Site Meter

Showing posts with label palm beach state college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label palm beach state college. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

What's Going on After Six Years in Circulation with eReaders, Kindles and iPads?


 


Six years ago we began the digital e-Reader journey at the Lake Worth Campus at Palm Beach State College.  Since the inception of our Kindle 1st Generation inventory in Circulation, we have added close to 100 devices including the Kindle Fire, Nook Color, iPad 1st Generation and iPad Air.




In the two months of September and October alone we have two teachers using the Kindle Fire for three class assignments.
 
Professor Salvatore Manuele teaches Human Resources Management-MAN3301.  He has given the students a deadline of September 26th to read three chapters of  The 2010 Meltdown: Solving the Impending Jobs Crisis by Edward E. Gordon.  Technical Services is quick in processing, purchasing and downloading titles from Amazon.  Teachers and students have exactly what they need when they need it most of the time!
 
Dr. Richard Shepardson teaches Advanced Reading-EAP1620 and has worked closely with the library these past years to enhance student's reading skills using technology and our Kindles. He has a group project Oct. 2nd and requested 6 Kindle Fires to do a Key Word Search project in groups in the classroom using the title The Language of Flowers.
 
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, is this year's  winning title for the Read Together Palm Beach County 2014 program.




The book Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the next reading Kindle project for
Dr. Shepardson's EAP1620 class.
 


Breaking Night by Liz Murray is this year's Common Reader for First Year Experience students at Palm Beach State College. We've added several copies to our Kindle devices to assist students in the Introduction to the College Experience-SLS1501 classes.

The Kindles are 7 day loans with no renewals. After a class project the students are still allowed to borrow a Kindle to continue reading the title introduced in class or the many other titles available.

 


 
In the past we've added the Read Together Palm Beach County winning titles including the runner ups for students, faculty and staff to enjoy on these Kindle devices.





Tuesday, April 22, 2014

iPad Air-Mac Mini-Bretford PowerSync Cart

 
 
We have added 14 NEW iPad Air devices for the library installed in a Bretford PowerSync Cart to maintain the devices.  After using the 1st Generation iPads for the last 4 years, it's going to be an exciting journey to implement these into our already growing supply of  iPads, eReaders and tablets.  These include the 1st generation Kindles, 1st generation iPads, Kindle2's, Kindle3's, DX,  B/W Sony and Nook, Kindle Fire and the Nook Color.
 
 
 
7.5 millimeters thin-weighs one pound
 
 
 
The Retina display sits inside thinner bezels with a very sleek enclosure!
 
9.7" Display
2048x1536 Resolution
5m iSight with front Facetime HD camera
A7 chip, M7 coprocessor
 
 


 
All pictures above-Image Credit: http://www.apple.com/ipad-air/
 
 Dual microphones improve audio and suppress background noise for video recording, FaceTime calls, and voice recognition using Siri.
 
 How to maintain so many?
The Bretford Power Sync cart for iPads!


Image Credit: http://www.apple.bretford.com/products/powersynccartforipad

The PowerSync Cart for iPad stores, charges, syncs, and transports up to 30 iPad devices at one time. This cart also keeps our content in sync with our iTunes® library via the Mac Mini.

The cart connects our 14 iPad Air devices to our Mac Mini, at the same time installs apps, books, videos, music, and Podcasts to each iPad, according to our requirements.

As we process these devices for student loans in Tech Services, we will post our progress.  We received the 1st generation iPad's on opening day, April 3, 2010.  Presently these iPads are circulated overnight for student loans.  All other eReaders and tablets are available as 7 day loans.



 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Galaxy Note 8 vs. Kindle Fire HD 8.9


All Images this post: Credit: http://alturl.com/49ra8
 
iPad still tops the tablet arena!  Both the full size and the mini outsell all of the rivals.  Apple’s two biggest competitors, Amazon and Samsung, are showing what they are made of.   Galaxy Note 8.0 and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” are the newest successes. Both of these are terrific alternatives to the iPad and iPad mini.  See specs below to compare the Note 8 and Fire 8.9.


Kindle Fire's pixel density is 34 percent higher and  a much sharper image than the Galaxy Note.
Remember to consider speed, size, pixels, weight, cost difference, software, cameras, battery, fees for wireless, storage, RAM, processor and material type. These two devices are both plastic.


The Note's processor delivers much better performance
Note 8 has a faster processor
 

If you don't like plastic, you may want to consider the Surface or an iPad. Sounds like all these issues are similar to the topics we research when buying a smartphone, PC, laptop, iMac or MacBook Pro. See this excellent article below for all the specs to help unravel your decision.


$130 difference in price

Article from Gizmag April 23, 2012
 
The Note 8 doubles the Fire's 1 GB of RAM
Note 8 has double the RAM
 
Click on this link below. Scroll down to pictures and articles for comparing various iPads and tablets.
http://www.gizmag.com/kindle-fire-hd-8-9-vs-galaxy-note-8-0-specs-comparison/27231/pictures

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Kindle 4G and New Tablet

Kindle Fire HD 4G and other new Kindle devices
 
All pictures on this page image credit: http://alturl.com/cpatv
 
 
It's just amazing what is being offered this holiday season in eReaders, tablets and iPads.  Good luck sorting all this out. Doing your research will definitely get you and your patrons the best fit for your library. At our academic library, we like the new choices, especially on a tight budget.  The cost shown below is for the low end memory devices.  See Amazon's web site for specs and all pricing.  http://alturl.com/cpatv
 
Presently we are using the 3G Kindle3 models to replace many of the worn out 'original' Kindle1's.  These older models served us well for the last four years and hope the new devices hold up just as well. Kindle1's were $359 in 2008, which makes even the 8.9" Kindle HD Wi-Fi device at $299 and the new $199 Kindle Fire HD 7" a bargain. 
 
We have many required titles for class reading that transfer smoothly to the new models. The Kindle Fire is popular here for required reading, assignments and terrific in class when students work in groups researching for a class project.
 
Next Blog:
New iPad mini
 
 
 
 
All pictures on this page image credit: http://alturl.com/cpatv
 
$499 HD 4G LTE Wireless 8.9"
$299 for Wi-Fi model
 

$159 no HD

$199 HD model

$139 3G w/keyboard
 

3G $179
Wi-Fi $119
 

6" B/W $69



Monday, October 22, 2012

New Nook HD, Nook Tablet, Glowing Nook, Simple Touch

Eleven Nooks to choose from, including the original Nook Color.

All images this page Image Credit: http://alturl.com/uyket
We have so many remarkable choices now for libraries loaning eReaders and tablets. So many great devices for any size library budget.
 
 We have the Nook Color, the B/W original Nooks and two B/W Sony's. We have iPads, Kindle Fires, original K1's, K2's, K3's and Kindle DX. Students are really fascinated with our collection.

For those libraries just getting started in this ever changing technological arena, it's the training of staff and scheduling maintenance that's important to consider in your purchases, not just the cost of the device.  We have been implementing eReaders since 2008. As the devices get more sophisticated, the more time required updating and cleaning the internal devices.

With Amazon coming out with new Kindle models and Apple announcing a possible 7" iPad Oct. 23rd, it will make the choice even more difficult. I would like to stay within the area of Kindles, Nooks and iPads to help keep some sense of stability with our inventory. Not that we wouldn't try a new company's device, but for now, our inventory is servicing our needs quite well for students, faculty and staff.

 
Next blog:
New Kindles and the New Smaller iPad


Nook HD+ 9" screen
 


Nook Tablet 7" touchscreen
8GB $179
16GB $199



The Glowing Nook
Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight $119
6" Touchscreen 7 oz.



Nook Simple Touch B/W $99


Nook Color 7"
$149
Original price last Fall...$199

 

 
 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

New 10" Kindle Fire? Mini iPad? Kindle Announcement Today, Sept. 6th, 2012


Image Credit: http://alturl.com/wtm2s
Amazon online has sold out of their Kindle Fire devices and is in production of their 2nd model. It's rumored to be a 7" replacement with a new 10" Kindle Fire.
There is a major press conference in Santa Monica, California, scheduled today, Thursday Sept. 6th.
They are expected to announce their 'jazzed-up' replacement at this time.
Image Credit: http://alturl.com/gzam3
See exciting information in the USA TODAY tech news, TechCrunch and CNNMoney below.

USA TODAY
TechCrunch
iPad mini vs. Kindle Fire 2
CNNMoney

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Watch the Olympics Live on our iPads

Check out an iPad for 3 hours and watch the Olympics Live!
Image Credit http://www.nbcolympics.com/index.html







Stop by the Circulation Desk on the 3rd floor of the library at the Lake Worth campus.

After you check out the iPad, sign into Panther Web, click on the Olympics icon, then the London Live Extra app.



Follow the directions and NBC will give you a temporary 4 hour pass to watch the Olympics Live. 



Image Credit: C. Shaffer