Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News
    • PC Hardware
    • Blogs
    • Upfront

    Chromebook Popularity in Schools Makes Perfect Sense

    Written by

    Todd R. Weiss
    Published December 2, 2014
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      When I read the recent report that Google Chromebooks have now begun to outsell Apple iPads in the nation’s schools, I immediately started thinking about how much sense such a shift actually makes.

      The new sales figures from IDC show that vendors selling Chromebooks shipped 715,000 units to U.S. schools in the third quarter of 2014, compared with 702,000 iPads sold by Apple in the same period, according to a Dec. 1 eWEEK story. That shift highlights the growing popularity of Chromebooks among schools since late 2012, IDC analyst Rajani Singh told eWEEK.

      Well, as a Chromebook user and admitted fan, I think that more schools using Chromebooks can be a benefit for students, teachers, school districts and the taxpayers everywhere who have to pay for it all.

      It’s well-known that school districts in many places across the nation continue to be saddled with massive budgetary problems as expenses rise and tax revenues fail to keep up. Right here in Pennsylvania where I live, incumbent first-term Republican Gov. Tom Corbett lost a re-election bid to Democrat Tom Wolf, in large part due to concerns about inadequate school funding by the state. In Philadelphia, the state’s largest city, huge budget shortfalls mean that many schools are severely hampered by shortages of paper, printer ink, books, teaching materials and technology hardware and software, all of which hurt students, grades, achievement test scores and add to a sense of hopelessness.

      Read that again. Schools in the U.S. don’t have the money to buy paper, books and other needed teaching materials for their students. That’s ridiculous.

      That’s where the ability to save money by using lower-cost devices like Chromebooks, rather than iPads, is a good first step. The price difference can be significant. A full-size 9.7-inch WiFi-equipped iPad Air retails for $399, while a Chromebook can be purchased starting at about $150 less.

      And even with a lower price, users don’t lose anything. Chromebooks have a full arsenal of needed applications, allowing users to get their work done anywhere. And they have real keyboards that iPads don’t have out of the box.

      I’ve been using an HP Chromebook for over a year as one of my many devices, which also includes an Apple MacBook Pro, a Lenovo laptop, a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 tablet and a Windows 7 PC. When I just want to do something quickly, I reach for my Chromebook. It’s instantly on, it does what I need it to do, and it is reliable and tough.

      It will be interesting to see if the growing popularity of Chromebooks for schools is a new trend or an aberration. My bet is that other school districts are watching and that this is not a one-shot trend. Chromebooks can do everything a user needs to do, while saving money. That’s welcome news for budget-strapped school officials across the nation.

      Todd R. Weiss
      Todd R. Weiss
      Todd R. Weiss is a seasoned technology journalist with over 15 years of experience covering enterprise IT. Since 2014, he has been a senior writer at eWEEK.com, specializing in mobile technology, smartphones, tablets, laptops, cloud computing, and enterprise software. Previously, he was a staff writer for Computerworld.com from 2000 to 2008, reporting on a wide range of IT topics. Throughout his career, Weiss has written extensively about innovations in mobile tech, cloud platforms, security, and enterprise software, providing insightful analysis to help IT professionals and businesses navigate the evolving technology landscape. His work has appeared in numerous leading publications, offering expert commentary and in-depth analysis on emerging trends and best practices in IT.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.