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one IPAD or multiple???
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I have read many of the discussions about IPADS, Kindle Fire, etc. I truthfully would have never considered an IPAD but due to recent conversations and research, I’m considering it. I’m not really asking if an IPAD is useful or which product is better. So, I’ll give a little info about our family, then pose my questions.
My oldest is 12, next will be 11 in January and yougest will be 10 in March, so we’ve just begun middle school years with the oldest and will have them all in middle/high school at the same time. We are in the process of downsizing-significantly smaller home (maybe even an apartment), less expenses, etc. For that reason, I’m wondering if the IPAD could replace the need for an extra desktop/laptop for the children’s use. That being said, the next quesiton is would it be completely wasteful and/or unnecessary to buy an IPAD for each child? Keep in mind that my children are not far enough apart in years that they will be doing a lot of different things and they are not small children. They are reaching an age where the expectations are higher regarding producing presentations, projects, etc. Also, our family is very musical and I understand that the IPAD has many tools that would be useful in this area as well.
We are trying to make a decision because for Christmas the children have asked for some things like a Kindle, a personal video game device, etc. We do not usually spend much for Christmas (~$50 per child) but we are anticipating spending a bit more this year and have family that always gives money and/or gifts. We are thinking that buying the IPAD(s) would be a better investment because you can read books on it and play games but also do SO much more! Also, if we combined the Christmas money that we would have spent plus what the grandparents send, the expense wouldn’t be as much as just buying the IPADS at some other point. It would still be a larger expense but would be a longer term investment in the kid’s education.
I apologize if I gave you too much information but I wanted an informed response as much as possible. Bottom line, here are the two questions:
An IPAD per child or one for the family?
Can the IPAD replace the need for a desktop/laptop? If not completely, then to what extent?
Thanks everyone! Tamra
Tamra, I can’t really give you a very informed answer but I did ask my son, (who knows this better than me) if an IPAD would replace a laptop or computer. He said it wouldn’t. With the expense of $600 and since your kids are so close in age I would opt for only one to share. But in my own opinion for a little more I think I would just get a desktop computer for them to share. That is what we have done. A computer has worked great for them to learn to type on and write their papers on and do research work. A computer also can help with music. My son downloaded Synthesia on my computer for free. I prefer playing the keyboard the oldfashioned way with sheet music but this teaches how to play and my boys caught on fast, unlike myself. Best wishes.
Whether an iPad can be a full replacement for a computer depends on what you need to do with it. For some people it’s all they need, but for others it’s more of an accessory.
There are apps available equivalent to traditional desktop computer apps like word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, photo editing, music, and of course web browsing and e-mail. Plus there are lots of educational and game apps, some of which are only available for the iPad.
Although there are apps for video editing, I would probably steer toward a full computer for that task since the files are so large that they would fill up an iPad quickly unless you have a computer to move them to.
If you have WiFi then an iPad can now be kept up to date and backed up over the internet so that’s no longer an issue like it was with the first versions. iPads can print to a limited number of printers that support the AirPrint protocol. Or if you have a computer running all the time you can install software that will allow an iPad to print to any printer through the computer.
You can add optional hardware to do additional tasks, just like you can on a computer. For example, a camera connection kit will let you load photos directly from a digital camera. Or a MIDI kit will attach an iPad to musical instruments to control or record a keyboard, for example.
You can optionally use a wireless bluetooth keyboard for heavy typing tasks. Karen uses this setup to work on some of our SCM books. Her iPad does serve as her primary computer.
So it all comes down to what you want or need to do with the device. I’d list out the things you want to be able to do and then do some research to see if an iPad will accomplish those things.
Given what you said, what about one of each? That way they can share both and trade back and forth depending on what they are doing at that time. Would that work?
Because I use a bluetooth keyboard, I am able to use my iPad as my “main” computer. I have a password that allows me to turn off youtube, safari (internet browser), and the itunes app store. I especially love my email app because I can access it without those inappropriate ads popping up at the email website. I also don’t allow internet surfing from the iPad…we save/bookmark our favorite websites to be able to go to them directly in one touch. I love the “notability” app because I can download pdfs to it and write on them directly using a stylus…dry-erase style. For an older child, I think an iPad would be a great tool. However, I recommend the parents be the password keeper. We have one iPad and three Kindles (one kindle per older child). My children read for hours daily from their kindles.
Janell
That is all very helpful. The kids do have a desktop that they currently use for typing lessons and all other computer uses. One main concern is that living in a smaller place (about 1200 square feet) will be a big downsize anyway (we currently have about 3000 sq ft), so having multiple desktops may not be an option in a smaller place.
The other reason we were considering an IPAD is that we could take advantage of all the apple only apps and still have the other functions of a kindle, basic computer, and video game.
My gut is telling me that one is enough and your responses are also making me think that is the best route.
Thanks. If anyone has other thoughts, keep them coming! 🙂
Oh, I think you’re right about one ipad being enough, but mostly because you guys have shown such restraint in the past in buying gifts for your children, to buy each of them an ipad might be overwhelming, it also might be too easy to do more computer time than you’d like for each child, also, with how fast technology changes and improves – do you want to be “stuck” with three out of date ipads in a couple years when your kids are 16, 15, and 14? (Those are my thoughts on my husbands idea to get two of our girls laptops – though mine are MUCH younger than yours).
The other advantage of sharing one is that will give you a chance to get a feel for it and make sure it fits your needs. You may find that you want to add more later but that will be after it’s proven it’s value. If it doesn’t work out then you’ve avoided a more costly investment.
Another advantage to sharing is…suppose it turns out that individual iPads aren’t the best choice for your family? You will have spent nearly $2,000 on three iPads, only to regret it later. (And factoring in warranties, probably even more $$) I’m also going to agree with Rebekah on the monetary issue. You said that in the past you guys would spend around $50 per kid. To go from $50 per kid to $600+ per kid is a huge leap.
Then again, this is coming from someone who purposefully and intentionally opts to have 1 DSi for our entire family. We thought about getting each of the kids their own, but we’re concerned about them getting far too wrapped up in it (time sucker) as well as feeling too selfish about “their” DSi. (Yes, our children do have things all to themselves, though. For instance, each girl will be getting an American Girl doll plus tons of accessories this year. DS will get probably a working train for himself. The kids will also get gifts to SHARE, as well as smaller gifts….plus gifts from relatives which are usually “all to themselves” gifts. I’m not of the mindset that our kids can’t have ANYthing to themselves…but not gaming systems or computers or anything with web access……….)
I have quite a few posts at http://outsidetheboxhomeschooling.com on this subject and app reviews. IPads work very well for our family. I currently have both kids on them. I work part time, so my mom helps me homeschool. I have gotten so tired of hauling curriculum and teacher materials everywhere. It seemed like they always ended up forgetting something. By having almost everything on the ipad, now they can typically leave with a pencil, stylus, ipad each, and one book that isn’t available for ipad. For us, it is a worthwile investment. Hope this helps.
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