What can a laptop do than an iPad can't?

[palpatine]

Play Diablo III, lets see an iPad do that.

True.

 

[Carouser]

No. It is crucial if you use Blackboard, which is a software application used by faculty at universities to manage classes. You cannot upload files. It brings the process to a screeching halt.

The conversation and my point is from the point of view of the student, not faculty, considering the OP's question and the context of the conversation. Also, I did grant there are cases where it might be necessary, but isn't the primary obstacle in any sense. Tell me how many universities and colleges mandate the use of Blackboard. gg as always

 

[MusicEnthusiast]

Managing a true file system, using the internet with ethernet, managing the iPad itself...

 

[palpatine]

The conversation and my point is from the point of view of the student, not faculty, considering the OP's question and the context of the conversation. Also, I did grant there are cases where it might be necessary, but isn't the primary obstacle in any sense. Tell me how many universities and colleges mandate the use of Blackboard. gg as always

Hi. I was trying to point out that file management is not a trivial issue. I don't know if it is the primary obstacle, because I don't really see many obstacles, and use the iPad for most of my work.

I can live without file management, and it is not a burning issue in my life, but I think it is a regular irritation. I cannot attach multiple files to emails, I cannot upload to websites, and I cannot read PDFs in multiple PDF readers without opening copies in every one (chewing up storage space and making a disaster out of any attempt to annotate and keep track of things).

I cannot say how many colleges or universities mandate the use of Blackboard, but I think it is fairly widespread, because I have encountered the software in both public and private institutions. Whether or not you have to upload files to the site depends on the instructor, but it is not uncommon, and with the iPad this is impossible. This is a rare case where you literally are stuck with the iPad and you must use a computer to accomplish the upload. My point was that the lack of a file management system is a problem not only for niche cases, but for mundane and quite common use cases such as this.

As for bibliographic and reference management software, there are lots of these available. I don't see this as an obstacle. Personally, I stopped using them, because I found them more trouble than they are worth, but that might be a humanities thing, because we often write quite a bit in footnotes, cite specific page numbers, etc.

Microsoft Office I have found to be unnecessary. In my case, I use Pages, and I have had no problems. I usually export as PDF and send to people as needed. A potential obstacle for students (in my opinion) is that the only app with footnotes is Pages, and if this is a product you do not want to use, then you are out of luck.

I don't work much with on-line course materials, but I think this is where the iPad gets a little weaker. It might be able to do something, but it is almost always more of a hassle.

 

[seajay96]

I think there are a lot of good points above and all of my pros/cons have been addressed.

But, a lot has been said about Blackboard being inaccessible on the iPad. That is not entirely true. They have an app designed for the iPad. Of course, your institution needs to be set up to use it and mine wasn't, so I couldn't say whether it works as well as the web interface (which sucks btw).

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blackboard-mobile-learn/id376413870?mt=8#