This is the first thing I noticed when I walked in the door to the library:
This is roughly 40 computer stations. As you can see every one of these computers (Brand New Core2Duo 2.16Ghz DELLs)has a DVD Writer installed. How many K4- 4th Graders are capable of burning a DVD? How many NEED to burn to DVD and could our school district have saved at least $5 per computer if they all just had DVD/CDRW combo drives instead of DVD burners?
I've heard the estimate that Pickens County got 1200 new computers - that would equal $6,000 in savings if it was just $5 per computer.
6 comments:
It may surprise you to learn that "Combo" drives are hard to come by, and tend to cost more than DVD burners. Supply and demand and all that economic stuffs, ya know?
I do undersstand that to a degree ... But as far as huge orders of PCs go and that it could actually save Dell some money too ... I'm pretty sure there's a big difference at a wholesale level.
The DVD burner pictured sells for $29 at retail. There's a manufacturing cost to these, I doubt much is being made on a $29 drive. And a combo drive uses all the same parts, so I doubt there's $5 to be saved per unit, if anything at all honestly.
Actually on the Dell website ... the dvd burner sells for $129 retail. / $58.70 wholesale / $38.32 closeout
A DVD/CDRW retails for $39.99 / wholesale $18.70 / 11.88 closeout.
I'm sure the deals would be even better in volume.
Or what about even just DVD ROM drives with two units that burned DVDs?
Dell typically bundles popular components together and offers them for sale to schools. When they are selling thousands, the cost of goods drops dramatically. If they customized the systems for each school, the cost would increase accordingly. So even though LES students likely don't need a DVD-burner, that system is designed to be versatile enough for all schools it's offered to. Comparing single unit costs is not an Apples-to-Apples comparison. Keep in mid that they are purchased by competitive bid process.
Actually there isn't a bid process / Dell has a four year contract with our state.
What about no optical drive?
I asked and they HAVE NEVER BEEN USED.
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