Mac or iPad2?

Trotter

Hi all,

Im a primary teacher and friends who teach in the UK are raving about the potential of some of the iPad apps to help teach children with various special needs. This would be really helpful to me in work.

On the other hand, my Dell laptop is now 4 years old and will need to be replaced in the not too distant future.

Given that the iPad2 is going to cost €600+ would I be better off waiting for a few months and just getting a Mac for €900ish? I'll be buying either one myself through the Apple Education store as thats the cheapest way from what I can see to get either seen as I'll be using it in school.

Thanks!

Danbo!

iPads can be gotten for ~€500 for the 16gb wifi model.

It really depends on what you want and need the iPad to do. It lacks features the MacBook would have, but if it can do what you need it do, IMO it would be a better choice. Easier to use and carry around a classroom, no startup time as long as it's charged, and a breeze to use. But you need to bear in mind it has limitations, which may or may not bother you.

Trotter

Cool.. I suppose I could cut the price of it by sticking to the non 3G version although seen as I already have a mobile broadband contract with o2 for my laptop, I suppose Id be better off waiting and getting the 3G version and getting a new sim from o2.

Decisions Decisions...

scwazrh

Hi - I'm wondering the exact same thing as yourself , however I don't need either for work purposes,Its purely for entertainment and for introducing my young kids to the web. I still haven't made my decision but I have decided on a few points -

- as an educational tool you cannot beat the touch/feel/ multi gesture of an ipad .
- The ipad seems to grab the attention of young children more than a "normal " laptop.
- The apps available for the ipad for children to interact with are unbelievable.Any apps I have used on the imac seem to be more "adult" orientated and thus more boring.
- The ipad can only run applications not downloaded software etc. For example you can only run photo editing apps , not photo editing software

If I was deciding purely on a tool for introducing my kids to the internet I would go for the ipad.You can't beat the touch / feel and hold of the ipad but when you evaluate its overall uses on a pound for pound basis , the mac does seem to win out.

padraig_f

I have both and if I had to keep only one, it would definitely be my MacBook.
Main reasons: actual keyboard, high resolution screen, fully functional operating-system to run what I want.

One thing to understand: the iPad is a compromised PC. Do you really want your main PC one which has no physical keyboard and a 1024x768 resolution? What about if you need to use a website that's flash-based?

For this compromise you get the advantage of portability. I use my iPad as an e-book reader because it's easier to hold, will take it on holiday with me as it's easier to carry, and use it as a web-browser around the house. The advantages are portability but the PC experience is generally compromised (apart from maybe e-book reading, which the iPad does better).

If I had to use my iPad as a main PC I'd feel pretty restricted, I wouldn't be writing this post for one, because of how much more awkward typing is on it.

friends who teach in the UK are raving about the potential of some of the iPad apps to help teach children with various special needs.

I'd be slightly dubious about this as the iPad is still a very young platform. Are they talking about potential or what it can do now? That's great if it can help special-needs kids, but I wonder are people being wowed by the potential or if it's actually being used in practice.

Trotter

It's possible that they're using iPhone apps on the iPad maybe, I'm not sure. Its early days for me in terms of looking into the specifics.

Does the iWork software do as good a job as MS Office? I use Office a lot in work.

randomer

Is the camera important? Why not get the original iPad for €350?

Trotter

randomer wrote: »

Is the camera important? Why not get the original iPad for €350?

That's a good point I suppose. Battery life will be important and I just think the 2nd iPad will be the better one to have longterm. I'm not the kind that will look to buy the 3 and then the 4 for no reason etc.

ironclaw

Trotter wrote: »

That's a good point I suppose. Battery life will be important and I just think the 2nd iPad will be the better one to have longterm. I'm not the kind that will look to buy the 3 and then the 4 for no reason etc.

iPad 1 and 2 have the exact same battery and the exact same battery life. For use in a classroom, you can't go too wrong with the iPad 1 especially if kids are involved. I have to stress though, the iPad is not a MacBook or a laptop. You'll quickly find limitations. "Hey look at this XYZ on my.. USB key" And the iPad has no USB slot. However, on the flip side you can now do PowerPoint etc off the iPad with the various connectors for VGA / HDMI. But as for making presentations, not so good.

If you want a laptop, get a MacBook. They are just fabulous. The iPad is great as a presentation tool but all the preparatory work has to be done on a "real" machine in my eyes.

Danbo!

iPad 2 will definitely be better for long term as it will support later versions of iOS and run them better with the faster processor.

Trotter

ironclaw wrote: »

iPad 1 and 2 have the exact same battery and the exact same battery life. For use in a classroom, you can't go too wrong with the iPad 1 especially if kids are involved. I have to stress though, the iPad is not a MacBook or a laptop. You'll quickly find limitations. "Hey look at this XYZ on my.. USB key" And the iPad has no USB slot. However, on the flip side you can now do PowerPoint etc off the iPad with the various connectors for VGA / HDMI. But as for making presentations, not so good.

If you want a laptop, get a MacBook. They are just fabulous. The iPad is great as a presentation tool but all the preparatory work has to be done on a "real" machine in my eyes.

Hmm.. Im starting to lean towards an iPad 1 in that case. Would I be right in saying the jump from 1 to 2 hasnt been that spectacular? Id have thought the battery and processing would have been better in the 2.

BBMcQ

ironclaw wrote: »

iPad 1 and 2 have the exact same battery and the exact same battery life.

1st part correct, 2nd part slightly off. The dual core in the iPad 2 allows more efficient use of the battery during low performance period just as web-browsing or single core apps. Tests have shown this.

ironclaw

stuartmchugh wrote: »

1st part correct, 2nd part slightly off. The dual core in the iPad 2 allows more efficient use of the battery during low performance period just as web-browsing or single core apps. Tests have shown this.

Apple have officially stated 10 hours on each. To be really precise the battery in the iPad 2 is marginally bigger (By a hairs breath) But yes, you'd probably get slightly longer out of a iPad 2 (Minutes, not hours in any case) And for a school environment, both will ideally suit.

As regards OS upgrades, you'll be fine with each for years to come. The 3GS is still being updated and thats out 2 years now.

What exact do you want to do with the iPad or MacBook?

Trotter

ironclaw wrote: »

What exact do you want to do with the iPad or MacBook?

The iPad would be used in 2 ways.. mainly browsing the net and using some utility apps at home or out and about, and otherwise in school where I could use it for simple literacy apps or little maths games for very small groups of children..e.g. "Give me 20 mins of hard work and we'll play a game for 5 on the iPad".. etc. Bribery really

The fear I have though is that I could get a Mac for close to €900, when an iPad will cost me over €500, and maybe it'd be a much better use of the money considering Ive a 4 year old Dell Laptop.

ironclaw

To me it sounds like you need a laptop but not necessarily a MacBook either. Unless you need specific Mac features neither device, the MacBook or iPad, is really of any benefit.

If you want an iPad for school for the kids, maybe to use on a projector, or to show an App, get an iPad 1G. They are going for about €300 at the moment and that will continue to fall. There is no benefit to getting a iPad 2 if your case.

With the spare change you can get a really good Dell or a entry level MacBook. The common mistake amongst some people I talk to is "Oh, the iPad is €500 so it must be almost the same as a €900 MacBook" That is incorrect. They are totally different devices for totally different purposes. An iPad will not replace or even rival your Dell. They are chalk and cheese in terms of usability.

Trotter

Well just to finish off the thread, myself and my better half went to look at the Mac and iPad today and decided we'd make this one a joint purchase. I was delighted to hear she preferred 'the silver one' so I'm a proud owner of a new MacBook pro. I feel
A bit like when my daughter was born in that I'm not sure how to feed it, change it, or burp it just yet, but I'm getting there slowly. Thanks for all the help!