Device+Evaluations

Device Evaluations
Use this space to post your review(s) on the device(s) you were able to explore. Please use this document, [|Evaluating Tablet Based Devices.doc] to guide your comments which covers the areas of hardware, software and experience. Please list the name of your device at the beginning of your review. If you have explored other devices on your own you feel is applicable here, feel free to share your thoughts. You do not have to reinvent the wheel, if someone has already posted comments you agree with, you can reference them and/or elaborate as you wish. Thanks!

__**ZABEN (start)**__ //Apple iPad (1st generation)// First off, the battery life on the iPad is fantastic; I have used it for hours on end without dropping below 50%, and I haven't noticed any decrease in performance even after I've drained the battery to less than 20%. The weight and wireless connection are also quite good, but the iPad loses points when it comes to video-out ports, USB ports, and camera (it has none of these, although the video-out can be accomplished with a peripheral, and the iPad 2 sports two cameras).
 * Hardware**

The iPad runs Apple's mobile platform, iOS, which is quite intuitive and easy-to-use, even for an inexperienced user. Apps can be purchased and downloaded via the built-in App Store, which is both a positive and a negative. On the plus side, Apple is clearly ahead in the app market, and their store boasts the most well-made, robust apps of any of the markets I've seen. On the negative side, Apple's approach to the app market means that a lot apps don't make it in, or that Apple gets a percentage of the profit that some developers/publishers aren't comfortable with (take, for example, their non-negotiable 30% commission on all ebook sales). Printing can take place via AirPrint, though this is a new feature and still not 100% reliable. Screen rotation is fantastic as compared to Android-based devices, and in general the short, snappy animations for opening and closing apps adds a lot to the user experience, so that it never "feels" slow, even if, at times, it is. Finally, multitasking is possible, but not "true" multitasking; only one app is visible at a time, so working with two at once means //lots// of double-clicking the Home button, and it isn't practical.
 * Software**

In my opinion, this is where Apple hits the ball out of the park. This device is sleek and elegant, and using it is always a fun experience. This is a device that at first feels like an extraneous toy, but one quickly finds more and more reasons to use it each day. The portability is excellent, and I have to say that the on-screen keyboard is much better than Android-based devices I've used; in the landscape mode, someone used to typing on a full-sized keyboard will have no problem making the transition. Additionally, the keyboard peripheral device is also quite good, and can significantly speed up typing.
 * Experience**

The biggest negatives I can see regarding the iPad are its cost and its longevity. Between the device itself, stocking it with the apps one would need for a given classroom/course, and any peripherals (such as keyboard or dock for video-out), the price tag quickly balloons. Secondly, the iPad (and, indeed, all of Apple's iOS devices), aren't really "here to stay;" there is a better model out each year, usually for the same price tag. In closing, I think this would be a great device to adopt for the 1:1 initiative, but I don't think that means we should necessarily go for it. With Google's new Chromebooks about to hit the market for basically the same price tag, but including a keyboard and the ability to use USB, the best course of action seems to be to wait out the fluctuating market in order to settle on the best device for the lowest price.

//Samsung Galaxy Tablet// I didn't get as much hands-on time with the Galaxy Tab as I have had with the iPad, but the difference between the two devices is stark and immediately apparent. The first big difference is size/weight; though the Galaxy is smaller, it feels like it weighs about the same as the iPad, and it is definitely thicker. The size of the Galaxy Tab is odd; it's too big to be a phone, but feels a little too small to be a "real" tablet. It could serve very well as a color eBook reader, but I can't imagine doing anything else with it for more than a few minutes. The on-screen keyboard felt too small for me, even in landscape mode. Finally, and most glaringly, this tablet was seemingly rushed to the market, as it runs the Android 2.3 OS, aka "Gingerbread," which is the same OS that is available on most Android smartphones at the moment. The Android OS that has been optimized for tablets, however, is 3.0, aka "Honeycomb," and this device is not built to run it. My final thought for the Galaxy Tablet: why would anyone want a huge smartphone that can't make phone calls? __**ZABEN (end)**__

__**From Jen Martin: (START)**__ //__iPad__// //LOVE the iPad! It is slim, lightweight, portable, has good battery life, great screen resolution and decent screen size and the ability to add all different kinds of apps. The new iPad2 even comes with a camera for pictures and video. We wouldn't have to worry about anti-virus software, purchasing Windows or Microsoft Office software. There would be less maintenance for computer techs if the students had iPads as opposed to laptops. The negatives are the additional cost of the apps that will need to go on the iPads - is that going to be the school's responsibility (most likely) or the student's? The iPads need to be synced often with a computer that has a corresponding iTunes account, which will create the constant need for an updated system of vouchers and receipts in case we are audited. The task of keeping track of all this is a bit scary, especially for a 1:1 initiative where we would have 1,000's of students using them. As new apps come out and are purchased, I can see this piece of hardware costing more and more money over the years as we strive to keep the apps up to date and relevant, especially now that we have to pay for each device the app is synced to. We would also have to purchse airprinters so students could print from the iPad - this would be an additional cost. Lastly, in order to do any extensive typing on the iPad, many students would require a keyboard (docking station or wireless) - another additional cost. Again, LOVE the iPad, but not for the 1:1 initiative.//

//__ByteSpeed Convertible Netbook__// //Not that impressed. It was small, but heavy. The screen was too little for my liking. I did like the perceived durability of the ByteSpeed and the built-in handle was convenient. When I converted the netbook into a tablet, it was neat but I am worried that students twisting the screen around a lot will wear and tear on the machine. I liked the ability to use the stylus on the screen when in tablet form, however, writing on the screen was very difficult and a little frustrating. The battery life wasn't anything to rave about and I found the processing to be a little slow. I installed SMART Notebook on the ByteSpeed and it seems to really weight the system down.//

//__Dell Streak__// //Too small for the 1:1 initiative.//

//__Regular Laptop__// //In my opinion, our best option. Positives: large viewing screen, regular keyboard, plenty of USB drives, familiar operating system for students and teachers, excellent storage capabilities, fast processing, good battery life, runs all programs necessary for schoolwork and testing, can multitask, print, has assistive capabilities, capatible with school-wide network, affordable, proven technology over time to be effective. Negative: increased maintenance work by IT staff.// __**//(END)//**__

** John Davis (Start) **

 * Apple iPad (First Generation)**
 * Hardware** Again, for the most part, the devices will have similar specs and appearances. There are areas that will be very important (screen size, ability for the screen to orient, battery life, and ability to push video out).
 * Form-Factor Dimensions 270x150x12mm
 * Screen (Size/Resolution) 10.1” TFT 1024x600 p (WXVGA) LCD
 * Weight 480 grams
 * Processor ARM Cortex A* at 1 GHz with DSP / Graphic accelerator: 3D OpenGL ES 2.0
 * Storage (Options/Capacity) Internal: 8/16 GB flash memory / External: Micro SD Slot (SDHC compatible)
 * Camera Webcam
 * Ports USB slave 2.0: Mass Storage Class (MSC)
 * Full size USB host: Mass Storage Class (MSC)
 * Micro SD (SDHC compatible)
 * HDMI output (min HDMI/HDMI cable sold separately)
 * Video Out MPEG-4 HD (up to 720, 30 fps@6Mbps)
 * MPEG-4 (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD resolution, 30 fps@8Mbps
 * H.264 HD (HP@L3.1 up to 720p, 30 fps@5Mbps)
 * WMV9/VC1 (AP up to 720p 30 fps@10Mbps
 * M-JPEG (Motion JPEG Video) in VGA resolution
 * With optional plug-in (downloadable on [|www.archos.com]):
 * Cinema: MPEG-2 (up to DVD resolution MP/D1, 30 fps@ 10Mbps) With above codecs, the device can play video files with the following extensions: AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, WMV, MPG, PS, TS, VOB, FLV, RM, RMVB, 3GP


 * Wireless Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
 * Cellular None
 * Sensors G-sensor
 * Battery Life Internal: Lithium Polymer Battery
 * External: Power adapter/charger
 * Music playback time: up to 36 hours
 * Video playback time: up to 7 hours
 * Web surfing: up to 10 hours
 * Software** On these mobile and tablet-based devices, the software that runs on them are generally called Apps. The main App is the operating system, which controls how users interact with the device itself and with the other Apps on the device. Generally, it’s best that the operating system was designed for this type of device and not the previous generation of mouse-based and keyboard-based computers. The Apps should also conform to some type of guidelines so that users should be able to find their way around no matter what App they happen to find themselves in. The Apps are the user experience and are extremely important.
 * Operating System Android 2.2 Froyo
 * Multitasking NO
 * Assistive Capabilities ?
 * Printing Capabilities Not that I have found
 * Screen Rotation Yes
 * Compatibility w/ Division Applications (PowerSchool, PowerTeacher, Quia, EdLine, etc.) ?
 * Compatibility w/ Campus Network Yes
 * Method of Acquiring Apps App Market
 * Experience** This is one of the most important aspects of the evaluation but many institutions may not be able to implement it. It relies heavily on the Apps and having access to multiple devices. The important thing to note here is that f the users have a bad experience then they won’t use the device. It’s interesting when people ask me if they should get an iPad because the answer is always yes, but I can’t explain why. I know they’ll use it but I can’t say how. I didn’t know how I would use mine when I got it, but now I do 75% to 80% of my computing on it. Everyone will use a tablet in slightly different ways. How they use it will complement their personality and requirements. I would encourage your institution to do a satisfaction evaluation based on total user experience. Just don’t discount the experience, if possible. Then, during this final evaluation, institutions should list any additional positive or negative aspects of the devices.
 * Operating System freeze up/ slow
 * Level of Intuitiveness touch screen very sensitive
 * Closeness to Ideal Device No where close.
 * Add’l Positives to Consider
 * Add’l Negatives to Consider

This device, in my opinion, would not work well in MY classroom. The device is too big to be hand-held yet too small to be lap-based. The touch screen keyboard is difficult to use with 10 fingers. Hunt/Peck typing required. I believe an external keyboard could be used, however, I have not tried it. There is a setting that will make a noise when a key has been pressed, however, you have to have the volume turned up full to hear it. There is no tactile indication that a key has been struck. The placement of the on/off and volume buttons makes it easy to bump the device off/on. Resizing the screen in relatively easy, however, the device seems to go back to default when it feels like it. I used the device with my 2nd grade child. We went though the App Store and found some math/science Apps that were pretty good. He had very little problem navigating the software and found the GUI to be easy. He is also familiar with my phone that has the same OS. When it comes to the keyboard, he only uses one finger anyways; therefore, his experience was different than mine. Recommendations: I would not recommend this device for the high school level.
 * John Davis (//END//)**