10 Reasons Not to Buy an iPad Instead of a Laptop for a College Student
With summer already on its way out, your college-bound child is probably in the midst of asking for more and more money to buy the "essentials" they'll need for dorm life in the upcoming school year. (FYI: A BMX bike is not an essential school requirement for anyone, except those attending BMX U.) It's very likely that they've also mentioned needing a little device called the "iPad." That may have gotten you wondering if, in this day-and-age, the iPad should be considered instead of a laptop for kids heading off to university.
Let's face it, we're not talking about any old tablet here. That new $199 tablet from Google? Yeah, no one is even considering that as something useful for a student. Why you ask? The iPad-need probably has something to do with the Apple name brand ... or the fact that Apple consistently makes quality devices that are so super-powered, you start to think they can do anything. But, that's not always the case. (When the iPad heats up my ramen, we'll talk.)
And so, as the youngins are about to matriculate, they'll come at you with all sorts of "reasons" why the iPad is a "valuable tool" for "learning." Are you prepared to fight back? Are you armed with the knowledge you need to protect your dollars? You better be, because — as we'll show you — the iPad just isn't a suitable replacement for a laptop, in terms of meeting your student's needs. Here are 10 good reasons why:
1. It's expensive-ish
An iPad, at its most basic 16GB configuration with Wi-Fi connectivity starts at $399 — and that's for last year's model. The latest model, which is packed with a retina display and all sorts of extra goodies, starts at $499. The higher-end models (that include 64GB of storage and 3G connectivity) can burn a hole into you wallet in the shape of $829 ... with additional per-month rates for data plans. Even at the cheaper end of the spectrum, we often find gaming laptop sales for about that price. Though the iPad 2 is close, it just doesn't make monetary sense to buy an iPad instead of a laptop.
2. It's not the best solution for note-taking or editing documents
A virtual keyboard doesn't have any tactile feedback. This tech is fine for a quick text on your smartphone, but the iPad's keyboard — which is a non-standard shape and size — is a bit more awkward. And say goodbye to touch-typing because your fingers will start drifting, and you'll soon wind up with a page of gibberish. (If your kid says, "But I don't touch-type anyway!" you can lay into them for wasting [INSERT THEIR KEYBOARDING TEACHER'S NAME]'s time.)
Further, if you do manage to struggle your way through writing an entire term paper on the tablet, editing is another headache completely. Using your finger tip for fine placement of the cursor is next to impossible, and it'll take you a few tries to land it where you need it. After several failed attempts, you'll be wishing you had a laptop with a real keyboard and mouse.
3. It's ultra-portable — and ultra-droppable
Light and portable means you'll want to take this tablet with you — and you will because, well, why not? It's so light! But taking it everywhere means there's a greater chance of dropping it anywhere, and breaking it. There will even be more of a chance that your kid will forget completely that it's in their bag and, as kids will, fling their satchel across the room — only to be rewarded with a gut-wrenching *crack*, followed by a cold-sweat-inducing *tinkle* of broken screen glass. Just try forgetting you have a 5+ lb. laptop in your bag!
4. What makes it desirable to your teen is what makes it desirable to criminals
Your college kid wanting an iPad is second only to the desire of a criminal to steal one. It's so light (see above) and small that it's easy for a n'ere-do-well to quickly yoink and abscond. Sure, there are security locks you can use, just like the kind you can get for a laptop, but who — especially among the devil-may-care college-age set — really takes the time to actually use it instead of saying, "Pfft! It won't happen to me?"
5. It's too distracting: Games, apps, 4Gs, web-browsing, Twitter, and messaging beckon
The iTunes App Store boasts more than 500,000 apps — which is tantamount to over 500,000 distractions for your child, who's supposed to be paying attention to his professor. (Well, 599,998 distractions and two dealnews apps! WINK!) Angry Birds, too, will be calling during those long lectures, we're sure. But on the contrary, would anyone boot up DOOM or Minesweeper on a laptop in the middle of a lecture? Probably not. That's a commitment that doesn't allow them to lie to themselves that it'll be "just for a minute."
OK, apps are available on most smartphones too. But with the iPad, the temptation to stray is literally in a student's hands the whole time, since the device is also the tool they're continuously using to supposedly "take notes" during a lecture. As far as Twitter, messaging, and web-browsing go, they'll unfortunately be just as much of a nuisance on a laptop. But considering the iPad's portability, your child is more likely to tote it to class without fail.
6. eTextbooks are a marvel, but there's no secondary market
Your kid will probably make the argument that an iPad can display digital textbooks and, since the device is lighter than a stack of dead-tree tomes, you'd be saving the planet and them from years of backache and possibly a future addiction to painkillers / chiropractors. To this argument, you should tell them to wear their backpack over both shoulders, like one is supposed to, and they shouldn't have a problem.
Then, after a cursory examination of eBook prices, you might notice that they are generally cheaper than their printed counterparts, especially when you factor in Amazon's rental service. But keep in mind that there's no secondary market for digital textbooks, so that price you see for the digital version is the only price you'll get. You can't buy them used and you can't sell them back once the semester is over.
7. It's meant for solo enjoyment, which means social seclusion
You want your kid to grow up to be a personable, extroverted, well-functioning member of polite society, right? So why would you give him a personal entertainment device that all-but-guarantees he'll spend every moment of his free time with his nose pointed at a tiny screen, drowning out the revelry, camaraderie, and general good-times that are taking place around him?
Got an hour between classes? iPad. Waiting for the shuttle to campus? iPad. Yes, your child could seclude themselves with a laptop — but not in as many places. Let's see them try walking down the street watching the latest The Walking Dead on their laptop! It's too cumbersome and awkward. (Just like The Walking Dead.)
8. It's essentially just a status symbol
Like any gadget, the iPad is a status symbol. Like any Apple gadget, it's an expensive status symbol. It's something we've been trained by society and lifestyle magazines to want, simply because it's a luxury — and if we can be the first to have it, somehow, we "win." To combat this, you can sit your kid down and, being very earnest, tell him that he doesn't need things to be popular. Then explain to that laughing at you, when you're trying to be serious, isn't getting him closer to that iPad.
9. It'll be old technology by the time you actually buy one
Apple is very consistent with its release schedule of devices. New models come out like clockwork, and our guess is that the iPad is not going to stray from this tried-and-true model. Specifically, an even newer version of the tablet is surely going to come out sometime in March or April.
That means the iPad your kid wants to own in August is already six months old and half-way through its lifecycle; what's the point in buying this older model, when there's a shiny new version on the horizon that your child will surely start eying greedily once it debuts? (She could try to counter this argument by approaching you again in April. If she does, point out that the semester is almost over and that you will "review the situation" for next year. Then just start this whole argument over, from the top!)
10. They'll probably want a laptop, too!
Yes. You heard that right. If you buy an iPad for your kid thinking, "Well, that's that," think again! Since there are situations in which a tablet just doesn't cut it (see above), your child will come to realize that she definitely needs a full-fledged desktop or laptop (like the new MacBook Air, of course) for school, too. Whether it be for essay-writing, Internetting, game-playing, or entertainment-centering, you're looking at a double-dose of device deployment. Never forget: There is no end to the amount of money a kid can or will ask for.
By this point, you should have the tools to totally demolish your child's hopes and dreams of being the cool kid on campus. That's fine, because as we think we've made clear: The iPad is an accessory — and an expensive one at that. It's not a "productivity tool," and it's certainly not a laptop replacement.
But if, after all that, you're still going to get your child an iPad, make sure you get one after looking through our iPad deals. And also, try and keep quiet about it. Other parents do not want to battle a kid yelling, "But so-and-so's folks got her one!"
Note that this feature has been updated since it was originally published last summer.
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A low cost desktop and an IPad are better for meeting all computing needs than a laptop is. Ever try to type a term paper on a netbook? Not fun.
Ever carry a large laptop and your text books? Might as well be an ROTC member carrying your field pack.
Why get a laptop and do all things with middling success when you can pay the same or less for two devices and do everything exceptionally?
Listen, Jeff loves (loved?) his Zune, sure. But, he did recommend a MacBook Air in the article.
20% of the ones who use it only for recreational activities. Sure, they downloaded all sorts of educational/utility apps, but in the end it just turned out to be the gaming/Facebook device.
vvgggggy
The dead giveaway is the fact that they don't recommend you avoid a tablet, they specifically tell you not to buy an iPad.
Stay classy, Dealnews.
In my opinion attempting to raise an introverted kid as an extrovert is a form of child abuse.
Also, Microsoft Word is the standard in some classes.Â
To me, unless you have a specific need (usually business-related) for an iPad, in which case they can be extremely useful, the device is, as #8 states, a status symbol. I'd much rather have a mid-market 15" laptop ($400 or a bit less) AND a refurbished 32GB 4th-gen iPod touch ($250)... and that's for not much more at all than a mid-grade iPad 2 ($600-730). Item #9 makes a pretty salient point, too: You're going to have a serious inferiority complex with your expensive low-res iPad 2 about this time next year when all the cool kids are carrying the new HD iPad 3.
For #6, it just depends on who use the iPad. Â If it's me, I'd be taking pictures of my friends and add mustache to everyone of them. Â Phones seclude people most of all with games, texting, etc...
For #3, a laptop, iPod and smart phone could distract students as well. Â I can't tell if iPad does better job at that.
For other comments' argument for iPad's practicality, you can't compared that to a laptop, or perhaps even a netbook. Â They are designed for different purposes. Â Laptop is primarily for work while iPad is for fun. Â Even if you attach a keyboard to iPad, it's still not a laptop. Â
#5 is a good one. Â Simply put, almost every college student has a laptop. Â So if you have a laptop too, you will not stand out. Â But if you sport an iPad, people can easily recognize that it is an expensive device since there is a few variations of iPad. Â With laptops, you can't tell how expensive they are from outside appearance. Â Would a thief steal something heavier that might be of low value instead of something lighter with higher value?
Why buy a computer at all? Â If you don't have a computer, it can never be stolen, and you can never drop it... Â It makes sense to take logical precautions when owning a nice piece of equipment. Â I disagree with the theory that one should not buy a nice things because there are less-nice things that might be stolen less often.
I really don't argue (and, in fact agree with) points 2 and 10 as well (as I stated in my original comment). Â It is not ideal for editing papers (which college students will do a lot) and there are problems with not having a computer to go along with your ipad (most concerning, a lack of ability to back up data).
However, I am pointing out that most of the article consists of non-valid concerns, that could be applied to a laptop as easily as an ipad. Â Since the author is advocating a laptop over an ipad, I find this to be a weak rationalization. (It's never good when your argument can be used against the side you're advocating in the same way you use it against the side you're challenging). Â I agree with "nourth" below. Â I too would buy a macbook for my student over a ipad, and there some reasons for that, but this article isn't a thoughtful enumeration of those reasons.
Until iOS 5 is released later this year (allowing the iPad to update directly from WiFi and save data to iCloud without the use of a computer), you MUST HAVE A COMPUTER to register and update an iPod, iPhone, or iPad.Still, the iPad is an OUTSTANDING computing appliance for a total computer-phobe. They can quickly learn (10 minutes or less) how to do most of the things they'll want/need to do without the much of the iOS operating system getting in the way. The most common functions (email, web-browsing, YouTube, Facetime video chat, playing music & video, browsing and purchasing the App Store) are already installed and easy to find on the home screen. Once they're off and running you don't have to be 24x7 family tech support for them!
I'm a bit surprised that Jeff Somogyi didn't advocate waiting for the 'Zune tablet'. LOL
rather than a laptop. The convenience of the iPad could be considered a con
because of the increased likelihood of it being dropped. Here is an analogy: I
can buy two different cups one is a no spill sippy cup the other is a standard
cup. Sure you give up some functionality for the sippy cup but you don't have
as large of a mess to clean up in the event of a spill. Most people choose the
standard cup because the increased convenience outweighs the inconvenience of
the spill. The author makes the same argument about the iPad but the
convenience of the iPad does not overtly outweigh the cost of replacement or
repair.
All this to say that although you hold the opposing view to the author on the
convince of the iPad versus the increased chance of theft or drops the author’s
logic is solid.
Any parent who buys an iPad *instead* of a laptop for a college student is misguided, and I applaud the author for warning them. Any parent who buys an iPad in *addition* to a laptop is probably too rich to be reading dealnews. ;-)
Also you can get a blue tooth keyboard for pretty cheap.
OMG college kids getting distracted...well that never happened before the iPad.
Again though, the argument against buying this product is that it is more convenient to use than a laptop. Â You can/will use it everywhere you go. Â How is that a con? Â Just don't drop it.
You could make the same argument as to why you should own a desktop computer rather than a laptop. Â You are much more likely to drop a laptop, or spill something on it. Â Is that a valid reason to buy a desktop instead of a laptop?
The biggest flaw in logic here is that you should buy something less desirable, so that it will be used less.  To summarize points 4, 5, and 6 :  Don't buy something convenient to carry, because someone might steal it.  Don't buy something that you can and will want to use everywhere, because you might drop it when you use it.  Don't buy something that you want to use all the time, because then you will want to use it all the time and might not talk to as many people when bored in everyday life. Why not just buy the bulkiest, cheapest, least functional laptop in the world? Â
Then no one will want to steal it, your student won't carry it anywhere so they won't drop it, and they won't want to use it ever so they'll have plenty of downtime to start random conversations with strangers.This piece is far from the quality appraisal I usually see here on dealnews. Â Seems more like a no-well--thought-out argument of someone who really doesn't want you to buy an ipad for your student for some reason...