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iPad iPad Vs Chromebook for kids??

Gix1k

Gix1k

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 16, 2008
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My plan was to get my kid a new Chromebook for Christmas. She's in 7th grade. I'm curious if I'd be able to get her an iPad with a keyboard and it serve the same purpose? I believe all they use is a browser and apps like Google Drive to store files. Wondering if you have seen any hurdles with giving your kids an iPad for school verses an actual laptop (which she has now).
 
Gix1k said:
My plan was to get my kid a new Chromebook for Christmas. She's in 7th grade. I'm curious if I'd be able to get her an iPad with a keyboard and it serve the same purpose? I believe all they use is a browser and apps like Google Drive to store files. Wondering if you have seen any hurdles with giving your kids an iPad for school verses an actual laptop (which she has now).
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An iPad is not a proper replacement for a chromebook. The biggest difference is that iPads only have mobile browsers, whereas chromebooks (laptop, desktop, or tablet form-factors) have a desktop version of the Chrome web browser.

Yes, there is an iPadOS version of the Chrome browser for the iPad but it uses the same mobile web engine as iPadOS Safari (an Apple requirement).

The major difference between mobile and desktop browsers is full support for browser extensions. This is not just for web browsing, but extends to the Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides). Each of those apps can have extensions added to them to enhance and extend functionality. The iPadOS version of those apps are not able to do that.

My daughter is an elementary school teacher and uses chromebooks in the classroom. She has had a few students who tried to use iPads for their homework assignments and projects, but the limitations of iPadOS were too great for them to use the iPads effectively.
 
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sracer said:
An iPad is not a proper replacement for a chromebook. The biggest difference is that iPads only have mobile browsers, whereas chromebooks (laptop, desktop, or tablet form-factors) have a desktop version of the Chrome web browser.

Yes, there is an iPadOS version of the Chrome browser for the iPad but it uses the same mobile web engine as iPadOS Safari (an Apple requirement).

The major difference between mobile and desktop browsers is full support for browser extensions. This is not just for web browsing, but extends to the Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides). Each of those apps can have extensions added to them to enhance and extend functionality. The iPadOS version of those apps are not able to do that.

My daughter is an elementary school teacher and uses chromebooks in the classroom. She has had a few students who tried to use iPads for their homework assignments and projects, but the limitations of iPadOS were too great for them to use the iPads effectively.
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Thanks a bunch for this. I'll just get her a Chromebook.
 
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My only frustration with Safari on iPad is the limited access to extensions. You can't get the same ones available on Mac.

It's not a huge deal but Chrome is accessed by way more devices than Safari anyway so their extension library is very "extensive" and useful.

Also with Safari on iPad you still get the occassional website that won't stop annoying you to download the app version of the site.

It's just not as smooth of an experience as having a "desktop class" browser.
 
UnLiMiTeD558 said:
Interesting because it’s literally called a desktop class browser on iPad. But sure, I guess you must know better lol
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They made significant improvements with Safari in iPadOS 13. And they do now request desktop versions of sites, and not the mobile versions you see on iPhones with iOS. Apple chooses to call this desktop-class browsing. I would agree with them. It is desktop-class browsing.

The Safari you use on iPad is a tuned version of the iPhone version. It responds better to desktop sites, it does a better job of supporting and responding to pointing devices, and it works quite well with modern and popular web applications. It is not the desktop version of Safari. It is Safari on iOS tweaked and tuned for iPads, which btw is a good thing. :D

So I agree it's desktop-class browsing, but we are not using desktop Safari on iPad.
 
Can confirm. My, at the time, middle school daughter was attempting the iPad route. I had a Chromebook that I’d occasionally use. She was able to do about 95% of her work on iPad. But once a week she’d come grab the Chromebook. Slowly, over time, she never brought it back to my office. Then she admitted it was easier for her to do all assignments on the Chromebook. Also supports multiple accounts which the iPad doesn’t.

She gave it back last summer. And started her freshman year in HS, back in class now, doing homework on iPad. I just checked and the Chromebook is back on her desk.
 
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