For the first time ever, Chromebooks surpassed iPad sales to U.S. schools. According to IDC, 715,000 Chromebooks were sold to U.S. schools in the 3rd quarter as opposed to 702,000 iPads for the same period. It might not be by much, but the spread is likely to grow.
It's obvious the lower costs that Chromebooks enjoy is a big factor. Schools can buy Chromebooks for as low as $199 vs the iPad Air, which runs $379 after educational discounts. Let's also not forget the full keyboard that makes things a lot easier. Last but not least, Chromebooks are easier to manage.
IDC analyst Rajani Singh said, “Chromebooks are really gaining traction. The growth of Chromebook is a major concern for Apple’s iPad. As the average age of the student grows the need for a keyboard becomes very important.”
If there is one advantage that Apple has though, it's the number of educational apps. There are over 75,000 educational apps in iTunes. However, Google recently launched Google Play for Education, which could make a run for the money especially since Android apps can be adapted to Chrome OS.
source: Financial Times
via: 9to5Google
