategies. As the article states, some teachers refused to retire, after they had tied to teach with the help of the new laptop for children. Thus, the curriculum will have to be changed in accordance with the new realities. Schools will have to provide the proper infrastructure for implementing these laptops, and achieving the new educational practices.

In the light of the fact that the implementation of this system in some countries of Latin America caused serious safety problems, as Marks (2008) emphasizes following fact: In Colombia Negroponte and colleagues needed a 200-troop bodyguard to supply laptops and a satellite dish to a school in a region controlled by the FARC guerrillas.

Marketing positioning of the new XO computer is regarded to be successful enough for increasing the sales all over the world; nevertheless, the company makes emphasis on Africa and Latin America, while it is hard to compete with giants of computer technologies.

The unsuccessful launch of the project revealed the fact that there were serious problems, which had not been taken into consideration by the managerial team. Evans (2009) gives clear argumentation why the project is a piece of crap. Jon Evans has compared XO laptop with his Acer netbook, which is in the same price segment; nevertheless it is miles better from the XO device.

Taking into consideration the fact, that it is hard o compete with the giants of computer technologies, XO manufacturers wished to solve all the possible problems in a single project, thus, they failed to solve any. The detailed analysis of the failures is represented in the article, consequently, there is strong necessity to emphasize that managers of the project have failed to keep up with the realities of computer industry, and failed to manage the project properly.

From the managerial point of view, if the decision was to manufacture principally new device, the problems and the issues should have been solved gradually, starting either from hardware or from software. Linux based Sugar software is the optimal decision for education, nevertheless, it hardly runs on the hardware of the XO laptop. On the one hand, children could learn to use Linux based operational system in order to avoid expansive Microsoft Windows OS, however, on the other hand, children should be aware of how to use UI systems, as currently they are widely spread all over the world.

This is the origin of another managerial and marketing problem: market researchers did not study their target audience, and did not test, whether children will be using their products with pleasure, and whether it is comfortable for the study. (Howes, 2006)

The technical performance of the project is even lower than the software aspect. The hardware is cheap and unreliable. The communication technologies are not powerful and smart enough to get connected with the encrypted Wi-Fi connection, thus, the issue of data safety has not been solved either.

Originally, the idea of creating a cheap and available laptop for teaching and study is the perfect idea, nevertheless, the perfect ideas require perfect performance, which entails the primary study of the market segment, study of the target audience, the opinions of the teaching committee and teachers in schools. The aim of this research would be whether the use of XO laptops will be comfortable for improving the teaching process, how the children will be using them in the educational needs, and how the curriculum should be changed, in the context of the effectiveness of the educational process with the use of XO laptops.

The manufacturers should have started with one aspect of the project: software (elaboration of the required soft on the basis of technical solution by other company), or hardware (providing the best technical solution for a widely spread Operational System)

The subject of the article is associated with the problems, which are originally the causes of poor management and improper approach towards solving the set problems, consequently, the failure of the project One Laptop Per Child was condemned to failure. (Reiss, 2005)

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the project of XO laptop seemed to be rather potential, as the concept of a netbook for childish education is the necessary facto for improving the educational principles and providing the increased computer literacy for children and for adults. The failure of the project is emphasized by improper management of project performance, while the solution of the stated problems was not performed properly.

Bibliography

Evans, Jon. One Laptop Per Child: What Went Wrong. The Walrus, 2009.

Howes, Norman R. Modern Project Management: Successfully Integrating Project Management Knowledge Areas and Processes. New York: AMACOM, 2006.

Marks, Paul. One Laptop Per Child ready for version 2.0. Newscientist. 2008.

Reiss, Geoff. Project Management Demystified: Todays Tools and Techniques. 2nd ed. London: E & FN Spon, 2005.

Introduction

The education system has been dynamic ever since its inception in various countries across the world. The dynamism of the education system revolves around the curriculum, syllabus, and content; however, there is a new revolution of educational materials used by students.

In the contemporary world, the education system has turned digital through the introduction of e-learning over the Internet and softcopy reading materials, which demand the usage of computers in schools.

The system pioneered in the developed countries, but it is quickly getting into developing countries although the system has not replaced the old one entirely. School notebooks, which are now referred to as the old norm, have numerous benefits. Laptop notebooks have not yet been fully tested, as they are not fully adopted into the system yet. Therefore, notebook laptops should not replace school notebooks.

School Notebooks

Notebooks have been in use ever since the invention of writing papers in the Middle Ages. They were the basic writing materials in the development of academic systems even before civilization. Notebooks demand from the students to be fully attentive in the classroom since they are supposed to write notes as lessons continue.

It is paramount for students to learn how to write notes for reading and reference purposes for such practices enhance their understanding capabilities and attentiveness in the classroom. Therefore, eliminating school notebooks from the academic systems will make students less attentive to class work, as they will not be fully engaged in writing.

Notebooks are very essential for the development of writing skills. Writing skills help students to communicate effectively through writing coupled with enhancing handwriting neatness. Education begins at the early childhood education level. The student is taught the basic skills, which include writing skills. However, writing skills develop gradually as a student progresses to advanced stages of education.

Therefore, eliminating school notebooks at early stages of education would deny students the opportunity to improve their handwriting in terms of neatness and speed, which are necessary elements in writing skills (Weaver & Nilson, 2005). School notebooks are easily affordable and they need no maintenance costs, thus they are more practical for learning purposes of people with low income.

The education system should have cost-effective mechanisms that enable the majority of people to afford it with less or no strain. Hence, it is very important to ensure that every student can easily find the money for the basic learning requirements in order to eliminate chances of some individuals being left behind in the process (Barak et al., 2006).

School notebooks are reasonably priced for the majority of students and they do not require any power supply to access their contents, as in the case with laptops. Therefore, the world is yet to adopt notebook laptops in schools in order to eliminate school notebooks, as some students will be disadvantaged by the high costs of buying and maintaining notebook laptops.

Notebook Laptops

Notebook laptops are expensive devices for learning in terms of their affordability and maintenance. Notably, children are quick learners and they should grasp the basic skills for e-learning very easily. However, they love exploration and thus they damage some devices in an effort to learn more about them. Therefore, the adoption of laptop notebooks faces a challenge of the high cost of maintenance and especially the repairing costs.

On the other hand, school notebooks that have been in use ever since the adoption of the education system during civilization do not face such challenges. This observation implies that students can be subjected to new rules to protect notebook laptops from getting damaged, and that will interfere with their normal habits (Weaver & Nilson, 2005).

Also, notebook laptops have security challenges that may have adverse effects on the education system. The adoption of notebook laptops will lead to the elimination of school notebooks getting no longer useful as reading and writing will take place on notebook laptops.

Notebook laptops face two serious security problems, which include theft of devices and infection by viruses. In case of theft, students will lose personal information and notes saved on the laptops. Additionally, the chances of getting back a stolen laptop are minimal as the devices are on high demand in the digital market.

In case of infection by viruses, a notebook laptop may lose data and crucial information stored on the hard disk drives. Hence, school notebooks are safer for usage in the education system than notebook laptops, which can lose all information necessary for studying (Reed et al., 2009).

Moreover, notebook laptops may not allow students to engage in other activities outside the classroom since they offer multiple options, which keep a student glued to the screen. Additionally, it may be hard for teachers and tutors to have students operate the devices uniformly in the classroom.

The problem may lead to some students failing to be attentive to the class work as they keep themselves busy with other tasks and distracted by the devices even during lessons (Granberg & Witte, 2005). This assertion implies that the majority of students are likely to perform poorly when laptops are adopted, and, to protect them, it would be necessary to retain the old norm of the school notebooks usage.

Comparison between School Notebook and Laptops Notebook

School notebook is more convenient for a young learner than a notebook laptop. A young student needs to learn how to handwrite at early stages of learning for easy understanding of the content taught at class. It is harder for a young learner to understand learning with the help of laptop notebook than when using school notebook.

Young learners, who in most cases are children of at least three years of age, prefer learning through things that engage all common senses. School notebooks are more convenient for young learners as the writing process involves more senses, unlike working with laptops when a learner is required to operate the keyboard only.

However, laptops are convenient for learners beyond the fourth grade as they are above the exploration age, and they can easily be attentive in the classroom without being pushed by their tutors (Zucker, 2004).

On the other hand, notebook laptops are more convenient than school notebooks in terms of content and compatibility. A notebook laptop is capable of handling large contents of reading materials, whereas school notebooks handle only what the learner has written in the form of notes. Hence, notebook laptops are better than school notebooks for their ability to carry a lot of information, which is necessary for the learner.

Also, students carry their backpacks, which are often very heavy due to various school notebooks for each school subject, but with the adoption of notebook laptops in the education system, students will only be required to carry a notebook laptop and a few jotting materials, which is an advantage for the students.

In addition to carrying many education materials, notebook laptops also make learning at home easier compared to the usage of school notebooks. Notebook laptops are capable of being used for Internet applications, and thus if a student misses a certain class, the related notes and other class work can be sent to the student via email for home studies.

This observation implies that notebook laptops will bring more comfort to the education system as students will be able to access education from distant places with ease than it has been the case when school notebooks are being used.

On the other hand, the introduction of notebook laptops in the education system will lead to the shortening of class hours as laptops carry many materials that make it possible to cover many topics within a few minutes. The usage of school notebooks leads to long hours of class work during the day because writing notes for every class work are time-consuming.

This aspect implies that after notebook laptops are fully adopted in the education system, students may be required to attend classes for shorter hours. Also, much of the work will entail lecturing what students seem not to understand as opposed to going through entire books as it has been the case with school notebooks.

Therefore, lecturers will have simpler work than they have now when lecturing and writing notes for students at the same time. Hence, the adoption of notebook laptops will lead to students having more free time, which is good for their growth and development since they are required to learn progressively without pressure (Casas, 2010).

The adoption of notebook laptops into the education system will have adverse effects on the economy, as some people will earn less than they normally earn, especially those in the stationery business. All over the world, books and stationery are the bestselling items for academic purposes. Hence, the adoption of notebook laptops can cripple book and stationery businesses, which have been a source of income to millions of people across the world.

This aspect implies that some people can lose their jobs. Unfortunately, such people are stakeholders in the education system as they are parents to some children, and thus, the education system may be affected indirectly.

This observation also implies that the adoption of notebook laptops into the education system is likely to cause some economic problems, which may directly affect the students in terms of their backgrounds, hence their performance in class. Also, notebook laptops will lead to the loss of jobs for millions of teachers in the education system, as the new system will require a few teachers to teach many students at the same time.

In the current situation where school notebooks are used, many teachers are required due to the time needed to complete the curriculum where students are required to study from textbooks as they write notes on their notebooks. In the case of notebook laptops, there will be softcopy textbooks from which students will study as they make softcopy notes from the same end.

Hence, they will require fewer teachers to guide them through the learning system. This assertion implies that students will be left to study on their own for sufficient time, which is not an ideal move for young students who are not used to learning on their own.

Hence, the adoption of notebook laptops will bring in joblessness in the education system, coupled with less attention to young students who need guidance from teachers to get used to the education system. On the other hand, school notebooks are effective for young students and teachers as both are required to contribute equally to the benefit of each party.

Waste materials from notebook laptops have adverse effects on the environment, as they demand a complex process that is capable of recycling electronic wastes. On the other hand, school notebooks are more environment-friendly as compared to their counterparts for they are recyclable and they decompose easily when properly disposed of.

Currently, there is an outstanding lack of proper means of disposing of electronic materials, and thus the introduction of laptop notebooks implies an escalation of the problem of e-waste disposal, hence environmental pollution.

Notably, young children contribute the largest percentage of electronic waste in any given country due to their great carelessness and zeal to get into contact with some devices. Hence, the world will be at risk of increased electronic waste, given that only a few countries are in a position to manage such waste in an environment-friendly manner.

However, various advantages are associated with notebook laptops, which include the adoption of modern technology in the education system for easy learning by the students and the exposure of young students to digital technology. Contemporarily, the world is shifting to the digital age where most innovations will be in information technology, and thus, the world needs to prepare young minds to face future challenges.

On the other hand, school notebooks have various advantages, which include improvement of writing skills coupled with the view that a young student gets much attention from the teacher, which helps the student to be used to the education system more effectively.

Looking into the above major advantages, notebook laptops seem to be adopted into the education system only for economic benefits of a country but ignoring the welfare of a young student who needs to acquire necessary skills and attention from teachers.

The young minds of such students will be deterred by the adoption of laptop notebooks. Hence, notebook laptops can be adopted into the education system for the use by students, if only they will not replace school notebooks entirely.

Conclusion

Notebook laptops are good for the education system, and their adoption will be of benefit for both students and the economic development of a country. However, the adoption should be done at higher-level grades to allow students to learn basic skills trained through school notebooks.

School notebooks allow for the development of talents such as drawing skills among young students, which, when learned through laptop notebooks, may required specialized courses.

School notebooks allow for good relationships between a teacher and a student, as tutors can know when a student is having problems while using school notebooks, but laptop notebooks may deny the student such attention from the teacher. Hence, notebook laptops should not replace school notebooks.

References

Barak, M., Lipson, A., & Lerman, S. (2006). Wireless laptops as means for promoting Active learning in large lecture halls. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(2), 245263.

Casas, M. (2010). Enhancing Student Learning in Middle School. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis

Granberg, E., & Witte, J. (2005). Teaching with laptops for the first time: lessons from a Social science classroom. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2005(101), 5159.

Reed, R., Berque, D., & Prey, J. (2009). The Impact of Tablet PCs and Pen-based Technology on Education: Evidence and Outcomes, 2008. Chicago, IL: Purdue University Press.

Weaver, B., & Nilson, L. (2005). Laptops in class: What are they good for? What can you do with them? New Directions in Teaching and Learning, 2005(101), 313.

Zucker, A. (2004). Developing a research agenda for ubiquitous computing in Schools. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 30 (4), 371386.

Mac Book is the modern portable Apple computer currently available in the industry. It was first introduced in the market in January of 2006 at the Mac World Expo to replace PowerBook G4 and the iBook models. They are the cheapest models in the Mac line with good quality and consistency just like other Apple brands. Generally, there are two types i.e. Mac Book and Mac Book Pro, with the former being cheaper but with lesser power, limited battery life, low RAM and without SD card opening. (Krakow, 2006)

Compared to their predecessors the iBook computer model, Mac Book is slimmer although it occupies large space horizontally. Some other features include the already installed iPhoto and iMovie software and easy to upgrade software programs. The upgraded programs can reach the limit of eight gigabytes in memory while about five hundred gigabytes for computer internal drives. The Bluetooth, the Firewire port, camera and at least two ports for USB cables are some of its unique features giving an advantage over the PCs besides the DVI output. (Canlas II, 2008)

Looking at the speed of the CPU, Mac Book has incorporated new mechanisms which have boosted its speed to 2.16GHz from the original 2GHz. This has resulted in efficiency in carrying out the programmed tasks. The machine’s performance has also zoomed up with the enlarged memory size from the original 80GB up to120GB in the current model. The level can be as high as 160 GB hard disk which is double the original in the case of the black Mac Book. This large memory has limited the need for other portable stage devices such as the CD, MP3, Floppy disks and flash disks for storing and carrying additional information and data. (Krakow, 2006)

Considering the physical outlook, the new Mac has identical features i.e. 13.3-inch wide monitor with about 2.30kg in weight. Though it’s portable, this is slightly heavier as compared to the similar size laptop which weighs only 1.8 kg. They also have good looks with either black or white color options, however, most people prefer the black model despite it being expensive. The DVD drive, network and modem ports are also situated separately from other computer connections which are located on the right side together with the eye camera. This makes the drive easily accessible and to work with due to its tidy layout. (Canlas II, 2008)

Based on the fact that they can run the UNIX system, the Mac Book is regarded as the most excellent computer model for use in graphic arts tasks. However, the major challenge is the inability to run the Windows unless the Boot camp software is first installed and only after dividing the hard disk drive for that purpose. For this matter, the PCs still dominates the computer industry as it has most of the main office software. Generally, the Mac usually doesn’t come with installed less important software but contains simple and useful software such as iPhoto, iChat and iMovie as customary and immediate usage for the iTunes software. (The Apple Mac Book Air-Efficiency and Simplicity, 2009)

In most cases, Mac Book buyers are usually issued with a year warranty which is possible to extend, through the acquisition of a protection plan at a cost. The care plan price of about 250 dollars enables the machine users to access cheap and prompt repair services from the Apple Store in case of a problem. Nonetheless, Mac Book costs much when compared to the PC but the prices are at par with that of Dell XPs.

On a broad spectrum, the decision to purchase Mac Book can be a better option. Modeled laptops like the Dell XPS, yet for someone considering the fashion, it’s a computer model worth taking into account considering its speed and that of its predecessor. It might also not be as light as the PC.

References List

Canlas II, Lynne.H. (2008). Evaluating the MacBook: Is MacBook worth every penny spent? Web.

Krakow, G. (2006).Back in Black: MacBook world’s best laptop. Web.

The Apple Mac Book Air-Efficiency and Simplity. (2009). Web.

Article Summary

Lucy Morsen’s (2010) essay, “A Proposal to Improve the Campus Learning Environment by Banning Laptops and Cell Phones from Class,” is a formal request by the author to campus policymakers. The author seeks to convince the faculty to carry out a ban on the use of cell phones and laptops in classrooms. According to the author, some students, herself included, have become victims of the incessant use of gadgets in lecture halls. Morse’s reasoning is that discontinuing the use of gadgets in classrooms will improve the overall classroom experience for both students and instructors. The proposal points out that even some of the students who regularly use laptops and cell phones are suffering without knowing. The author cites several research studies that point out the negative effects of classroom gadget usage. The article concludes by noting that the decision to ban gadget use should not be left upon instructors. Instead, the university administration should make this important decision, thereby exempting instructors from the stigma that accompanies this ban.

Rhetorical Critique

This article is mainly intended for the school faculty, especially the policymakers who have the ability to affect a ban on gadget-use in classrooms. Consequently, the article specifically addresses this demographic. Furthermore, the author seeks to appeal to students who share her sentiments on the distractive nature of cell phone and laptop usage in classrooms. The manner in which the article is written makes it relevant even to the students who engage in the described vice. The article has the capacity to open the students’ eyes on a matter that they had previously ignored. The author uses various methods of persuasive writing to get her message heard by all the targeted demographics.

The author is successful in her bid to remain objective even when she is covering a divisive subject. The author introduces herself as a student who is a victim of the vice that she wants policymakers to address. However, after this statement of interest, the author remains objective throughout the paper. For instance, the author shares her experiences in class not as an individual but as a random student in a classroom. Another successful use of ethos in the essay is exemplified through the manner in which the writer goes against popular opinion without adopting a standoffish attitude. For instance, the author only refers to students’ behaviors and not the learners themselves. Nevertheless, the fact that the author is a first-year student and she is directly related to the matter undermines her proposal. As a first-year student, the author might be just having trouble adjusting to the new environment.

Substantial evidence is used to support the authors’ argument, including the use of statistics and expert opinions. For example, the author cites research from other universities, including Stanford and Winona. However, there are instances when the expert testimony ends up contrasting the author’s point of view. This is the case when the author cites a study of laptop usage in classrooms. This research articulates that gadgets are the only form of distraction for students. However, this is not the case because distraction takes several forms, including visual, mental, and even preoccupation. Removing gadgets in the classroom will not practically eliminate distractions in class. Overall, there is no evidence to show that distractions in classrooms started with the advent of gadgets.

Emotions are well utilized in this essay because the author aims to present herself as a student under siege. Therefore, it is important for the writer to lay out her claims in a manner that resonates with the emotions of faculty members, instructors, and fellow students. It is clear that the author is emotional about the distracting nature of gadgets in class. The first thing all learners should learn is how to concentrate with their tasks. Before the advent of gadgets, there were other forms of distractions including student-to-student communications, chewing of gum, turning of pages, outside noises, and distractive students. Therefore, the author is being emotional by overemphasizing on the distractions of modern gadgets. Nevertheless, the author uses pathos in the right manner by pointing out the dilemma of both institutions and instructors when it comes to banning of gadgets in classrooms.

The essay carries a strong tone in line with the author’s vehement opposition against use of cell phones and laptops. The author does not give any chance for negotiations in the essay and she uses phrases such as ‘campus-wide ban’, ‘I question the academic motivation of my classmates’ and ‘undercut my enjoyment of class’. These phrases are strong statements on the author’s gadget-ban proposal. The author realizes that her classmates are most likely to react to her claims in a negative manner. Therefore, she continuously refers to them as ‘classmates’. For instance, this statement is meant to inspire a reaction: “Many of my classmates may actually welcome the ban because they-like myself are aware of…” (Morsen, 2010). These statements of camaraderie are meant to inform the readers that she has no ill intentions toward her fellow students because she is suffering with them.

Reference

Morsen, L. (2010). A Proposal to Improve the Campus Learning Environment by Banning Laptops and Cell Phones from Class. In J. D. Ramage, J. C. Bean & J. Johnson (Eds.), The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing 7^th Edition (pp. 396-399). Boston, MA: Pearson.

The main aim of the articles is to give the general information on the new concept of laptop manufacturing, and discover the factors, which led to the failure of XO laptop. Version 2.0, which is described in the article by Marks (2008), is the serial variant of the model, while the probationary period of the first variant has previously succeeded.

The main consideration, represented in the article is associated with the fact, that the new model of laptops for children is a very successful and highly potential solution of the educational issues, and the maters of computer education for kids. All the aspects, which are closely related with implementing laptops for the school education, have been regarded in the article, and, there is strong necessity to emphasize that the original purpose of manufacturing these laptops is to improve the educational system in countries of south and central Africa, as well as in Latin America.

Taking into consideration the fact that computer literacy is one of the most important aspects of the nowadays education. Originally, the implementation of this device into the educational systems of the schools will be able to improve the curriculum in general and simplify the completion of the studying assignments for children, as they will be able to make them using their laptops.

The problems, which will be associated with this implementation have been regarded as the challenges, that have been already solved, or will be solved within the nearest time. These problems are closely linked with safety of the data, health issues related to the PC use by children, and the matters of software availability. Originally, it was the perfect idea to provide the free, Linux based, software for the equipment, as free operational systems are more comfortable in comparison with shareware or paid OS.

Political issues, which will be associated with the providing of the new educational plan, will touch upon the matters of the curriculum, educational plans, and teaching strategies. As the article states, some teachers refused to retire, after they had tied to teach with the help of the new laptop for children. Thus, the curriculum will have to be changed in accordance with the new realities. Schools will have to provide the proper infrastructure for implementing these laptops, and achieving the new educational practices.

In the light of the fact that the implementation of this system in some countries of Latin America caused serious safety problems, as Marks (2008) emphasizes following fact: “In Colombia Negroponte and colleagues needed a 200-troop bodyguard to supply laptops and a satellite dish to a school in a region controlled by the FARC guerrillas”.

Marketing positioning of the new XO computer is regarded to be successful enough for increasing the sales all over the world; nevertheless, the company makes emphasis on Africa and Latin America, while it is hard to compete with giants of computer technologies.

The unsuccessful launch of the project revealed the fact that there were serious problems, which had not been taken into consideration by the managerial team. Evans (2009) gives clear argumentation why the project is “a piece of crap”. Jon Evans has compared XO laptop with his Acer netbook, which is in the same price segment; nevertheless it is miles better from the XO device.

Taking into consideration the fact, that it is hard o compete with the giants of computer technologies, XO manufacturers wished to solve all the possible problems in a single project, thus, they failed to solve any. The detailed analysis of the failures is represented in the article, consequently, there is strong necessity to emphasize that managers of the project have failed to keep up with the realities of computer industry, and failed to manage the project properly.

From the managerial point of view, if the decision was to manufacture principally new device, the problems and the issues should have been solved gradually, starting either from hardware or from software. Linux based Sugar software is the optimal decision for education, nevertheless, it hardly runs on the hardware of the XO laptop. On the one hand, children could learn to use Linux based operational system in order to avoid expansive Microsoft Windows OS, however, on the other hand, children should be aware of how to use UI systems, as currently they are widely spread all over the world.

This is the origin of another managerial and marketing problem: market researchers did not study their target audience, and did not test, whether children will be using their products with pleasure, and whether it is comfortable for the study. (Howes, 2006)

The technical performance of the project is even lower than the software aspect. The hardware is cheap and unreliable. The communication technologies are not powerful and smart enough to get connected with the encrypted Wi-Fi connection, thus, the issue of data safety has not been solved either.

Originally, the idea of creating a cheap and available laptop for teaching and study is the perfect idea, nevertheless, the perfect ideas require perfect performance, which entails the primary study of the market segment, study of the target audience, the opinions of the teaching committee and teachers in schools. The aim of this research would be whether the use of XO laptops will be comfortable for improving the teaching process, how the children will be using them in the educational needs, and how the curriculum should be changed, in the context of the effectiveness of the educational process with the use of XO laptops.

The manufacturers should have started with one aspect of the project: software (elaboration of the required soft on the basis of technical solution by other company), or hardware (providing the best technical solution for a widely spread Operational System)

The subject of the article is associated with the problems, which are originally the causes of poor management and improper approach towards solving the set problems, consequently, the failure of the project “One Laptop Per Child” was condemned to failure. (Reiss, 2005)

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the project of XO laptop seemed to be rather potential, as the concept of a netbook for childish education is the necessary facto for improving the educational principles and providing the increased computer literacy for children and for adults. The failure of the project is emphasized by improper management of project performance, while the solution of the stated problems was not performed properly.

Bibliography

Evans, Jon. One Laptop Per Child: What Went Wrong. The Walrus, 2009.

Howes, Norman R. Modern Project Management: Successfully Integrating Project Management Knowledge Areas and Processes. New York: AMACOM, 2006.

Marks, Paul. One Laptop Per Child ready for version 2.0. Newscientist. 2008.

Reiss, Geoff. Project Management Demystified: Today’s Tools and Techniques. 2nd ed. London: E & FN Spon, 2005.

Today the world has become upwardly mobile and it helps if we can remain in touch with the world around us all the time, whether we are moving, sitting in a cafe or just enjoying the afternoon in a park. The globalization forces have made a real impact on almost all aspects of our lives. Information technology is a key driver of the process of globalization.

The changes in the IT field has brought revolutionized the world around us to such an extent that whatever we do today has an element of IT in it, be it banking, traveling, gaming, education, entertainment, business, communication, or media, everywhere we find the influx of technology in a big way. The e-elements like e-business, e-banking, e-gaming, etc. are such applications, which necessitate having a computer with us all the time. Therefore, some of the causes which can be listed for owning a laptop are;

1. To remain upwardly mobile with the world in my laptop
2. To be able to work on college assignments even when outside of the home or college, access mails on the move, etc. This allows for better time management, even when someone is waiting in the departure lounge of the airport.
3. Availability of wireless networking (w-fi) facility at many more places all around us at reasonable prices.
4. To remain in touch with the university, friends, teachers, and near and dear one’s all the time.
5. Financial activities like online banking and online share trading can be done even while on the move.
6. There are a host of features like net banking, IT enabled services, business process outsourcing, online ticket purchase, online retailing from supermarkets etc. which are the components of e-business activities. We need to have a laptop to make use of these features.
7. Now the use of the internet covers real-time computer conferencing, audio broadcasting, video broadcasting, real-time telephony, and of course real-time business. Having a laptop is a prerequisite for making the fullest use of such features and services.
8. Rates of laptops have drastically come down in recent years. Now a high configuration machine is available at reasonable rates.
9. Technology is changing really fast. Follow the trend, the desktop is now a passé.
10. With the availability of multi-colored lightweight laptops, it has become a fashion statement now.
11. As compared to a desktop, a laptop also leads to huge power savings. This helps in conserving our energy resources so that we can have the all import energy available for many more years to come.
12. Let’s have one before it goes extinct, and taken over by handheld devices or even smaller devices so that we don’t feel like having never used the laptop. Let us not forget Moore’s law, ‘The number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years. And the IT companies have indeed kept pace with these technology trends over the years.

Introduction

Today’s business and leisure activities run smoothly due to the emergency of new and supportive technologies. For example, since the emergency of personal laptop computers, people are able monitor their personal finances from time to time.

Moreover, networking, documentation and online chats keep on asserting new opportunities to lives of many. Numerous companies ranging from Dell to HP are manufacturing laptops for their clients. In order to make sure its laptop industry undergoes a revolution, Hewlett Packard Company has enacted modalities to create a viable market for their laptops.

Market Structure for HP laptops

Over the recent years, HP laptops are the most sold in the market. The dominance in the market is because of their resilience in price control and upgraded technologies. Information technologists argue that, HP is able to regulate market economy through its peculiar products.

The quality of HP laptops is not a selfish guarantee of aggressiveness in the market, but rather market protectionism and increased sales.

In 2008, the number of HP laptops sold was greater by two million as compared to the second placed Dell laptops. The switch from personal computer desktops to laptops is responsible for HP laptop markets structure.

The market structure of HP laptops created because of increased shares, continue to outburst the laptop industry. HP laptops furnish both small and large enterprises through dyed-in-the-wool product contours.

Moreover, HP laptops dominate markets due to aggressive selling and excellent channel strategies that spout the ever-growing market segmentations. In fact, this explains why the market structure of HP laptops is bursting. (Kerridge, 2009, p.1).

Indeed, competition is high in the market. For other laptop manufacturing companies to increase their sales, they must overshadow HP products must first something that needs a lot of effort and finances. The increased sales from HP products are because of proper branding strategies that helped in achieving market recognition.

Increased HP shares are due to higher revenue generated from potential sales. Competitor companies like Dell, Acer and Toshiba are struggling to create brawny and superior illustrations, which will attract customer to buy their products (Display Search 2010, p.1).

Possible Strategies of HP Laptop Competitors

HP has theme in their business outsourcing strategies and this is being a market leader of computer laptops. If other competitor companies are not up to the task of creating market strength of their laptops, then there is no way out they can create pressure on HP products unless they come up with innovations in the laptop technology.

Competitor companies presently also manufacture same commodities ranging from monitors to laptops something that HP has already done; hence, the need to come up with innovations to meet the ever increasing market competition they face from HP.

Other possible strategies from HP laptop competitors include cutting the price of their products between 14 and 20 percent to induce a war price market. Some companies like dell have now embarked on server growth mechanisms, which will act like an entry point into the HP monopolistic market.

It is true that HP does not dominate all markets in the world. As a way to bring competition, competitor laptop manufacturers should embark on opening new market places all over the world especially in places where HP products do not dominate the market.

On the other hand, it is important to note that, these HP competitors are now engaged in laptop up gradation to give them an upper hand over HP laptops. This has really helped these companies in attracting more customers toward their products.

Conclusion

In order to increase their sales through competition, I would like to see HP competitors launch new and featured laptop computers. For example, they can manufacture laptops with inbuilt TV tuner cards and modify the keyboard to a lighting one.

Another modality to counter HP laptops is to manufacture laptops that sell at a cheaper price. In addition to that, these companies ought to make numerous advertisements so that their commodities become conversant to customers. This will boost customer loyalty hence sales and greater revenue generation.

Reference List

Display Search, 2010. HP Maintains 20% Worldwide Notebook PC Market Share in Q1’08; Gains Share on Rivals in 5 of 6 Regions; Mini-Note PC Market Forecast to Grow to More Than 13M Units in 2008. Display Search. Web.

Kerridge, M., 2009. The HP Laptop Industry. Linkvana. Web.

Introduction

The proposed service is a laptop rental service for university students. It will consist of short- and long-term rentals of laptops that would require students to pay a fee for rental of the laptop. The company will have a range of laptops from different brands that students would choose from after applying for the service. Laptops will be set up and pre-installed with basic educational software. Students will pay a set fee based on the laptop selected and time rented. Upon return of the product, the computer will be evaluated, and the student will be billed fully for the full time the product was rented. The service will operate 24/7 for the university so that students can rent a laptop at any time for academic needs in case of emergency situations.

Concept Statement

Concept: A 24/7 service which allows students at the university rent laptops for a set fee, catering to both, short-term emergency leases and long-term needs of students who require laptops for academic activities.

Goal: To establish the business as a primary, accessible solution for students who are experiencing issues with their computers and establish a profitable long-term business model.

Risks: There can be an inherent lack of interest in the business as most students also have mobile devices which they can use or utilize computers free of charge at the university library. There is a risk that initial investment will take a significant time to recoup given the expense of hardware and various costs in upkeeping it.

Target Market

The target market will be students, and potentially staff who are members of the local university. National survey data demonstrates that 80% of students have laptop devices for their college (or higher) education, while 4 out of 5 rely heavily on digital learning tools for a wide variety of activities (Reed, 2016). Therefore, students attending the university will be the target market and preference of the rental service. The laptop rental service will target those who need a computer device for academic purposes. Potentially a partnership with the university can be established to provide favourable rates as well as a liability system for those affiliated with the university as either student or staff.

Service Positioning

Given the target market statistics described above and with an average university population between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals, both empirical and anecdotal data suggests that students may need a laptop rental. The average malfunction rate for laptops is 20% while failure rates are at least 31% within 3 years (Newman, 2009). Given that higher education lasts at least 4 years on average, it is likely that at least a third of the 20,000-30,000 population will experience a malfunction. The nature of college academic studies is that laptops are necessary for most students either for note taking, completing assignments and coursework, and for other aspects such as communication and leisure. In cases of laptop malfunction or failure for students, it may take several days up to a few weeks to receive appropriate maintenance, thus students may need quick access to a laptop that can be used for necessary activities and then transfer the data over.

Therefore, the service positioning of the proposed laptop rental service is to offer this affordable, no hassle rental for laptops which can give students the necessary devices to seamlessly transition in their studies. The service is clear, transparent, and provides choices for students in terms of their rentals that also impacts the price. There will be a wide variety of laptops on offer, as some may prefer the Apple operating system over Windows while some studies such as design and engineering may require additional software or processing power. The service positioning will encompass the comfort, speed, and technical reliability that students may require in such situations where emergency rental or access to a laptop is necessary.

Marketing Objectives

Marketing objectives for the service should be set using the SMART model as will be identified in this section. This structured approach is highly effective in managing marketing activities and determining their effectiveness, thus modifying them as necessary and being able to evaluate their success for the business model (Woodruff, 2019).

Specific – to achieve awareness that the service is available to the university student population and increase traffic flow to the service from those experiencing laptop malfunctions.

Measurable – awareness based on marketing efforts can be measured via randomized surveys on the university campus or quick interviews. Similarly, measuring foot traffic in comparison to laptop malfunctions can be measured via surveys distributed in person or via email through the university networks.

Achievable – due to the availability of mass information resources and communication methods within a university ecosystem, the goal is achievable.

Realistic – The objectives are difficult but can be achieved by a staff of 3-4 part time employees. Most of the marketing efforts are likely to be passive or digital.

Time-specific – It is necessary to spread awareness of the service and maximize marketing within the first 1-2 months of the academic year and monitor the foot traffic on a semester basis.

Financial Objectives

The financial objectives for the service are to cover initial entry costs and achieve at least a 20% revenue growth year over year for the first 5 years of operations. Contribution earnings should range between 150 to 250 per month. Profitability should be increased year over year, but it is necessary to manage margins at a level that would make the business profitable but also be affordable to students. It is hopeful that at least 60-75% of available laptops will be in rental rotation during the academic year. However, there is an inherent limit to growth as local and university populations are commonly stable, and rates of computer failure only decrease with time due to improvement of technology. There is no real alternative to this business other than some computer service shops may offer out temporary rentals on a minor basis. Therefore, the dedicated laptop rental service should theoretically capture the majority of the market share.

Societal Objectives

The primary societal objective is to provide a service that university students may desperately require but have no easy access to. While laptop rental services exist nationally, they often require significant paperwork, fees, and additional shipment times. Most smaller cities associated with universities do not have a robust rental business for computers such as the one proposed in this plan. It will be a service that directly contributes to the academic success of students by ensuring the availability of access to a laptop with all available software to perform their coursework. Localising and streamlining the service to make the process readily available and easy for students eliminates the need for costly rentals and eliminates other elements such as shipping that are not only detrimental to the student population but to the environment as well. It is hopeful that the service model will spread to all universities in the country.

Marketing Mix

Product (Service)

The product for this business is laptop computers which are rented (as a service) to individuals. The service is targeted at those who may require a laptop in emergency or temporary situations. Since laptops are widespread tool and device used for studies, work, and entertainment, this is a viable service to have in a strategically placed location such as a university. The service will ensure a wide availability of laptops for all pricing points and needs of students who may require to rent a computer.

Price

The pricing strategy for the business will be aimed at affordability as much as possible but also helping to maintain profitability. Pricing will be available by tiers of laptop and rental period as seen in the table below. Therefore, those who require laptops for a prolonged period of time, such as several weeks, experience significant discounts in comparison to per day rentals. These are more than reasonable prices for such expensive electronic devices, but is within the ability to pay of the primary consumer market which are students.

Place

The point of sale will be a location on or near university grounds that is easily accessible by foot to all students. This strategic placement will ensure that the primary target customers have an ease of convenience to use the service, particularly in emergency situations and will not have to travel far. Furthermore, it is important to consider the digital space as a point of sale. Although the laptop rental will be done in person, consumers will be able to fill out the application online and immediately pick up their product. Digital points of sale will consist of the website created for the service.

Promotion

Promotion will occur online, print advertisement, and digitally. Print advertisements may be taken out in university newsletter as well as posting posters around the campus. In-person advertising may occur by placing an information booth during university events and handing out flyers. Digital advertisement will include links on university resources such as the library website as well as advertisements on university-associated social media groups. This promotion mix will be effective in covering a large population on the university campus and gradually increase awareness of the service.

Physical Evidence

The rental service is meant to be a smooth and no hassle experience. Although the physical environment is likely to be small, but it will be streamlined so that the customer can fill out their information, provide identification and receive the laptop quickly. The service will have a website with an intuitive from and a catalog of laptops with pictures and specifications for the customer to choose from. The designs both in the physical space and the website will be modest but modern and sleek as appropriate towards the target audience.

People

The marketing will be done by the business owner and one other employee who will be hired with knowledge of marketing skills and strategies. It is a small business so there will be no dedicated marketing team. There will be two major responsibilities for marketing, developing the marketing material and implementing the marketing, including in-person advertisements. It will be important to select an employee who has the ability to be creative, multitask and have a high level of customer support or sales experience.

Process

Process is the flow of activities or mechanisms in the interaction between a customer and business. When a customer would like to use the laptop rental business, they can either fill out an application with their personal and contact information online or come in and do the same in-store. The service representative will ask for an identification document and make a copy. The customer will be provided with rates and a list of available laptops. The customer will choose the laptop and either short or long-term rental. At which point they will be asked to make the deposit equal to 1 day of rental. At which point they can leave and use the rented laptop. Upon completion of the rental, they return. The laptop condition is examined to match that when it was provided. The time of return is noted, with 12pm considered the cut off point from which an additional day of rental is charged. The customer signs a document that the laptop is returned, making the payment using cash, card, or digital transaction, and the rental process is complete. At this point, the employee checks the laptop, deleting any files from customer use, cleans it and re-enters it into the rental rotation.

Financial Evaluation

Sales Forecast

The sales projections were based on the cost per unit using the service costing discussed in the next section and estimating revenue based on number of rental units expected. Year 1 demonstrates relatively modest sales since the service will be new, and only a small number of individual customers is expected. However, by year 5, the business will be well-established, well-integrated into the college system, and have a large awareness on campus. Combined with predicted 20% annual growth, it is likely to assume that the customer base will increase by approximately six-fold, thus significantly increasing expected sales.

Financial Evaluation

The service costing was based off taking the core costs of running the business and providing an estimate per year. The prices are assumed on the premise that collaboration with the university will be established, thus allowing for cheaper rental and utilities prices than a typical private business. The marketing budget remains small for year 1, assuming the costs of basic print materials, in-person advertising, or minimal digital advertising (also largely done through university platforms). The net contribution was calculated by subtracting the total costs from the estimated sales revenue for year 1.

Time Plan

Monitoring and Control

Monitoring

Monitoring of the business will be done using key performance indicators (KPIs). As a rental business, there is a constant necessity to monitor the strength of the industry and demand and react quickly to market changes in order to reinforce the value of renting to consumers (Wenham, n.d.). The primary objectives for the business that will be constantly monitored is long-term profitability and new sales through rentals to new and returning customers. Some of the KPIs that will be monitored include:

• Financial utilization – true amount of revenue per individual laptop.
• Time and physical utilization – maximize types of laptops available based on their rental popularity.
• Rental rate – average change in rental rates between time periods, calculating rental amount to meet revenue goals.
• Maintenance-to-income ratio – tracking maintenance costs compared to revenue from each individual unit – prioritizing maintenance on popular products to improve availability and customer satisfaction.
• Customer acquisition rate – the costs of attracting new customers and their retention with the business.

Control

Annual control will be exercised through management of key objectives. First, monthly and quarterly goals are set, as described in the time plan, which should be met. Performance in the market is monitored at all times. If there are deviations in sales and rental figures, corrective action will be taken such as increasing marketing or adjusting rates. This ties in with profitability control that will monitor the earning capacity of the various laptop units for rental within the firm’s products and target consumer groups. The business does not have significant operations to implement productivity control, but processes such as tracking rentals, maintaining equipment, and database control should be optimized. Finally, strategic control will be implemented to execute strategic plans in terms of growth of the business. This includes managing the market, building partnerships with the university, finding new ways to attract consumers.

Contingency Plan

The biggest risk in operating a laptop rental business is ensuring that the electronic devices are maintained in safe and operating conditions. As a contingency plan, all laptops will be insured upon purchase. Furthermore, consumers will have to sign a liability waiver upon rental promising to upkeep the laptop in proper condition at which it was received. If a laptop needs to be fixed, the contingency plan will have various options on how this can be done at the most price-effective point. Collected data on customers must be securely protected, so it is necessary to establish IT protections in order to secure all data. The business staff and rented space will have to be insured as well.

References

Newman, J. (2009). Report: A third of laptops fail within 3 years. PCWorld. Web.

Reed, T. (2016). New survey data: Four out of five college students say digital learning technology helps improve their grades. Web.

Wenham, E. (n.d.). Best KPIs for the equipment rental industry. Web.

Woodruff, J. (2019). Example of a smart objective for a marketing plan. Web.