While belts tighten, States want a bite of the Apple
Friday 3rd September 2010, 2:58PM BST.
Apple’s iPad – an ideal size for States Members?
STATES Members could be about to splash out £700 each on the latest must-have supergadget.
There may be tax rises on the way and unprecedented cuts and redundancies in the public sector, but some States Members have got their eyes firmly on a different target – the iPad.
The latest Apple sensation could be the perfect fit for the States Chamber, according to Privileges and Procedures Committee vice-chairman Collin Egré, who wants to run a trial for three Members to see if the new flat-screen devices could replace the laptops that politicians are currently issued with.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
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The old adage.. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” springs to mind! So exactly what is wrong with the existing laptops? And how are iPads going to improve things…. apart from maybe lining Apple’s pockets Hmmm… let’s see how keen they’d be if the cost had to come out of their own pockets. And why do they have to have the top-of-the-range iPads?!
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Absolutely disgraceful if these Headlines are true..if they want an I-pad…the cost should come out of their own pockets…wouldn’t think most of the Clowns sitting in the States would have the intelligence to use on…. great idea for in the Chamber and check out your facebook profile whist running the Island into the ground =)
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Wow – how to wilfully distort a story to make it sound like a sinful waste.
Why not have a headline “States trials new technology which may be more efficient and effective” – just as accurate but less likely to get the inevitable irate comments.
Ridiculous reporting.
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And why….will it aid the democratic process or make goverment more efficiant..I don’t think so. Wake up and smell the coffee boys and girls times are hard!
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Just who do they think they are? …
@ 2 Katie – This story is bound to be true – the JEP are well placed to discover these kinds of stories from within the Sates.
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No! No! No!
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As a states employee in a department that has some knowlege on states members technology i think this is an absoloute disgrace. The laptops that they have been issued with are of a particular high spec and offer way more service then an IPAD does. This “gadget” will not replace their laptops it will mearly be in addition to them as they need a windows platform to access certain information. This is purley states members wanting the latest “toy” and nothing to do with providing better service to the island. They used the same excuse when they all wanted blackberries and i bet its only a matter of time before they all want the latest iphone to go with it all.
(For info: this comment was posted in my own time, not whilst on the tax payers pay)
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I have an idea. Why not try out an invention that has been around for years will fit where ever you go and will save a fortune.
Its called a notepad and pen.
tried and tested by millions.
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They will also have to employ a team of IT consultants to teach them how to turn them on/off.
It never ceases to amaze me how much the taxpayer has to fork out for this complete bunch of amateurs.
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States of Jersey could be renamed “ The Fruit Salad”….Blackberry…Apple…perhaps they could use the Orange net work…… well they’re also promoting “five a day”…
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And Chauffeur driven Rolls Royces so they can play with the IPADS on the way to work, for those who bother to get out of bed.
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comment 1 is spot on.
a laptop and a mobile should do whats required.
trial this gizzmo(obsolete no doubt in quick quick time)but do not squander tax payers cash on .
mike (3) you must be well off and don’t mind the looming tax hikes.
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#6 If it’s so beneficial ask them to pay for the trial ones themselves! Unfortunately I will trust that this one is true since some were seen drooling over it at a recent presentation.
If they get them can I get some of my taxes back because this is just a waste of them, I could go and hand that money directly to a charity of some sort.
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£700??? They must be using a local retailer. On Amazon they are less than £500. There you go a saving suggestion that would say £600 on these 3 & £20k if they decide to roll out to at least 100 people. £50m savings give me an hour and all will be right.
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14
Their not interested in saving money though are they?
Why should they care.
It,s only taxpayers money and they must have the latest toys.
The public should be given a vote on their spending and let us decide where exactly the taxpayers money is being spent
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Dam ridiculous. Another prime example of a waste of money.
If they want them that badly they can do like everyone else and buy their own!
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What’s wrong with a good old ring binder?
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Most of us who work need phones and other gadgets…we buy them from what we earn…..let these buy their own..why should the taxpayer be hammered…by the way we have not forgotten that we have to pay our own parking as well and that the islands representatives voted themselves FREE parking…taking the P**s again.
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When I read this I fell about laughing. Don’t most of them have eye pads already ?
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What next ? iPods ?
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I think the ‘privileges’ in his title has gone to his head.
I think the statement shows a complete lack of understanding of how technology works as ipads would be an addition not a replacement to a lap top.
“Apple thinks the iPad fills the gap between phones and laptops by making it easier to browse through e-mail, photos, music, and videos.” Source: Apple
“The iPad is an Apple netbook without a keyboard and we can expect the same ‘slate’ form factor from competing manufacturers. So if you primarily want a netbook or laptop for mobile web surfing and entertainment, and aren’t too bothered about computing power or getting a lot of work done, this is the way to go.” Source broadbandgenie.co.uk
Plus you are better off waiting for the next version if you have really researched it properly.
Also it shows a complete lack of awareness of security. I would hope that states members would use technology that has a proven track record on security so that sensitive data cannot be hacked into. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061106239.html
Head in sand also springs to mind as we as an Island have to seriously address comprehensive savings and budget cuts. So our elected representatives that does not mean that Middle Jersey will continue to pay for your expensive tastes, whims, fancies and lack of strategic direction. But that YOU yes you my elected representative have to make hard decisions, lead by example and do some effective work that will make a real difference.
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It’s all summed up in Mr Egre’s very grand title – “Privileges and Procedures Committee vice-chairman” He clearly has responsibility for the privilege allocation and sorts out the procedures on how to divvy them out to his mates, of course while getting paid, by us, the poor taxpayer, for the privilege of enjoying himself!
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Excuse me, but we have a “Privileges and Procedures Committee”????
There is a committee to decide what the politicians can fleece off the taxpayer????
WTF!!!
Sack this lot now and save some money.
Why should WE pay for their latest must have gadgets when they already have adequate tools to do the job (laptops)….if THEY want them then THEY buy them….simple!
If not, sack all those receiving or lobbying for a non-essential waste of tax payers money!
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Mike R
“Why not have a headline “States trials new technology which may be more efficient and effective” – just as accurate but less likely to get the inevitable irate comments.”
If the states members weren’t so inefficient and ineffective themselves then I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem!
Perhaps we can trial new politicians instead!!!
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If they want one, tell them to save up and buy one themselves. I have just got mine by doing just that. It has taken me months, but then I earn less than half they earn. Get real .
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Typical of Deputy Egre and his megalomaniac grandiose ideas.Toys for the boys me thinks !.Grow up Colin and do some proper political work.
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Idiot!
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If they want them then they should pay for them out of the ridiculas expenses accounts they have and stop STEALING from the tax payer
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#17 Nothing, nothing at all
Thanks for the laugh.
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I say that all those that apply for this iPad should be automatically made redundant with no final paycheck and their pension relinquished.
We will then identify who the money-grabbers are and get rid of them.
Sounds easy, IS easy, but will never be implimented.
Ah well, at least I know my tax money is going to good use *hangs head*…..
can I opt-out of paying tax now please?
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Another toy for certain members to play with whilst they are being paid £44k by us to do a job in the States Chamber.
Let them pay for their own if they have to have the latest gizmo. This really does beggar belief!
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3. Mike R, well said. A very poor piece of journalism (again!!) designed purely to get a reaction/sell papers. Completely lacking in balance and objectivity…but judging by most of the responses the article has achieved what it set out to do.
I’m not making any judgment on whether they should/shouldn’t have them but everyone seems to overlook that it’s a trial – for 3 members. Hardly bank breaking eh!! The problem with these stories is that it deflects the focus from the real core debate, i.e. how to save £50 million. Seems much more important to talk about trivia/sell newspapers than concentrate on the real issues that matter.
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#32 – You’ve hit the nail on the head – nobody who has commented above has a clue whether a trial of a handful of machines (quite possibly on free loan from a supplier) is a good or bad thing, but they have all been distracted from the real issues. How on earth does mankind progress except by trial and experiment? Perhaps one benefit of ipads might be to demonstrate that we need fewer politicians (we can but hope) but unless tested we will never know.
In order to deliver massive savings in the next few years they will need to trial a lot more than ipads throughout the public sector – are the publc going to be irate every time they look at change?
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Mike R (33) In order to deliver massive savings in the next few years they will need to trial a lot more than ipads throughout the public sector
Too true Mike. This proposed trial of iPads is no more than a gimmick, a distraction from the real business of Government. Maybe we should incentivise States Members with a free iPad each for every £100 million of savings achieved.
Members will be happy to debate to death the merits, or otherwise, of a £700 iPad as they can cope with that. True leadership will only come when Members are forced to confront the reality of delivering a budget, not just debating a budget in the JEP.
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Ok so i have seen one of these iPads and i have to say it looks like just another gimmick from the marketing geniuses at apple.
Does anyone else think the whole iWhatever craze is just ridiculous. There are so many MP3 players, Laptops, Smart phones that are just as good if not better then that made by apple. Hell, the compatability issues alone make me not one to buy anything with and “i” at the start of the name. Not to mention the price difference
Surely an upgrade of the laptops states memebers already have would be required if the current laptops are not up to scratch. Butt the ipad does not seem to me to be the right tool for conducting business activities. Also would we then have to employe some sort of system administrator to control the software and netwroking of these new ipads. To deal with compatability between the ipads and the windows PCs that the rest of the states use? I imagine you would also have to do a complete review and potential upgrade of data protection software to ensure that data sent from the windows pcs to the ipads could be done so securely etc etc. I would say that you can treble the bill for the actual hardware itself, to pay for the implementation and ongoing administration of running a seperate operating system based network of ipads!.
Just food for thought.
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States members should stick to the kiss principle – keep it simple, stupid. I am writing this submission on a £350 notebook that I purchased from P.C. World – half the cost of the iPads. With the necessary cutbacks, surely they could do without new I.T. systems. They are hardly going to make the States more efficient; that will only occur when there is better leadeship and less mismanagement.
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