Android based tablet vs iOS tablet

john4120 · 2012-08-21T21:52:19.000Z

My Superintendent and Principals have given me the charge to look into Android based tablets for some of our classrooms. I have looked through Google Play but have not found a significant amount of apps for Education use. I am wondering if anyone out there in Education has put a group of tablets such as the Lenovo tablets into use.

leifjohnson · 2012-08-22T02:04:41.000Z

There aren’t many apps for education on android at present, Apple does hands down win that. There are still huge benefits for android tablets in schools.

They can be a lot cheaper,

Some of them can be repairable (Very little chance of fixing an IPAD after one of the little darlings breaks them) ,

Much easier to manage, you can set 1 up then copy the rom and flash it to others, there a loads of great back utility’s and easy lock down apps.

Management here went with IPADs, it was a huge investment and has been an absolute nightmare for TA in charge of them he spends most of his day just checking them out and installing apps on them for lessons.

If you need the apps then go with the IPADs, but if your looking for a device for web research, videos, sharepoint, VLE’s etc, then imho Android is better bet.

milnesy · 2012-08-22T05:26:32.000Z

iPads are nice, pretty, and simple to use. That’s why a consumer product has made it’s way into the business and education market. The end users don’t want to spend the time setting it up and configuring it properly.

The android os tablets (nexus 7 is really nice) have a much better MDM and use standard browser techniques. No need to open holes in firewalls and proxies just to get out to the internet. Although the marketplace isn’t stellar when it comes to educational apps, give it time. Apple has to either make a decision to target everyone and lower the price point or target the private and rich school districts and keep the price point where it’s at.

rme88 · 2012-08-22T06:30:51.000Z

You could wait a few weeks if the price of the iPad is too expensive there is a good possibility that Apple will release and iPad Mini that will have about a 7" screen and be around $250. Now this is just a rumor right now but I have read about it from some very credible sources.

brycekatz · 2012-08-22T06:34:44.000Z

Keep in mind, too, that my educational system admins feel the Mobile Device Management (MDM) for iPads is … less than ready for Enterprise use. There are lots of threads here at Spiceworks about using iPads for education; a quick search ought to turn up relevant info.

frenchy128 · 2012-08-22T06:36:34.000Z

We have several iPad labs at our school board, and I find them a pain to deal with as we do not live in the US and have no access to the VPP program. Licensing of software for the iPad get’s complicated and we need two applications to sync our software. We looked at an MDM solution, but they cost too much for our little School Board…

We have been waiting for the Windows 8 Surface tablet as we are a full windows shop, but we continue to buy 30pack iPad labs with recharging carts. I personally prefer Android devices (3 phones, 2 tablets), but I don’t believe that our board will go with android as everyone is fixated on "that’s not an iPad… "…

Wish you the best of luck on your tablet endeavors!

kelly · 2012-08-22T07:30:08.000Z

If you can put them off a few months, do it. iOS 6 is coming out, Android Jelly Bean, and Windows 8. The tablet market is being completely altered during Q3/Q4 of this year.

johnharrington5655 · 2012-08-22T09:53:21.000Z

Bryce Katz wrote:

Keep in mind, too, that my educational system admins feel the Mobile Device Management (MDM) for iPads is … less than ready for Enterprise use. There are lots of threads here at Spiceworks about using iPads for education; a quick search ought to turn up relevant info.

Here’s how MaaS360 by Fiberlink (cloud-based MDM) is helping educational institutions put their school, student, and faculty owned iPads to work in the classroom: MaaS360 for Education

matsgimmingmyhre6336 · 2012-08-24T01:07:33.000Z

If you have a projector in your classroom, the iPad with an Apple TV will give you a cheap and easy screen sharing solution.

davidfant3178 · 2012-08-24T06:15:11.000Z

John4120 wrote:

My Superintendent and Principals have given me the charge to look into Android based tablets for some of our classrooms.

This is a continuing dilemna for those of us supporting school districts.

We are usually not considered “Administration” (with a really BIG “A”) and often get handed a decision like this.

Life would be easier for you (and me when it comes up) if the scenario had been:

1.) Meet with administrators, including principals to get a “general” idea of what their concerns are in terms of mobile computing.

2.) Have the same meeting after you have time to digest their concerns, and include representative teachers this time. This is so the people who will use the technology and the people who will authorize the technology and the people who will recommend the technological solution to the educational problem (you, me, us) will be in the same room at the same time and at least have the chance to hear and understand the same words - real time.

3.) Take all of that input, find the most reasonable solution (regardless of brand or OS) and make that recommendation to carry through to your purchase process. Part of that recommendation needs to be a reasonable block of time for training.

However, when we are given direction to purchase and implement Brand “X” then that is what we do.

Sometimes that results in a true improvement to that particular districts’ educational offering, but without serious prior planning this is just a matter of luck. If the directed solution IS the best solution - cool. If not, then it goes on the trash heap of expenditures that were not thought out and/or poorly implemented.

As a p.s., top level administrators having lunch with a seriously trained (in terms of sales tactics) sales representative might be good for a break in the day, and in some cases there is serious eye-candy involved (they know their jobs well) but these are NOT planning opportunities. When you leave most of the worker bees out of the planning steps then the end result is a decision - but not a planned decision.

mariebjerede6404 · 2012-08-26T15:42:03.000Z

Hey there - yes we used Galaxy Tabs last year and sadly found we can’t recommend Android for schools just yet. We wrote up our experiences - feel free to download from our site: http://www.learninguntethered.com

Marie

adambehnke5871 · 2012-08-27T06:05:19.000Z

John4120 wrote:

… I am wondering if anyone out there in Education has put a group of tablets such as the Lenovo tablets into use.

If you’re referring the to the Lenovo Thinkpad Android tablet, you may want to consider an alternative device. It’s been discontinued in favor of Windows 8 tablets.

joey9719 · 2012-08-30T07:49:33.000Z

Some of you mentioned MDMs and that they are expensive (and yes some of them are). If you are looking to get your feet wet in the world of MDM and don’t want to spend a lot of money, check out Meraki Systems Manager . Its a free MDM solution that can definitely help with iPad management (they are working on adding Android support, but its not there yet). Most other paid MDMs have some more bells and whistles, but you can’t complain with free especially if you are just getting started. You can always upgrade to another MDM in the future if you find that there are other features you or your district needs.

Also if rumors are true, iOS 6 is supposed to be more “enterprise friendly” making it easier for us mobile admins to manage. I’m really hoping this rumor is true!!! iOS 6 is due out in the next month or so (also rumor).

Happy “start of school” everyone.

~Joe

robertdicken6772 · 2012-08-30T14:55:57.000Z

I really don’t understand the responses about the iOS devices.

First, FileWave has a great MDM solution, and is built specifcally for Macs and iOS devices with support also for Windows devices now.
Secondly, if you get AppleCare and take out an insurance policy on the devices, why would it be a “pain to repair it?” If they don’t work from a hardware standpoint without damage, you get it fixed via AppleCare, if a little one breaks it, you cash in on the insurance policy and get a new one. It’s really not that difficult.
Finally, you are dealing with ONE company, Apple. With the Android devices, if athe software isn’t working right, you need to answer to Google. If the hardware doesn’t work right, you need to answer to another company, and if you don’t purchase an extended warranty plan, you THEN have to answer to the manufacturer. Now THAT is a pain.

As a current Technology director, I have had little to worry about with my iPads/iPhones and more to worry about with the Android devices. I came from previous experience with companies like Dell and Best Buy, and I can tell you that support from either of those places are overseas for Enterprise clients before they even decide to dispatch a tech to your location or accept any mail-in repairs. Good luck with that! I call Apple and I get someone in the United States every single time.

I can safely say that yes, I am an Apple fanboy. They have captured the Educational market with ease of use, expand-ability, their support, and solutions like iTunes university and completely compatible iWork solutions between devices. I think you are absolutely nuts if you don’t consider Apple…you will be sorely disappointed by going with an Android device.

reth1nk · 2012-09-12T15:04:10.000Z

Rob Dicken wrote:

Finally, you are dealing with ONE company, Apple. With the Android devices, if athe software isn’t working right, you need to answer to Google. If the hardware doesn’t work right, you need to answer to another company, and if you don’t purchase an extended warranty plan, you THEN have to answer to the manufacturer. Now THAT is a pain.

That’s not quite accurate. I’ve been directed to talk to the developer of a third party app before from Apple when the problem wasn’t with Apple or iTunes, but the application itself.