UK Parliament approves $1.5M plan to supply members with new iPad Air 2s, laptops

Posted:
in iPad edited March 2015
The UK's House of Commons has decided to give each member of parliament a copy of Apple's latest iPad Air 2, as well as a laptop, as part of a project that will cost taxpayers almost $1.49 million.




The House of Commons Commission announced on Tuesday that all 650 MPs are to receive one iPad Air 2 and a laptop after general elections in May, reports Express. While iPad is specifically mentioned in the report, the Parliament's choice of computer brand or desktop operating system was not revealed.

Hailed as a cost saving measure, outfitting the UK Parliament with Apple tablets, computers and SIM cards will cost about $300,000 per year over a five-year period.

"Having been in use across Parliament since 2012, iPads are integrated with current business processes and infrastructure," said commission chairman John Thurso. "A move away from the Apple operating system (iOS) at this time would incur costs to change these processes."

By sticking with iOS, the UK government avoids costs associated with training members on a new platform and switching over backend infrastructure.

In addition, tablets are more cost effective when it comes to reducing hard-copy printing costs, and Thurso said online publication consumption and editing currently saves the state $4.46 million annually. Specifically, MPs use Microsoft Office 365 to view, edit and manage documents.

A separate report from The Times notes each unit will cost 499 pounds (about $741), suggesting the Commons IT department selected Apple's 16GB WiFi+Cellular version for distribution.

The House of Commons first replaced paper with laptops and tablets in 2012, but only 209 MPs currently own an iPad.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 22
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    Ok I must be missing where the 'laptop' part is explained ... is that a Mac?
  • Reply 2 of 22
    Ok I must be missing where the 'laptop' part is explained ... is that a Mac?

    No, this is England, so it would be a Sinclair... This being parliament, where some exchanges get rather heated, I don't know how smart it may be to arm the members with anything that can be flung.

    On the plus side, I'm happy to see Apple being the choice product once more, where everyone can openly use the iPad and not have to hunker down behind a Surface Pro... :-)
  • Reply 3 of 22
    elijahgelijahg Posts: 2,753member
    A "copy" of an iPad Air 2? So they're getting a cheap Chinese knock off? They don't deserve even that... Surely if they needed a mobile computing device, they would have bought one beforehand...
  • Reply 4 of 22
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    No, this is England, so it would be a Sinclair... This being parliament, where some exchanges get rather heated, I don't know how smart it may be to arm the members with anything that can be flung.

    On the plus side, I'm happy to see Apple being the choice product once more, where everyone can openly use the iPad and not have to hunker down behind a Surface Pro... :-)

    I left the UK a long time ago, would this be the Sinclair ZX Spectrum? :D
  • Reply 5 of 22
    Good move by Parliament, although I think they would prefer a 13" iPad for A4 documents. Here's hoping for one later this year.

    Just don't go getting sacked by watching porn on the job, MPs.
  • Reply 7 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Macky the Macky View Post





    No, this is England, so it would be a Sinclair... This being parliament, where some exchanges get rather heated, I don't know how smart it may be to arm the members with anything that can be flung.



    On the plus side, I'm happy to see Apple being the choice product once more, where everyone can openly use the iPad and not have to hunker down behind a Surface Pro... :-)

     

    all those ipads will be running office 360, they get payed one way or the other.

  • Reply 8 of 22
    solipsismysolipsismy Posts: 5,099member
    sflocal wrote: »

    Simply posting that link in a new thread looks like you're spamming the thread.
  • Reply 9 of 22
    moxommoxom Posts: 326member
    I bet the MPs claim it on their expenses!

    ;)
  • Reply 10 of 22
    davemcm76davemcm76 Posts: 268member
    Awesome - now they can play candy crush in key debates without even needing to BYOD. [URL=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30375609]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30375609[/URL]
  • Reply 11 of 22
    analogjackanalogjack Posts: 1,073member

    I can't wait for this story to hit TheGuardian, the generic UK  Apple haters there will go apoplectic.

  • Reply 12 of 22
    richlrichl Posts: 2,213member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post





    I left the UK a long time ago, would this be the Sinclair ZX Spectrum? image

     

    Yes, but it's the more recent +3 model. It has a disk drive and everything!

  • Reply 13 of 22
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member

    It could be good for MPs to have tablets... It might improve the quality of debate if you can fact check your opponent in real time.

  • Reply 14 of 22
    croprcropr Posts: 1,122member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ascii View Post

     

    It could be good for MPs to have tablets... It might improve the quality of debate if you can fact check your opponent in real time.




    Apparently you still believe in Santa Claus.

  • Reply 15 of 22
    plovellplovell Posts: 824member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AnalogJack View Post

     

    I can't wait for this story to hit TheGuardian, the generic UK  Apple haters there will go apoplectic.




    True.

     

    The only reason they can't complain about Apple Pay is that it isn't there yet.

  • Reply 16 of 22

    There is such a culture of anti-politics at the moment in the UK (where I abide) that I can see this being spun as MPs being given all sorts of undeserved toys and benefits. I predict that very little will be made of the apparent threefold financial savings that this initiative will be responsible for.

  • Reply 17 of 22
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    richl wrote: »
    Yes, but it's the more recent +3 model. It has a disk drive and everything!

    I keep getting flash backs to my Amstrad IC2000 Hi-Fi amplifier, Garrard SP25 Mk3 deck with Goldring G800 cartridge and Wharfdale Lintons I had when I was in the 6th form. All paid for by years of a paper round!
  • Reply 18 of 22
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    There is such a culture of anti-politics at the moment in the UK (where I abide) that I can see this being spun as MPs being given all sorts of undeserved toys and benefits. I predict that very little will be made of the apparent threefold financial savings that this initiative will be responsible for.

    I left in 1989 as I couldn'r abide the UK weather anymore. The politics and class system came in a close second and third. I'm stuck with much of the same here but the weather is fabulous. :D
  • Reply 19 of 22
    There is such a culture of anti-politics at the moment in the UK (where I abide) that I can see this being spun as MPs being given all sorts of undeserved toys and benefits. I predict that very little will be made of the apparent threefold financial savings that this initiative will be responsible for.

    Perhaps that culture of anti-politics is due to the low quality of politicians that we have.

    Maybe I'm reading too much into it.
  • Reply 20 of 22
    There is such a culture of anti-politics at the moment in the UK (where I abide) that I can see this being spun as MPs being given all sorts of undeserved toys and benefits. I predict that very little will be made of the apparent threefold financial savings that this initiative will be responsible for.

    I left in 1989 as I couldn'r abide the UK weather anymore. The politics and class system came in a close second and third. I'm stuck with much of the same here but the weather is fabulous. :D

    So you have a thriving class system in the States?

    Interesting to hear. I'd always thought that that accolade was given to England, but it would seem the mantle has been passed to the United States of America. Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy it!
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