Oak Park:
Auburn Hills has a great AWE-alternative, that frankly we would have probably purchased had we known about them. I don't recall the brand, but they tell us it's better than AWE. Give them a call

We don't care for our AWE machines - even the new one we have is far too complicated to use and service.

Berkley Public Library (2 responses):
We replaced our AWE with a new AWE about a year ago and it has been pretty horrible. Very glitchy, lots of games that you can't get out of to get back to the main menu once you're in them, lots of freezing and crashing, decreased options/functionality for reports of usage statistics, troubleshooting, etc. 

We're currently planning to limp along with it long enough to not make the donor feel like it was a waste, and then replace it with something else. I had been thinking iPads might be next but based on your experience maybe not, so I'd definitely be interested in any other options you hear about from other libraries.

We haven't been too impressed with the AWE machine we bought a couple of years ago. We liked our older machine but this new one is pretty clunky and glitchy. I think it will be our last.

Northville District Library:
We just went through the same considerations, but I found that if we deployed ipads, it was going to take up a ton of time that our IT Department simply does not have to spare. Therefore, we did invest in new AWE systems, and our patrons have been extremely happy with the updates that AWE has made to their systems.

I'm also finding the systems MUCH easier to work with on the back end as well.

Salem Township Library:

We just started using a program called Magic Desktop and our patrons love it! We've only had it for a couple of months, so I can't comment on the service/experience with the company just yet. But so far, so good.

We have two touch screen computers, so no mouse and keypad are needed; but you can have that as an option as well. It's geared for ages 2-12. It's also set up with parental controls so we can set what the kids have access to with one master password. We turn the computer on and it loads the program automatically. (It runs like a kid's desktop.) It's full of games and activities, and like I mentioned, our patrons are loving it so far. Besides the initial cost of the computers, the only fee is the annual subscription. 

Muskegon Area District Library:

I would stay away from the AWE computers. We have 13 of them (desktop all-in-ones) across 11 locations and we just purchased new ones last year. They have been nothing but problems for us. They constantly freeze, go to blue screens, get stuck in games, crash, etc. We have worked directly with the techs and CEO of the company and they constantly just keep saying that they have a new update that will fix them. After applying roughly 10 updates now, they continue to have the same issues. They claim that the new V3 they are working on will fix everything but I am not holding my breath. At $6,000+ a piece I cannot in good conscience recommend these to anyone any longer.

5 years ago they had a solid product that we never had issues with but for some reason with the new ones they are selling it is nothing but issues. My staff have gotten tired of calling me to fix them now so when they have issues the just unplug them and plug them back in which is usually a couple times a day. 

If you get any other recommendations from other libraries please let me know because we would like to switch to something else in the future.

Redford Township District Library:

We took away our iPads/Awe computers during Covid and never replaced them.  We now have more manipulatives/toys in the department and no one seems to miss the screen time!

Baldwin Public Library:
We had 4 Ipads pre renovation and after the renovation we went with a play table. they're expensive (like $6500) but staff (and patrons) love it.. We went to another library to play with theirs before purchasing since the vendor was confused and thought we were in Baldwin, Mi and cancelled our demo last minute.

https://libraryplaytable.com/

Cromaine Library:

Cromaine currently has a mix of AWE and home-brewed computers that point to certain sites, like PBS kids, ABC Mouse, etc.

Petoskey District Library:
We updated our older AWEs with a new version and they’re really crappy. There’s supposedly an update that AWE hasn’t sent yet. The screens turn black at random, they don’t turn on, the speakers/headphones seem to stop working at random. The kids love the games when the computers work, but it’s just been weird glitches over and over. I hope the update solves a lot of the issues.

T.A. Cutler Memorial Library:

My current feelings towards the AWE company are not favorable, but the kids like the computers—we bought two of their all-in-one computers with touch screen, so they can be used with a mouse/keyboard or by touching the screen. We did not buy the optional heavy-duty bases. They have a three-year warranty, and at 5 months in they look and act like new. I hope they last more than three years, but I don't know that I would ever order from them again.

Coopersville Area District Library:
We have a couple of old AWEs, but when one of them died a few years ago, I was unwilling to fork over the money for a new one. Instead, I purchased an all in one touchscreen computer and loaded Magic Desktop on it: https://www.magicdesktop.com/en-us. It has been our most used computer since we purchased it, but it might be because our AWEs are just older and have more "little kiddish" games. We also have Kindle tablets that we purchased Amazon Kids+ for and keep geared toward the different age groups. While we have to troubleshoot or wipe and restart the profile every once and awhile, it's been fairly low key for my staff so far.

Tecumseh District Library:
Tecumseh District Library has had two AWE computers with touch screens as well as mice and keyboards in its Children Section for many years. We love them!  The early literacy programs are geared to children up to five years old. Children are drawn to them and we have rarely had any problems with them.

The only thing I can think of is when we first offered the computers, the earphones kept getting stolen, so we just quit offering them.  The sound/noise level has not been a problem for other patrons.

The biggest annoyance, if you want to call it that, is that some of the younger kids don't get the hang of exiting a program before they leave the computer.  So I often hear from afar a repetitive voice (like Big Bird) or a music cue asking for participation...I finally realize no one is at the computer and I go and quit the program via the touch screen.  LOL

But regardless, we still LOVE our AWE computers!