Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham
Given that modern netbooks now have upwards of 10 hours battery life and wake up from asleep in seconds (my old Samsung netbook does it in 4 seconds), would they now work for you in the classroom?
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Perhaps, but I already have an iPad, so why bother?
Another issue for me is that our school has just invested in the 'smartboard' architecture, and the administration is viewing the iPad, as one its uses, being a mini-smartboard for classrooms which are not equipped with the full board. And I have over the course of using my iPad, developed teaching strategies that rely on the touch screen. Rather than trying to shoehorn myself into using a heavier, clunkier mini laptop, why can I not continue using a tablet?
As others have said: just because *you* may not see a use for it, it doesn't mean others are not quite happy with theirs. Why does this have to be an either/or thing with one side 'winning' and everyone else submitting to their will? I do not do the sort of document creation with my iPad that requires a laptop and keyboard. If I do need a laptop and keyboard, I prefer to work on a full-size computer. USB is not an issue for me as I can transfer files using the dropbox app. I can display media, files and ebooks to my students. I can edit them and annotate them myself. I can run a music class using all of my MP3s and video.
I have tried doing this in the past with other devices and they were clunkier, less efficient and less useful. I have now found a great device. If someone else had beaten Apple to it, that would have been fine. But they did not beat Apple to it. So I bought the Apple one, and I am happy. It works great. I can cross-load apps I already have for other devices. It would make no sense at all for me to jump ship for some ideological reason and have to re-invest in learning curve, app purchases etc. Why will consumers not buy non-Apple tablets? Either because they don't really need a tablet anyway, or because other manufacturers have gotten there too late!