Dispelling The Four Most Common Myths About Ipads

Wed 17 June, 2015

iPads are hugely popular in the education environment, but lots of schools are still not getting the best out of their devices. This is mostly due to poor installation and the myths that still seem to cloud iPads, their deployment and their use in classrooms. In this article we will look at the most common myths, explain the real situation and talk about how we can help you to get the most from your tablet devices.

MYTH 1: IPADS ARE HUGELY EXPENSIVE

Even a quick peruse of the Apple Store will show you that iPads are now cheaper than ever before. iPad Mini, which have become a very popular device in education, are just under £200 a device. This is not expensive, in fact it makes them cheaper than an average desktop or laptop PC.

The biggest problem in the past is that schools have compared Apple devices to inferior white label android tablets. Naturally these unbranded tablets are cheaper, but they are of very low quality and most schools that purchase them find them to be little more than a glorified Internet browser. There are an increasing number of higher quality tablet alternatives to the iPad, such as the Windows Surface Pro 3 or Galaxy Tab 4. However, these tablets are around the same price as the iPad and do have the backup of the same high quality of software provided by Apple's Volume Purchasing Programme (VVP).

Soft Egg can supply and install a range of tablet and other mobile devices.

MYTH 2: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN APPLE DISCOUNT

While it is true that iPad hardware is difficult to find at a discounted rate, through the VVP it is possible to save somewhere in the region of 50% by buying apps in bulk for your education setting. Also Apple now offer education customer who sign up to the VPP a free suite of software, called iLife and iWork, which contains Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie and Garageband - all for free!

Soft Egg will help you to enrol on the VPP, recommend the best apps for use it the classroom and ensure that you get best value from the apps that you choose.

MYTH 3: IPADS ARE COMPLEX TO USE.

Touch control technology is a part of most of the children in your schools daily life. They adapt very easily and will learn to utilise the iPad very easily within a short space of time. For the adults in your school, it is key that they receive good quality training, which focuses on how best to utilise the devices in lessons. It is much easier to start with a small suite of apps that everyone knows how to use and then to build from there.

Soft Egg offer staff training, which can be adapted to suit the needs of your staff team.

MYTH 4: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRINT, SAVE OR DISPLAY CONTENT FROM AN IPAD.

It is possible to print, save and display an iPad’s content using your current systems. The one thing that all schools must check before they purchase any tablet device, is your Wi-Fi able to cope? If the answer is yes, then by purchasing a Mac Mini device and some relatively cheap pieces of software you can do all the functions mentioned above. You do not even need to purchase an Apple TV!

Soft Egg offers iPad installations to schools that include saving, printing, mirroring and app installation. If you would like more information or to book in a tablet device installation then call us on 0117 287 2029 or email us at: getintouch@softegg.co.uk