[Tycho]

Can't you say that about virtually any computer?

First thing to note in the school context is that the iPad is small and light, meaning it's easy for pupils to carry, and the battery lasts 10-15 hours, meaning they can carry it about all day. It's also a far superior reading device to anything else on the market... I mean do you genuinely not think it would be useful in education?

[bho]

I've found that an e-book whether in the form of an ipad or Kindle like device is great for reading for pleasure. Novels and News articles fly by for me.

However, when I try to read any technical book on my Sony reader, I feel frustrated. I love jotting notes down when I'm learning, and I constantly flip back and forth between pages. Nothing beats a real book imo, and as much as people want to push technology in classrooms, I still don't think it's conducive to learning.

[nlogn]

You consider the iPad to be a "far superior reading device" to, say, a Kindle or Nook? I do think the iPad (or any quality tablet with educational software available) could be very useful in schools, but I think it's a far cry from the "far superior reading device to anything else on the market" you claim it is.

[Tycho]

I don't think it's far superior for the purpose of simply reading text, I was alluding to all the other capabilities it adds to the bargain. Colour, video, pinch-to-zoom etc.