The King is Dead. Long Live the King?
How important are desktop operating systems to the things we do on computers today? That's the question that we discussed on a recent episode of The Edtech Take Out podcast. Do we really need the power and complexity of Windows or Mac OS to accomplish the things that we need to do, or would a Chromebook or an iPad give us the options that we need? I have been thinking about this a lot recently, based on an article I read called, Stop Using a Laptop in 2017; It’s Time to Use a Tablet. The author doesn't really spend a lot of time pushing tablets over laptops, but he does make you think about what you are using your device for and points out some of the conveniences of using a smaller, lighter device. So, do we still need a desktop operating system for our students?
Maybe not then, but now?
There was a time when Chromebooks and iPads were not an ideal choice for a primary device. Essentially this was due to a variety of factors. Either the hardware wasn't very good, the software wasn't diverse enough or the tasks that we wanted to accomplish just didn't lend themselves very well to this form factor. To add to this, Adobe Flash and Java based websites were everywhere and offline use was still an important consideration for a lot of people.
Today, things are different. The hardware is a lot better, software options are more varied, more plentiful and more capable of accomplishing tasks that we would previously have sent us running to desktop computers. Wi-Fi is everywhere, but we're thankful that it is because more and more of what we do is done online in the cloud because it's convenient, collaborative and can be accessed on any device. Adobe Flash is all but dead and Java applets are no more, so is this the time to finally say goodbye to Windows and MacOS?
On top of that, Chromebooks and iPads are light and mobile. They have all day battery life and a lightweight operating system that is simple to master. They turn on and are ready to go in seconds, they are priced competitively, and both boast some of the best security measures on any device. The iPad also comes with two cameras that shoot hi-res stills and video up to 4K resolution on some models. All of which makes them a very compelling device for schools, or does it?
Today, things are different. The hardware is a lot better, software options are more varied, more plentiful and more capable of accomplishing tasks that we would previously have sent us running to desktop computers. Wi-Fi is everywhere, but we're thankful that it is because more and more of what we do is done online in the cloud because it's convenient, collaborative and can be accessed on any device. Adobe Flash is all but dead and Java applets are no more, so is this the time to finally say goodbye to Windows and MacOS?
On top of that, Chromebooks and iPads are light and mobile. They have all day battery life and a lightweight operating system that is simple to master. They turn on and are ready to go in seconds, they are priced competitively, and both boast some of the best security measures on any device. The iPad also comes with two cameras that shoot hi-res stills and video up to 4K resolution on some models. All of which makes them a very compelling device for schools, or does it?
Wait. Not so fast...
This may sound all well and good, maybe even a little utopian, but at this point it's only fair to say that certain things just can't be done as well on a Chromebook or an iPad when compared to a desktop computer. In fact, some things can't be done at all. For instance, if you are a mobile app developer for MacOS or iOS, you have to use a Mac computer. You have no other choice. You may be able to write your code on an iPad or another device, but you can't compile it and submit it to the App Store if you aren't running Xcode, which can only be run on a Mac. Is this important for the students we teach? It's certainly more important today than it used to be, but it needn't be a deal breaker if you have secondary devices available for checkout.
Other tasks that are traditionally not as easy to do on a Chromebook or an iPad include video editing. This task traditionally requires powerful software and lots of system resources. Chromebook users can use the YouTube Video Editor or WeVideo, but they are reliant on an internet connection for uploading all your video clips and you can only get so far with the features that they offer. On the iPad, iMovie is great. It works offline and is capable of editing 4K video, but again you are only going to get so far before you start to crave something like Final Cut, Camtasia or Adobe Premiere. Will it be enough for 98% of your student needs? Probably, but desktop devices are likely still going to be popular with your journalism and art students.
Podcasting is very do-able on an iPad with things like the Opinion Podcasting app, but once you start to think about how to record multiple people in remote locations, you quickly come up against a brick wall. Similarly, recording iPad screencasts is easy with apps like the IPEVO Whiteboard app, but if you want to show someone how to use a specific app, you need a laptop. Screencasting is easier on a Chromebook, but there are not all that many software options and the extensions that do exist have a somewhat limited feature set.
At the end of the day, none of these restrictions are a reason to completely discount iPads or Chromebooks, but they are things to consider. Instead, it really comes down to what you want to do with your students and the learning experiences that you want to create in your school.
Other tasks that are traditionally not as easy to do on a Chromebook or an iPad include video editing. This task traditionally requires powerful software and lots of system resources. Chromebook users can use the YouTube Video Editor or WeVideo, but they are reliant on an internet connection for uploading all your video clips and you can only get so far with the features that they offer. On the iPad, iMovie is great. It works offline and is capable of editing 4K video, but again you are only going to get so far before you start to crave something like Final Cut, Camtasia or Adobe Premiere. Will it be enough for 98% of your student needs? Probably, but desktop devices are likely still going to be popular with your journalism and art students.
Podcasting is very do-able on an iPad with things like the Opinion Podcasting app, but once you start to think about how to record multiple people in remote locations, you quickly come up against a brick wall. Similarly, recording iPad screencasts is easy with apps like the IPEVO Whiteboard app, but if you want to show someone how to use a specific app, you need a laptop. Screencasting is easier on a Chromebook, but there are not all that many software options and the extensions that do exist have a somewhat limited feature set.
At the end of the day, none of these restrictions are a reason to completely discount iPads or Chromebooks, but they are things to consider. Instead, it really comes down to what you want to do with your students and the learning experiences that you want to create in your school.
The Experiment
Here in Iowa, 1:1 schools are becoming more and more popular. We have schools that are 1:1 with all kinds of different devices, including Chromebooks and iPads. So, this week I will be using an iPad as my primary device. I am putting my MacBook Pro and Surface Pro 4 to one side and sticking with a 9.7-inch iPad Pro for all my computing needs at work and at home. My colleague, Mindy Cairney, is doing the same. A typical day for both of us often involves working between multiple devices and different operating systems. We switch frequently depending on the task we are working on, but for this week we are taking on the role of a 1:1 iPad student and sticking to one device. Our goal is to report back on our experience on the next episode of the podcast and see how realistic this option is for the things that we do in our work at Grant Wood AEA. I will probably follow up with another blog post too. Until then, you can hear our onboarding thoughts and ideas in the episode embedded below.
Jonathan Wylie, Digital Learning Consultant, Grant Wood AEA - @jonathanwylie
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For more posts like this, please subscribe to our blog! You can also connect with us on social media if you Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter or add us to your circles on Google+. We even have our own podcast you can listen to and a Makerspace video show!
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