Microsoft TAP causing friction despite spec boost

Some local system builders think presence of old stock is continuing to undermine subsidised schools PC scheme

Microsoft's Technology Access Programme (TAP) is still causing discord in parts of the channel despite a recent increase in the range of devices that qualify for the subsidised schools PC scheme.

Microsoft sparked consternation among some UK schools customers in March when it moved to radically restrict the processing power, memory, storage and screen size of devices available through TAP, which is also sometimes known as Shape the Future (STF).

But the vendor appears to be trying to make amends, last month increasing some of the qualifying specifications, albeit modestly.

Most notably, under the latest changes, PCs, all-in-ones, laptops, tablets and two-in-one devices built by OEMs through TAP can now incorporate up to 128GB of SSD storage, which is said by some to be the minimum most schools would require.

The maximum screen size for tablets and two-in-ones has also been raised from 12.5in to 13.3in.

The improvements come after Microsoft removed the requirement for resellers to secure a letter of eligibility committing to selling 3,000 devices into the education space in October. At the same time, Microsoft opened up the programme to all K-12 schools, both public and private.

However, some local system builders feel the scheme is still being undermined by the lingering presence of old STF devices that were amassed by the global, tier-one OEMs before March and that do not meet the new requirements.

One complained that it "makes life difficult for us on a daily basis".

"We spoke to Microsoft in March and they said they expected [the old stock] to last until June. We spoke to them in June and they said they expect it to last until October. Now they are saying next year; it's madness," said the system builder, who wished to remain anonymous.

"It's not just a small amount with individual resellers - it's just out there in the channel sitting there," they said.

However, Andrew Hopton, managing director of VeryPC - a local system builder that was added to the TAP programme in February - said local players without old stock should stop complaining and instead innovate in order to justify being "£30 to £40" more expensive than the A-brands in some cases.

"Yes, the big vendors do have lots of stock," he said. "But as a local system builder, that's just more incentive to try to be innovative and take a solutions approach. That's the reason someone would decide to work with us, not because we've got a really low-cost unit."

Hopton added that the changes Micosoft brought in last month - which are detailed on Very PC's website - will "help open the door a bit more for low-end desktop and laptop devices".

"128GB is the minimum size schools need for the system image," he said. "Before, you'd tell the school 'you can have Windows TAP licences with 64GB and 4GB [RAM]' and they'd tell you it was too small."

However, the other system builder branded the changes as "a tiny step towards where it needs to be".

We were awaiting comment from Microsoft as this article went to press.