Reply to: Current state of play for using tablets with MS Office documents

[d000hg]

Firstly, thanks for the educational discount link eek, that sounds quite interesting.

Secondly - this is a question about software on different tablets to work directly with MS documents, not about whether people think the iPad is better than Android tablets generally.

THe "get a laptop" argument is quite a reasonable one, maybe what she's really needing is a netbook but I thought they were killed off by tablets and ultrabooks these days? I am not sure if she wants a tablet so she can do tabletty things as well as get work done, or only wants it work work - if that's the case a tablet might not be the best option.

[NickFitz]

The head teacher at one school asked me to get MS office working on his new Macbook Air.

Not exactly challenging, given that you just buy MS Office for Mac and install it.

[TheFaQQer]

I'm not doubting that apple make good products, it just annoys me when schools blow their budget on expensive kit just because it looks nice.

I agree - I argued at the school where I am a governor that we could do better by buying Android tablets which run the same assessment software as the iPads, as buying iPads.

Despite being on the budget committee, and the IT team, my views were ignored because people "know how to use an iPad".

We aren't a rich school, either, which is why I'd hoped we could save some money here.

That all said - my sister bought her own iPad Mini for use in school because her school (current budget surplus £200k which needs to be spent before September when they become an academy) wouldn't buy one.

[gingerjedi]

All the schools I visited (crap gig) had suites of £2k Imac's all running windows applications, the teachers had iPads which they used for eBay during their breaks.

The head teacher at one school asked me to get MS office working on his new Macbook Air.

I'm not doubting that apple make good products, it just annoys me when schools blow their budget on expensive kit just because it looks nice.

[AtW]

Get one of the new Haswell based Ultrabooks - VAIO Pro 13 with neat extra battery up to 18 hours - just over a kilo without extra battery, and 1.3 kg with

[SimonMac]

I have an iPad and use CloudOn | brings Microsoft Office(R) to your favorite device, MS has just launched an Official version of Office for iOS devices but it requires an Office 365 subscription

[TheFaQQer]

Yet another teacher wants an iPad but doesn't know why...

Hardly:

A fairly non-techy teacher friend is interested in a tablet+keyboard for working on the move, but is heavily tied into MS Office. She asked me if iPad/Android would allow her to do this

Anyway, depending on the age being taught, there are some useful teaching applications available. Our school uses iPad mini's in Reception and Nursery because they are easy to use when assessing pupils.

[Moscow Mule]

Yet another teacher wants an iPad but doesn't know why...

Mrs (PE teacher) has got one for work - mostly gets used for candy-crush but I believe they can use it for registers etc, and allows a VPN onto the school network - which I guess would be useful...

Wouldn't pay for one myself though if I were a teacher, get much more use out of a PC / laptop.

[Platypus]

Yet another teacher wants an iPad but doesn't know why...

Because people instinctively know they're great!

The CloudOn app offers MS Office compatibility and links into DropBox and other Cloud services too. Very nice, although I've not used it in anger, just to view docs.

[gingerjedi]

Yet another teacher wants an iPad but doesn't know why...

[TheFaQQer]

My wife has a surface. I think its

Everyone I know who has one agrees with that sentiment.

[eek]

My wife has a surface. I think its

I can't get the concept that you need to put in on a table to use the keyboard. You can sit with a laptop on your lap without any such issues.

[BoredBloke]

My wife has a surface. I think its

[Moscow Mule]

Lenovo Yoga 11s is out soon/now. Convertible, full win8 machine. £700 ish quid for the low spec- I think it wins on a cost/benefit to the ipad...

[eek]

or wait a week and see if the school will allow you to buy it (the surface rt is $289 on this scheme).

Microsoft launches Surface RT discount for schools | ZDNet

Offer starts June 24th (as does my contract).