Fresh tech is making a splash in the KISD 2022 school year. While there is excitement as the district rolls out chrome books to replace the previous year’s laptops, some students are finding themselves frustrated with the inability to use Windows’ integrated software.
“I work a lot with the Adobe Suite, and that’s unavailable with Chromebooks because they use Google,” said Klein Cain Junior Savannah Shannon.
Alongside concerns about the loss of Adobe software installation, students have voiced upset regarding the inability to run similar Microsoft programs like One Note, PowerPoint, and Word. Although these apps are not available through Chrome, students can access them through the internet using Nutanix, a district-provided software.
“The battery life is much better, it lasts longer than the 1st period,” said Shannon.
This new and improved battery life on the Chromebook has been highly beneficial for many students since they no longer have to worry about their battery dying early into the school day. This advanced technology is the right step into the future of academics.
Not only do the Chromebooks have a prolonged battery life, but they also eradicate the need for bulky laptop cases.
“One thing I like about the new computers is the protection on the outside. I think this will help with the Chromebook’s longevity and safety, allowing more learning opportunities,” said Junior Jasmine Smith.
The Chromebooks have replaced cases with a far sleeker shell, and students have been ecstatic about it. Worries about bulky, overweight backpacks have been dismantled by this ergonomic change.
“Now the computer also doesn’t close out all my tabs,” said junior Eliana James
Alternatively, students have enjoyed the sleep feature on the Chromebooks, which maintains your progress on the laptop whilst preserving the battery. This now means that the students at Klein Cain no longer have to worry about losing important work, all because they need to preserve the battery.
“It is also really nice that the new laptops don’t have a screen protector,” said Klein Cain junior Sofia Reeves.
Many students have found that without the screen protector they can better use the touch screen feature- without the hindrance of a thick screen protector.
This year’s software is a major step forward for Klein ISD’s technological integration initiatives. Although some students are frustrated with certain aspects of these Chromebooks, many have enjoyed the improvements to their workflow.
