The new iPad doesn’t outsmart Google’s classroom strategy

Time for some math, kids. The iPad is $329 but education customers can pick one up for $299, which is already pricier than the Chromebooks that have flooded classrooms.

Accessories are also required to maximize the new iPad’s potential. The Apple Pencil is discounted to $89, but maybe Logitech’s Crayon at $49 is the stylus of choice. Well, the setup isn’t complete without a keyboard. No one is going to do everything using a virtual keyboard. Tack on another $99 for a proper keyboard case.

Add all that up, and the iPad with a stylus and keyboard is suddenly in the neighborhood of $450 before taxes and shipping.

School districts are tight on money, as any parent will tell you. The U.S. government loves to express care for our children, but in reality it’s been taking money out of public schools for the better part of a decade. Staff are being cut, supplies are extremely limited. Many teachers use their own money to pay for tools that can help their children understand the material easier.

Asking a school district in the current climate to pay $299 per iPad from the get-go seems, well, strange. Whether it’s a small Wisconsin town or a big city like Miami, school districts are simply unwilling to drop big money on technology when there are cheaper alternatives available.

Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2018/04/02/ipad-for-school-still-expensive/