In a MarketWatch article Andrea Coombes asks “When is the right time to buy a child a laptop?” Upon entering college? In high school? What about middle school? I’d say even sooner.
A few things strike me about this article:
First, there’s no mention of Tablet PCs in the article. Is this because Tablet PCs have simply become another notebook? Hmmm. I don’t think so. I’m guessing that Tablets are perceived to be below the radar screen–a niche’s niche–and bringing them up would only have complicated the article. It’s unfortunate. Tablets offer the advantages of paper in an academic setting (especially in terms of practicing handwriting skills and working through complicated math problems) plus the power of a computer. It’s unfortunate that Tablets didn’t get even a mention.
I’m also pleasantly surprised that the article takes it as a given than students entering college should have a notebook. Agreed. But what’s amazing about this statement is that but no more than two years ago this would have launched a debate. Not any more. How fast things change.
Much of this has to do with the economics of purchasing a notebook or a desktop. As sales of notebooks have surpassed those of desktops, notebooks are simply getting cheap enough to be practical.
Today, the issue is not “should I buy a notebook for my college-bound kid?” but rather “what notebook should I purchase?” And here again the advantages of Tablets in higher ed stand out in terms of mobility, flexibility, and expressiveness.
Another key issue the article somewhat hints at is how WiFi has changed the equation. With an always available Internet connection, finding answers is often only a Google away. At work, if I read across something I don’t know, I Google it. If a bunch of friends are over and we’re struggling to recall the name of some actor in a movie (and my Tablet is at arm’s reach away), I quickly look it up and maybe pass around the Tablet with photos or articles I’ve found. Much of this is practical, because of the last 100-foot wireless connection to the Internet.
Instant messaging (in an always connected world) is also a game changer. Get stuck on a problem? IM someone. Copy/paste your handwritten work so they can see what you’re doing. That is, if you have a Tablet PC.
Yep. Times are changing. Guaranteed.