The newest technology sweeping the nation is the touch screen tablet. Our principal has even been looking to see if they will work in a school setting. Together, we have compiled an assortment of tablets, the Kindle Fire, the iPad, and the HTC EVO. Our blind tester rated each from 1 to 10 based upon reading, speed, ease of use, portability, and screen.
Receiving the HTC EVO 4G tablet as a Christmas present, there have been serious advantages. The convenience of having such a powerful system at one’s fingertips at any given moment simply cannot be beaten.
There are a few instances where the EVO could definitely benefit a student in the classroom. Whether they are looking up videos to use in class, or need to quickly bring up information to support an argument, the ease with which the EVO can be used is great.
The YouTube application that comes on the EVO is fantastic, the videos load quickly, easily, and the quality is outstanding. The best feature of this tablet is definitely the speed; it’s faster than a home computer and rarely ever freezes.
The battery life is great, and even when it tells you that the battery is low it still seems to last forever.
However there are some downfalls when it comes to using a tablet.If used in the class room it is important to remember that although they are capable, tablets are not built for certain prolonged activities.
Typing on a tablet can be aggravating if you intend to be typing for a long time, and this applies to HTC EVO as well. In a pinch a few paragraphs have been written by using the touch screen keyboard. It was not an easy feat and did take twice as long as it would have taken on a laptop.
Also durability could be an issue, just like every other piece of technology with a touch screen, the EVO is delicate. If an EVO is dropped, the ramifications could be devastating. I’ve never dropped it, so I cannot speak to how easily the screen breaks but from handling it, it becomes apparent that a crack wouldn’t take much. The EVO has a million special features, and as an Android device it would easily connect with all of our existing systems, making it a viable contender for school use.
Picture a computer: a very thin, rectangular computer about a foot long. Lose the keyboard and that’s an iPad. Completely touch screen, this extremely useful gadget would be perfect for our school because of its portability and efficiency.
The iPad has been top rated since its arrival in stores; with two versions, it can be either 3G, which does not require a wireless network, or just the original one that connects to a wireless network. With its myriad of storage, the iPad has plenty of space for not only fun apps but educational ones as well.
If you are not a fan of touch screens, the iPad is not for you. However, when the letters do appear on the screen, they are very big and easy to touch. It has the ability to hold music as well as surf the internet; with all of its abilities, the iPad cannot be beaten.
Users of the iPad range from the old to young. Since its uses are so varied, adults can use it for serious work, while kids (or adults as well) can play games.
When it comes to pricing, the iPad may have to be an investment. A 16GB with WiFi runs on average $499.99. If looking for more memory, a 32GB with Wifi would cost around $599.99.
If a 4G network were to be included, a 16GB would start at $629.99 and a 32GB at $729.99. There are also 64GB, which would add about one hundred dollars to each of the 32GB prices.
Although a little on the pricey side, the iPad is capable of everything a computer is, but much more portable. With an ongoing list of capabilities, the iPad is a tablet that is well worth the price.
The Kindle Fire is a resourceful and versatile tablet, and the most user-friendly by far. Its screen is crystal clear with adjustable brightness. It not only has memory for books, but music, videos, documents, and applications.
The Internet is easily accessible on the Kindle Fire, and it is a fairly sturdy product. In a classroom setting, there is no reason not to choose the Kindle Fire; it is portable and yet robust, and a great tool especially for reading.
Books on the Kindle Fire appear clearly, with adjustable font sizes for people who may have difficulties with small print. Highlighting is possible, as well as annotating, undoubtedly a desirable feature for students.
Upon viewing a Kindle Fire’s book, all the comments may be shown at once, which would definitely work well for students attempting to read a challenging novel for English that may pose many questions.
The novel selection on the Kindle Fire is excellent, and many of the classic literature books are free. One obstacle that may arise would be getting textbooks onto the device. Though probably unavailable for purchase, many textbooks may be online and therefore accessible through the Kindle Fire’s web feature.
With a clear screen and the perfect features for reading, the Kindle Fire would be the perfect tablet to introduce into a classroom setting at North.
After much deliberation, our tester, Christy Fox, who does not own a tablet, sat down with all three and tested their functions for about a half hour.
As she tallied the results, the HTC EVO was determined to be the best for school use, scoring tens for reading and its screen, and all nines for speed, ease of use, and portability. Its final score was an impressive 47/50.
The Kindle Fire came in close second, with a 46, lacking only in its speed and ease of use, with tens for everything else.
The iPad unfortunately was too large to score well with portability and came in third place.
Regardless of what tablet is chosen, they will undoubtedly be beneficial for school use.