8 Year Deal with HP for Idaho School Laptops

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's new $182 million contract with Hewlett-Packard Co. to provide laptops to high school students and teachers contains a language requiring the state to pay for machines that are lost, damaged or stolen. Idaho and the computer maker announced the eight-year deal last week. The company came in with the lowest bid to give computers to every high school student as part of the state's Students Come First education overhaul. Under terms of the deal, the state will lease the machines for $292 per student — per year. The Spokesman-Review obtained a copy of the contract through a public records request. Hewlett-Packard has agreed to provide a full manufacturer's warranty on the laptops for four years. That means if a device malfunctions, the company will replace it.