Beaumont Independent School District in Texas has approved an $11.19 million four-year lease covering 14,585 Apple devices, replacing an ageing Chromebook fleet. The district will supply iPads to pre-K through 2nd grade and MacBook Neo laptops to students in grades 3-12 and to teachers, 9to5Mac reported.
The order includes more than 4,000 iPads for the youngest students, 9,500 MacBook Neo for grades 3-12, and 1,000 MacBook Neo for teachers. The district evaluated the MacBook Neo against Lenovo and Asus machines and determined it offered the best performance and durability. Apple also provided better financing terms and access to AppleCare, which helped seal the decision. The Lenovo option carried a minimum 4% financing rate, a higher four-year total cost, and a guaranteed buyback value of only $10 per unit. The Asus model had a lower initial price but ended up costing more over four years, and its plastic construction was expected to require more frequent repairs.
The district had been spending nearly $500,000 each year on repairs and support for its Chromebooks, many acquired more than five years ago.