Our client Fiddlehead is a maker of a hardware solution designed for schools in which a single PC can be turned in four or more computers. Each virtual computer can run a different operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux), teachers can view/control each student’s desktop, support folks have fewer PCs to maintain - these and other benefits make Fiddlehead an attractive solution for schools, especially in computer labs.
To highlight the hardware, software, energy, and support savings, we built a Javascript-based total-cost-ownership/acquisition calculator; we’ve recently updated the calculator to better match the reality of school technology support and maintenance. The calculator makes great use of the Prototype javascript library and - for the printable report generated by the user after submitting the form with his/her unique assumptions about cost of equipment, energy useage, support costs, etc. - the FPDF dynamic PDF library.
The calculator offers school-technology decision makers a tool for easily and quickly evaluating this product’s value for them, as well as for sharing these data with other stakeholders within their organization.