Comments on: Cambridge Council clarify iPad position

By: Jaya Chakrabarti

Jaya Chakrabarti — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:30:09 +0000

I think the question must be raised about why an ebook reader or a netbook could not have done the job more cost-effectively, but certainly applaud the sentiment (i.e. cutting down on the use of paper). mmm I wonder if they've done the calculations on how much the iPad uses in electricity during that time? Having just bought a couple of very energy-efficient ebook readers for our company to use (at just under £200 a pop) my money is literally on the alternative .

By: stephenhilton

stephenhilton — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:42:23 +0000

Is a one-off IT capital budget of £30K for 46 councillors so outrageous if it saves 3-5 years worth of travel, printing and photocopy costs?? I wonder how much you Head Honchos at Montage spend on IT kit each year, and I bet it's offset against tax? I mean, even the Bristol Blogger has an i-phone now, allegedly. Seriously though, I do feel that many councils fail to support the ICT needs of their elected members – if they were treated as company directors noone would bat an eyelid.

Stephen

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:14:38 +0000

It was probably media spin that identified the iPad as the proposed device- I was really struck by how strong the reaction was to the supposed proposal. It occurred to me that the “shinyness” of the technology was part of what was being resisted- either because it was too flash, or too frightening.

By: The Bristol Blogger

The Bristol Blogger — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:07:27 +0000

An iPad is an extravagant and glamorous perk. It's a completely untried and untested piece of technology. There can be no justifiable reason for procuring them on a large scale at present. In fact it would be stupid to do so. Maybe in 2-3 years when we know what they do and don't do.

Also the reason these things are seen as perks rather than tools of the trade is because the most expensive bits of kit always seem to end up on the desks and in the pockets of the bosses regardless of their, often, minor IT requirements and complete ignorance of IT in general.

Meanwhile people with actual work to do are working away on pieces of out-of-date crap.

By: montagecomms

montagecomms — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:48:41 +0000

Think that it is outrageous that they have put in for £30k for iPads. They are still not on release in the UK, and the council wouldn't have even tried one!