Optima selected to supply notebooks to Northern Territory teachers

<p>Department of Employment, Education and Training uses Optima notebooks to improve learning</p>
<p>SYDNEY, Australia – Optima Technology Solutions (ASX:OPI), Australia’s largest computer manufacturer, has been selected by the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training to supply all Territory teachers with notebook computers to assist with education in remote Australia.</p>
<p>Optima has been contracted to supply 2,200 notebook computers to the Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training as part of its Laptops for Teachers Project, aimed at encouraging principals and teachers to effectively integrate the use of learning technologies into the classroom and administrative practices of schools.</p>
<p>In a competitive bid, Optima notebooks were selected over offerings from other local and multinational computer manufacturers.</p>
<p>“Optima is an Australian company that assembles notebooks locally, so it has the ability to turn orders around quickly. It also supports its products with a nationwide support and supply network, which is a critical requirement throughout the Northern Territory,” said Troy Jackson, IT Operations Manager, Northern Territory Department of Employment, Education and Training. “Optima also has plenty of experience supplying computers to the education and government sector and a great reputation within the industry, so we knew that it would be able to effectively understand and meet our specific needs.”</p>
<p>The Department selected the Optima Centoris G583 notebook, a reliable and robust unit based on Intel’s Centrino mobile technology. Under the agreement Optima will pre-install a range of tools and applications on each notebook ensuring that all teachers have access to exactly the same resources.</p>
<p>The G583 notebook is also certified to run on the Northern Territory’s special satellite network, which has been developed to provide geographically isolated schools with access to educational resources.</p>
<p>“At Optima, we believe in tailoring our products and services to suit the needs of our customers such as offering custom built support tools for teacher training. It is this flexibility, combined with our extensive range of high-quality, low-cost products that has contributed towards our success within the government, education and corporate markets,” said Cornel Ung, Executive Chairman of the Board, Optima Technology Solutions.</p>
<p>The Laptops for Teachers Project was officially announced by Syd Stirling, Northern Territory Minister for Employment, Education and Training, at the Remote Schools Conference in Alice Springs on July 29, 2004. The notebook roll-out is already underway, with completion expected for the end of August.</p>

• Got more on this story? Email Computerworld
• Follow Computerworld on twitter