10 Reasons Not To Buy an iPad for Students

[MBP13]

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/10-reasons-not-buy-ipad-students-174406688.html

My high school is actually considering getting an iPad for every student to replace textbooks in the near future.

 

[Apple OC]

Kindles would be cheaper

 

[appleguy123]

My school is getting Chinese knockoff tablets for every student next year. :-/

I've been using an iPad for school since the day they were released. All of these are very valid reasons(except for the droppable complaint. If you'll drop an iPad, you'll drop a laptop, or whatever else you decide to use). The iPad is a great supplement to some classes, but it doesn't replace a good ole laptop in my eyes, and it won't for some time.

 

[KingCrimson]

So where do the school iPads get locked up at the end of the day? Don't tell me the students get to take it home?

 

[ProwlingTiger]

I think it's definitely a YMMV sort of thing. For me, my classes are stacked this fall semester on Tuesdays and Thursdays followed my meetings on Thursday evenings. The iPad battery life and note taking capabilities allow me to justify having it even though I have a Macbook. Getting 3.5 hours on my early 2008 Macbook then having to rely on a power outlet simply won't cut it this semester.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

this is one of those times that it is a pretty good on everything but the droppable part.

The part on the electronic books is spot on. There is zero resell value and after selling my books I spend a lot less money than I would if I went electronic or even half the time rent the books. Plus I can highlight them and put notes in them like mad.
That and it is just easier to flip around a physical book.

 

[ThirtyThr33]

HAHAHAHA oh my gosh are they serious? Did anyone else read that link? Most of the reasons they listed were the STUPIDEST things I have ever heard in regards of not purchasing an iPad. Other than price, not many of the reasons had anything tod do with the actual device. They listed things such as "social seclusion and distractions".... Social seclusion? Who wrote this? LOL I have an iPad and I only whipped it out in class a few times and people ask me about it all the time and ask to play with it. It's definitely built for more than one person and I'd even go as far to say it encourages social interaction.

And it's very good for note taking. It takes digital notes, that can be backed up via email and even can record audio from the teachers lecture as you write. Can a pen and paper do that? It's also a small and portable device so it's no bigger than a notepad but it's way handier.

As for the whole "social seclusion, risk of dropping, and distraction" arguments, that all depends on the child you are giving it to, not the device itself! This article is so ridiculous I saved it to laugh at with others. I swear it must have been written by a old retired hermit living in the middle of nowhere.

 

[FrozenTomato]

wow that list is D U M B.

 

[ThirtyThr33]

wow that list is D U M B.

Right? The best part is most of it had nothing to do with having an iPad, and leads me to believe the writer had never even used one

 

[gothamm]

wow that list is D U M B.

he made 10 valid, debatable points. You have made none.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

he made 10 valid, debatable points. You have made none.

yeah I am still waiting for them to go down and take it apart item by item.

The dropable part I believe has been agreed by all to be pretty crappy but the others I would call pretty spot on. I know for me I have to leave my phone either in my car or deep in my bag or I get detracted by it during class. iPad would be by far worse.

 

[FrozenTomato]

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its pointless

 

[Illumination]

Apple doesn't market the iPad for education for a reason: it's not meant for it. It's an entertainment device. It runs a mobile OS.

If you're on a budget, buy a nice Windows laptop, install Linux on it if you hate Windows. Those are around the price of an iPad.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

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its pointless

that is not exactly valid. Come on please provide reasons other than just bashing it because this is not a "Apple is great" or "Worship Apple article".

All I have seen is bashing but not even providing a single reasons for any of the say 9 real issues when compared to lets say a laptop.

 

[FrozenTomato]

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ok hot Rod maybe tomorrow. time to sleep.

 

[gnasher729]

"#5: What Makes it Desirable to your Kid is What Makes it Desirable to Criminals" gave me a great product idea: Someone should sell "Samsung" stickers that you can put on the iPad. Problem solved. It also solves the objection that the iPad is a status symbol.

 

[anti-microsoft]

I have used, and next year am planning to use, my iPad for school. So far it's been great but here's my top 10 list:

1. It's expensive
2. There is no "standard" for textbooks on the iPad. There is no Kindle-type model for electronic textbooks that makes it easy for cross-platform learning.
3. It's inconvenient for presentations
4. There is no good handwriting recognition app or solution
5. Taking notes for maths, physics, chemistry, etc. classes is difficult/impossible
6. You do get easily distracted
7. Fragile
8. The keyboard maybe difficult to use for some
9. Sharing documents is difficult (you can't upload to the web without using a dedicated app for example)
10. If people buy them on a personal level to bring to and use at school, there might be a problem with economical/class differentiation.

 

[ratboy90]

I got myself one and I'm a student. But I'm doing journalism and a newspaper subscription on the iPad saves me loads compared to a print subscription. calculated that after 2 years my savings on newspapers will have paid off my iPad.

 

[palpatine]

the ipad is a wonderful device that i use to get maybe 90 percent of my work done as a student / researcher / lecturer.

however, as someone pointed out, your mileage will vary (depending on usage) and it has some pretty significant limitations (so does paper). the key (i think) is for school districts to implement it gradually and with lots of careful thought about exactly how they intend for it to be used (with plenty of thought about unexpected potential as well).

i am afraid we will see the opposite--the cancellation of book purchases in favor of the ipad (no going back then), huge problems with implementation (kids hacking it, surfing the net during classes, and other total nonsense), and massive losses of money due to issues ranging from textbook prices to damaged/lost devices.

as for the kindle, i am a huge fan of it (i own a dx), but the potential is very limited. it also has some hurdles to overcome in order to make it legal for use. in a pilot program at my university it didn't do very well.

#1 It's Expensive
This makes no sense. It could very well be more expensive than the current arrangements, but offer more educational benefits. If we consider deals with publishers and implementation, we might be able to talk about whether it is cost effective.

#2 It's Not the Best Solution for Note-Taking or Editing Documents
Partially true. I don't take notes on it. I do find it to be fabulous for editing, especially when paired with a bluetooth keyboard.

#3 It's Too Distracting
Maybe. It depends on how it is used. Kids can get distracted by just about anything. Classroom management (its implementation) will be the key.

#4 It's Ultra-Portable and Ultra-Droppable
Yes.

#5 What Makes it Desirable to your Kid is What Makes it Desirable to Criminals
I doubt this will be much of an issue. Kids get on the bus at school and get off at home in many areas. Urban areas prone to crime will (for better or for worse) probably be unable to afford the devices anyhow.

#6 It's Meant for the Enjoyment of One Person, Which Means Social Seclusion
I guess the author doesn't like books either.

#7 Digital Text Books are a Marvel, but There's No Secondary Market
I don't know what this means.

#8 It's a Status Symbol, Plain and Simple
No. It's status drops significantly when every kid has one.

#9 It'll Already be Old Technology by the Time You Buy It
Yes. But, I have an iPad1 and still get a ton of use out of it. I suspect I will by this time next year as well. Fortunately, kids don't need bleeding edge tech to read a book.

#10 They'll Also Want a Laptop, Too
Yes. But, they already want them

 

[Mord]

Those are pretty small minded reasons that are frankly unworthy of even bothering to engage with.

I say that as a student who neither wants nor owns an ipad, for now at least.

 

[ace198]

#7 Digital Text Books are a Marvel, but There's No Secondary Market
I don't know what this means.

It means no resell/trade-in value.

 

[boss.king]

As a student I have to say I see no use for the iPad in the classroom. It's cool, but pen and paper or a laptop works so much better. It's a great entertainment device, which is why it will distract people from their work/note-taking.

I agree with almost every point on that list.

 

[tjb1]

And it's very good for note taking. It takes digital notes, that can be backed up via email and even can record audio from the teachers lecture as you write. Can a pen and paper do that? It's also a small and portable device so it's no bigger than a notepad but it's way handier.

Actually yes, its called Livescribe. Pretty sweet thing except the software blows so I took it back. Tap words to play a lecture, same with the digital copy it made. Just horrible software and pen kept crashing/losing notes so I figured a $1 pen would do the same thing.

And the whole textbook thing...Im doing it now.

Same Book:
Physical-Own=$180
Physical-Rent-130 days=$78
Digital-Rent-180 days=$105

I mean wtf? At physical rent price I will end up paying the same if I were to buy and sell the book so the $78 loss is there no matter what. But paying $105 for a --180-- day rental??? First off its more expensive, Barnes&Noble doesnt have to send me a physical book so why is it more? I could justify it if I paid $105 and then owned the book

 

[KnightWRX]

A laptop is a much superior student tool than an iPad, if only for note taking. Let's face it, the tablet form factor is awful for look winded typing and having the keyboard cover half the screen and hiding the rest of your notes while you type is bad.

The laptop is made for banging out documents, tablets are mostly made to consume them. It's just the problem of the form factor.

 

[palpatine]

A laptop is a much superior student tool than an iPad, if only for note taking. Let's face it, the tablet form factor is awful for look winded typing and having the keyboard cover half the screen and hiding the rest of your notes while you type is bad.

The laptop is made for banging out documents, tablets are mostly made to consume them. It's just the problem of the form factor.

I disagree. I used to think this way, but not anymore. You can get stuff done with the iPad.

1) When combined with a bluetooth keyboard it is really nice. The advantage an iPad has is that you can use it in landscape or portrait, with or without the keyboard, so you can read on it comfortably in one situation and create content in another. People don't read entire books on laptops because it is unpleasant to do so. The iPad is fun. Personally, I much prefer taking notes by hand and scanning them into PDF form later, but if you do want to type your notes in class, the iPad is perfectly fine.

2) The iPad has a longer battery, so it makes it through the day without needing a charge--classrooms often lack adequate power supply. I probably get 90 percent of my work done on the iPad. Here is more detail about how:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1197650/

3) The iPad is much less expensive than any Apple laptop, and many Windows ones, and it gives students everything they need to get basic work done. If you are in a program that creates video content or other heavy processing, it is in appropriate, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.

@tjb1
As for the price of textbooks, they are outrageous, and in many cases ebooks are unavailable. I recommend buying them, scanning the content into PDF form, and then reselling it. Here is some advice about how to do this:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1198956/

@ace198
Also, regarding the secondary market, thanks for that explanation. I wondered if that was the meaning, but it didn't make sense, because I didn't think there was reselling of k-12 textbooks anyhow. I guess he means university level then. Not much of a secondary market there either