CTL chromebooks

[ddelboccio]

Hello!  Has anyone had and experience (good or bad) with CTL model chromebooks?  Specifically the PX111E series?

https://ctl.net/collections/ctl-px111e-series?srsltid=AfmBOopLkri1zs9ZpuqKkf0Cvn_x_nVvWsHFK_fLOCST2-...

I am looking at moving away from the HP Chromebook 11 G8/G9 EE devices I've had for 3-4 years now.

Thanks!

[don_b_nashville]

Our experience with CTL goes back to their CMT model in 2016. We still have some in circulation in places where any threat from being well past the expiration date for Chrome upgrades is low. These CMTs had removeable/replaceable batteries (no case removal to do the ultimate hard reset by pulling the literal plug,) built to a ruggedized standard that only our Dell Chromebook 11s approach. They are easy to work on. A while back they even offered a trade-back incentive, but because we bought ours re-branded through CDI Computers (now Bluum) we didn't qualify. 

We chose the NL73CT model (now $299) with an Infocase case ($29) and whatever the going rate is for Google Mgmt Certs is, maybe $35, $38? We've only had our 55 since September, but we've had zero issues from some of the students who've been roughest on Chromebooks in the past. The Infocase armor shell makes the old Griffin line of iPad cases look like Yugos. Call them or go to ctl.net to get bulk discounts. I work with DJ Jensen, djensen at ctl.net but they have a very efficient website workflow for ordering and they may route you to someone else depending on territories. We're likely going to continue to use CTL for the foreseeable future. Best of luck in your search.  

[sundermannc]

We recently went with a Lenovo model after evaluating various others, including one from CTL.  We outsource our repairs, but our repair vendor shared recently that we "dodged a bullet" with not going with CTL....  He does repairs for a neighboring district who has them and says he's having trouble getting parts and the paperwork is an annoying challenge. YMMV of course.

[chand]

We're considering CTL as well. 

I have had great conversations/service with Maureen at CTL. 

We purchased 10 devices for teacher usage and so far so good. 

We are looking at one that matches our criteria (11.6", touchscreen, 8GB RAM, under $300). I think it's the one @don_b_nashville mentioned here as well. Our in-house repair team will be doing a teardown next week and their main concern will be availability of parts for both our repairs and with our vendor for ext. warranty (currently ITSavvy). 

[ddelboccio]

I have had good conversation with her as well!

[CUSD2_Tech]

So far, our experience has been very positive. We purchased 120 of the NL73 8/6 models last summer. This came with the Google licensing and the 'protection' bundle (snap-on case and one-year ADP). We had a deferred ship date for this large purchase, and they also worked with American Capital to get these on a three-year lease with a $1 buyout (our usual practice).

They bulk ship five per box. We were also set up with auto-device enrollment. We used a bunch of ethernet to USB-C dongles to speed up the process; a student helper enrolled them all in one day. Most of the work involved unpacking them (the foam packaging is tight) and then pulling off the bottom cover so we could apply our asset tag. Their device labeling is nice, allowing us to easily associate the tag number with the serial number (they provide a CSV list) that we could then easily update in the Admin console and our inventory system,

66 of these 120 went into the three in-class carts for our fifth-grade rooms, and 35 (along with a BumpArmor carry bag) went to ninth-graders for take-home. The latter were told they were expected to keep them through graduation.

Our only issue has been screen breakage, which ADP has covered. More so than I'd like to see, but this year's 9th-grade boys are exceptionally careless, as they have accounted for six of the nine broken screens so far this year. The RMA process is smooth - they provide the prepaid UPS labels for the returns.

We just ordered 25 more of these on Monday, which are arriving tomorrow; we've already received the CSV of serials. These will make up the difference for those that won't be needed in fifth-grade carts next year so that each sixth-grader will have the same model Chromebook next August (take home at that grade). We'll likely use this model as the base for our future purchases. The 8GB RAM and N100 processor make for a much better experience.

We'll do in-house repairs after the one-year ADP expires. They have very extensive instructions and a nice ordering portal. While I've not yet broken one down, the configuration reminds me of the Lenovo N21 with the swivel camera and built-in handle (rendered moot by the protective shell). Student helpers assisted with the in-house repairs on our previous devices. Until CTL, we'd never had any ADP coverage on any purchases.

Related: Our certified staff all have 14" Chromebooks - about 20 have Acer Chromebook Plus models, and the rest are HP. We bought a CTL Chromebook Plus model to try out, and the teacher who has it constantly raves about it. We'll likely buy more of these next year. https://ctl.net/products/ctl-chromebook-plus-px141gxt