We are new arrivals to AIS. How do we inform AIS of our choice between school supplied or BYOD laptop(s)?
Many people understandably enquire about purchasing a device directly from AIS, either for bring your own device (BYOD) purposes, or on leaving the school.
For BYOD MacBooks: AIS does not directly sell laptops, either used or new.
Can I purchase devices (MacBooks or iPads, new or used) directly from AIS?
New MacBooks can be purchased for BYOD from any source.
We do not have a preferred BYOD supplier but our Apple resellers are happy to provide discounted devices to our AIS students.
As this reseller do not have a retail shop, interested students and parents can check out their education portals for pricing and procedure for purchasing the devices:
Alternatively, BYOD laptops can be purchased from Apple Store in Singapore or the Apple Online Store. Please click HERE for the online store for Apple Education.
BYOD devices can be purchased at any time between now and the beginning of the school year but must be ready for students to use from Day 1 of school.
BYOD device needs to meet minimum standards to be accepted into our ‘ecosystem’, including minimum i5 processors, 8Gb Ram, and 256 SSD, running OSX 12.6 Monterey or above. Preferably with good battery life with an operating time of 6 hours.
What are the minimum specifications for a BYOD iPad?
For iPads: Currently AIS provides all iPads for our 1:1 Elementary School program.
We are not structured for BYOD iPads, largely because of the huge increase in workload and device problems when we have a variety of models or operating systems potentially being brought to school. School-supplied devices also allows us to better manage app and security settings via the device management system we use. You are still able to purchase an iPad for family use from the link above.
What are the minimum specifications for a BYOD Laptop?
Please refer to our web page on 1:1 student device. Under the BYOD section.
I am returning a school laptop before leaving AIS. What happens if there is damage to the laptop?
We do expect wear and tear on devices that are used constantly day in and day out. However, because we need to pass this laptop on to another student or staff member, any damage that is beyond wear and tear will require a quote and repair. As per our agreement, students/families are liable to cover this, and a guide to the cost of repair is below:
| Issue | Repair Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Liquid Damage | S$270 - S890 (maximum price is with LCD replacement) |
| Screen replacement | S$500 for Intel Device and S$590 for M1 Device |
| Dent repair - Top Case replacement | S$500 for both Intel and M1 devices |
| Dent repair - Bottom Case replacement | S$350 for both Intel and M1 devices |
| Motherboard | S$279 - $450 for both Intel and M1 Devices |
| Damage to keyboard | S$270 for both Intel and M1 Devices |
| Damage to Protective Case | Depending on brand |
| Loss or full replacement | Depending on market price |
| M1 Device Charger replacement | S$119 |
| Intel Device Charger replacement | S$89 |
What is the $315 technology fee and what is is used for?
The $315 technology fee is included in the annual $1010 school-supplied laptop fee, and is a stand alone fee for the BYOD (bring your own device) option.
The fee assists towards the provision of:
- Key software that we can (under license provisions) install for students on both school and BYOD laptops, and on all student iPads
- Service and support of devices for both school and BYOD laptops
- A bank of loan laptops for use by both school-supplied and BYOD option students when their device is away for repair
- Infrastructure improvements and enhancements, including improved internet and wireless access and management across the AIS estate
- iPad charging trolleys for each room in the Elementary School
- Sets of iPads for use in Secondary School classes
When will school-supplied MacBooks be available for collection for students in new school year?
(This includes new students to AIS and all students in Year 5 electing to take school-supplied Macbooks)
The allocation of school-supplied MacBooks to students (new to AIS, and those moving form Year 5 to 6 and opting for school-supplied Macbooks) will occur during Orientation Week, and Week 1 of Term 1. We need the Christmas break to re-image returned laptops from prior use, and hence will not be able to allocate school-supplied laptops prior to the beginning of the academic year.
We suggest that you have a portable hard drive for back up and transfer processes. Apple has a Migration Assistant app that allows shift data and apps from one Mac to another (https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT204350). Alternatively, our ICT team can assist the physical move of data and apps.
Once data and apps have been transferred, we ask that the school-supplied MacBook be returned, prior to the end of the academic year in which the Tech Fee for the AIS MacBook applies.