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TIPS:
Insurance is a definite
Parental control either using what is native to the iPad or purchasing extra
Invest in a good cover/casing- an absolute necessity
Make sure that you protect billing info/credit card details for purchasing within App Store. There have been some horror stories regarding kids clocking up large bills.
Always check for and apply any updates that get flagged within App Store
In my opinion, the iPad is still the best tablet in the marketplace in terms of security, reliability, and friendliness

Mike wrote:TIPS:
Insurance is a definite
Parental control either using what is native to the iPad or purchasing extra
Invest in a good cover/casing- an absolute necessity
Make sure that you protect billing info/credit card details for purchasing within App Store. There have been some horror stories regarding kids clocking up large bills.
Always check for and apply any updates that get flagged within App Store
In my opinion, the iPad is still the best tablet in the marketplace in terms of security, reliability, and friendliness

I'm a techie and not a luddite, but after a lot of consideration, I'm very apprehensive about this move.

This is what worries me about Apple products generally and the iPad in particular. It's been on sale for some time now and is still commanding premium prices when the opposition has caught up, and must surely be close to the end of its product lifespan. It's tied specifically to Apple through their app store where, as has been alluded to, it can get very expensive and dangerously so. I have reservations about this particular choice of technology from several perspectives, not least whether it represents an academic step forward for our kids and value for money for us as parents.

I would also have thought that given the volume of business this would have generated the chosen supplier here that it would have meant that there would have been some discount over standard pricing. Indeed, I think I could be forgiven for thinking that every single thing that needs doing along the way becomes a chargeable exercise, and us as the hapless parent will be picking up the tab. When we add in all the sundry charges that are indicated, as well as insurance, does anyone honestly think that in comparison to traditional school books that it will translate into a saving after three years?

A device like this if lost, stolen or rendered inoperable through breakdown is in effect a single point of failure across ALL of a child's core text books. What if the device becomes defective with age in class - say if after a period of use the batteries start decaying prematurely, what sort of disruption will this cause?

What provision has been made to cater with families with inadequate means? Thankfully many of us can just about afford to kit our kids out but on the balance of probabilities, there will be some who not only won't be able to afford to do this, but may not even have broadband which is an implied prerequisite for a device like this. Whilst some may scoff at this, I know two families who have given back their fixed line and use mobiles (without broadband) to save money.

And finally, after leaving the above aside for the moment, has anyone considered the effect on basic literacy when children will be swapping traditional handwriting skills for typing. if anything should be pause for though, surely it is this.....

Good post Derek. I have a love/hate relationship with technology. The hate aspect usually hangs on appropriateness. I don't think these devices are appropriate in this case.
Message sent from iPad

This would be far more suitable:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2c2817% ... 0%2c00.asp

I agree Ken.
Something that might be suggested for the coming years?

Just a quick update for any parents who may be as dumb as me when it comes to ipads!!!

I called Wriggle during the week, told them I was buying my own and asked the procedure. After a little flapping on their behalf about how I MUST meet the online payment deadline (which I have absolutely no intention of doing as I'm not buying the device, just the books and configuration service), we began to make progress!!

The one topic they raised which didn't appear obvious to me when I was on the website was the 1 or 3 year book rental. I was of the opinion it was only 1 year available but then again, that's probably down to my ignorance and inability to read the options!! The guy I was speaking to wasn't pushing towards the 3 year rental but detailed the difference in 3 year up front purchase or annual rental - it's almost treble the cost if done annually.

He also advised that they will set each child up with an apple ID and configure each ipad with such settings that they cannot access 12+ years material (??) He said they will not be able to download anything from the app store (I may not be using the correct terminology here, I just use a good ole HP laptop!!) and they will not be able to watch movies, play games or listen to music etc. I asked what the situation is outside of school, as in, will their configuration settings render the ipad practically uselsess and his response was that we, as parents could possibly set up an alternative account for the child to use outside of school time.

At that point I lost the will to live, thanked him and hung up!!

I've got my own IPAD. Anyone know where and when they will be doing the configuring?

And what if it is a family iPad? This is ludicrous.

Derek wrote:I've got my own IPAD. Anyone know where and when they will be doing the configuring?

Derek according to Wriggle, the school will contact us during either the first or second week of Aug with the "workshop" date. Apparently, the kids will be grouped in 20's per classroom and there will be 2 Wriggle people in each room going through the set up etc with the kids.

Apparently, once you put in the online order, the child's name is flagged and those who bring their own will have their devices configured on the day whereas, those being purchased from Wriggle will be already configured on arrival and just the apple ID account needs to be sorted.

Thanks Pedro!

Hi ,does anyone know what the situation is regarding parents who just cannot afford this Ipad but want their child to attend the community college .Are they still accepted .This probably has been covered but i had not got the time to go through all the posts.

we will probably be asked to pay for the broken windows to be replaced as well

But honestly, what if you cannot afford this.Is your child turned away.Is there not an option for your child to use books.

bear wrote:we will probably be asked to pay for the broken windows to be replaced as well

No, iPads run on IOS, not Windows

Derek wrote:I've got my own IPAD. Anyone know where and when they will be doing the configuring?

Derek the date for configuration has been confirmed for Aug 19th next at 10am

Apple wrote:But honestly, what if you cannot afford this.Is your child turned away.Is there not an option for your child to use books.

Apple, When I was going through the online application with Wriggle, at the payment section it showed a few different options such as "voucher" (school issue) and there were also two other options, credit union and BOI finance. I assume if there is financial difficulty in the house the school will offer some form of support, no child can be excluded purely on the basis of not being able to afford an ipad?

I hope there are measures in place for families who cannot provide one, I'd hate to think of any child being treated differently as a result

Pedro thank you for that post .If It got to the stage that I could not afford an ipad, I know I would go as far as not sending my child to the community college.I could not see myself asking the school for help.It is a lot of pressure on parents especially if you are going to have a few kids going through the school.

Pedro wrote:Derek the date for configuration has been confirmed for Aug 19th next at 10am

Thanks for the heads-up!

Apple wrote:Pedro thank you for that post .If It got to the stage that I could not afford an ipad, I know I would go as far as not sending my child to the community college.I could not see myself asking the school for help.It is a lot of pressure on parents especially if you are going to have a few kids going through the school.

Apple, I would contact the school and explain your situation to them. Remember, if it were school books then there would be some assistance available to help if a family were in straightened circumstances. Likewise I feel same must apply to iPads. I don't think you or anyone else should have to get themselves into debt to fulfil someone else's edco-technical pipe dream. You could also speak to our "local TD" about this and ask him to find out what contingency the school has to assist those who simply cannot afford this sort of expense. A cheapie loan from a bailed out bank is probably also unaffordable. Some expense and outlay is to be expected with schools, but whether this must extend to a four figure some for uniform, iPad and eBooks is another matter entirely.

Apple wrote:Pedro thank you for that post .If It got to the stage that I could not afford an ipad, I know I would go as far as not sending my child to the community college.I could not see myself asking the school for help.It is a lot of pressure on parents especially if you are going to have a few kids going through the school.

I can fully understand that Apple. I really didn't have a "spare" grand sitting about looking for a reason to be spent but I had budgeted for books and a uniform over the previous few months, junior is my last going into secondary so I was all too painfully aware of the cost or so I thought until the ipads came to light!! I still feel books were the way to go, for educational reasons, not financial!

Had I not saved the few bob, I would have had to swallow my pride and approach the school to see what support they could offer as my child wouldn't entertain the idea of another school due to the fact all but one kid from their 6th class is going there. The transition from primary to secondary is difficult enough, I wouldn't add to it by sending my child to a school outside the area. The long and short of it is this, the ipad would have been provided, by whatever means possible.

Pedro I agree totally.I too will make sure my child gets this ipad no matter what.I have an other child that went through secondary school and the books did not cost anything near the amount this is going to cost. I too budget each year but the difference between the books and the ipad is a couple of hundred and then, is there not a security issue when you have all these first years leaving school all with new ipads.

Pedro wrote:

Derek wrote:I've got my own IPAD. Anyone know where and when they will be doing the configuring?

Derek the date for configuration has been confirmed for Aug 19th next at 10am

Above date appears to be totally incorrect. School website is saying Wednesday 21st August, not Monday 19th

Has anyone confirmed either date independently? I'd be inclined to go with the school website.....

However there's also an inaccuracy in the letter the school sent to the first years re the first day of school. They said that school resumes for incoming first years on Monday 27th. However the 27th is a Tuesday, so which day do they actually start.

Derek wrote:

Pedro wrote:

Derek wrote:I've got my own IPAD. Anyone know where and when they will be doing the configuring?

Derek the date for configuration has been confirmed for Aug 19th next at 10am

Above date appears to be totally incorrect. School website is saying Wednesday 21st August, not Monday 19th

Has anyone confirmed either date independently? I'd be inclined to go with the school website.....

However there's also an inaccuracy in the letter the school sent to the first years re the first day of school. They said that school resumes for incoming first years on Monday 27th. However the 27th is a Tuesday, so which day do they actually start.

Derek maybe you should check it out for yourself to clarify?

I have tried and the school haven't come back to me, hence me seeing if anyone else has succeeded where I haven't....

Derek wrote:I have tried and the school haven't come back to me, hence me seeing if anyone else has succeeded where I haven't....

In regard to the ipad config you could call the company who are doing it

Pedro wrote:

Derek wrote:I have tried and the school haven't come back to me, hence me seeing if anyone else has succeeded where I haven't....

In regard to the ipad config you could call the company who are doing it

Done! Got the answer. Thanks