Apple's Schiller disputes potential of Chromebooks

Apple executive Phil Schiller recently created a stir by claiming “Chromebooks have gotten to the classroom because, frankly, they’re cheap testing tools for required testing.” He goes on to say that “students who use them are not going to succeed.” Chromebooks have a larger share of the K12 market than Apple even when combining the investment in iPads and macs.

Would I rather use my Macbook Pro than my Google Pixelbook (the cost is close for these two machines)? I suppose, but I can do 90%+ of what I do on my Mac on a chromebook and I have tried far less expensive chromebooks that are certainly capable for my work and for nearly every K12 applications. I think a better comparison is to compare a chromebook with an iPad. For many uses, the touch screen of my chromebook and the quality keyboard meet my needs for “serious work” and efficiency. I have a keyboard for my iPad, but the keyboard in a case just is less effective for those of us who may enter text for hours a day. The touchscreen is also superior for those of us who spend hours doing background work for our writing online. When it comes down to what I do, I prefer my iPad for reading and archiving and anything with a keyboard for integrating and writing. Apple hardware is great, but the power in nearly all my tasks is dependent on access to online services and I can access this power pretty much equally from multiple platforms. The Schiller position is something I would have endorsed in the Apple/Microsoft debates of the 1990s, but online services have changed the relevance of the hardware you happen to be using.

My personal experiences are obviously different from middle school and secondary students. However, as someone who explores the tools (apps) available for both iPads and chromebooks, Schiller’s claims sound more like marketing speak than reality. If schools have purchased chromebooks so students can take standardized tests, the issue is more with the intended purpose than the limitations of chromebooks. Anyway, educators with this limited view are going to move on to inexpensive windows machines if the cost and intended application are the issues. Those of us preparing educators and working with practicing teachers are not encouraging the approach Schiller describes and we recognize the importance of being flexible enough not to promote productive activities no matter the hardware available.

I remain a big Apple fan, but I would caution Apple to come up with a different message. The portrayal of how Chromebooks are used in many classrooms is misguided and simply inaccurate. The message also comes across as elitist and out of touch.

Apple vs testing machines

Buzzfeed offered a short post in which Tim Cook, Apple CEO, was interviewed about Apple losing its hold on the K-12 teach market to chromebooks. Excerpts from this interview generated a lot of attention from those making tech decisions in schools. Cook seemed to be claiming that the popularity of the chromebooks was driven by their popularity as testing devices.

“Assessments don’t create learning,” Cook said in an interview with BuzzFeed News Wednesday, calling the cheap laptops that have proliferated through American classrooms mere “test machines.”

It is difficult to know how accurately Mr. Cook’s beliefs were communicated or how we would prioritize the multiple reasons those making purchases might take into account when making a decision. He may not have intended this to generate much public attention. I hope he does not think suitability for online testing is a major reason most districts select a given device or if the devices must serve in this capacity that this is the only activity for which they are appropriate. Perhaps he has been influenced by the over the top rhetoric of the political season and assumes there are no consequences for statements. I would not doubt that some administrators made compatibility with the tech requirements for testing a factor. This would then encourage a closer look at netbooks, laptops, and desktops. Apple has several products in these categories.

I would suggest that misidentifying reasons for purchases has important consequences. Belittling decision makers by suggesting they are interested in little more than testing is no way to win friends and if you actually believe this you may be blind to limitations in your own business model.

I own pretty much every device Apple sells as well as chromebooks, a windows laptop, android tablets, etc. I do use iPads heavily, but I will say that until I purchased the Pro I found iPads limited for heavy writing tasks. iPad pros would be great in schools, but the cost is prohibitive. I don’t hear Mr. Cook saying much about cost.

I could generate a list of pro chromebook features for the classroom, but this work has already been done. Here is an great summary by Andy Losik.

[written on a chromebook]

Explain Everything now on the Chromebook

Explain Everything has long been a "go to" app on my iPad. I created narrated presentations for many situations using this app. Recently, it was announced that Explain Everything was coming to the Chromebook.

My initial reaction to using Explain Everything was neutral. The app seemed sluggish and I had some difficulty figuring out just how to import content to my slides. I understood that I would be bringing in images from Google Drive, but I could not get the connection to work. For some reason, restarting my Chromebook helped. I have a Chromebook Pixel so I was disappointed with the responsiveness of the program. This is an expensive machine and more powerful than inexpensive equipment students will be using.

I wondered about the importance of the Internet connection. I was exploring the app from the cabin and our connection is very slow. Today I had a chance to get to the coffee shop and try the Chromebook with a better connection. I am much more impressed today. Evidently, Explain Everything is more demanding than other online services I use and the speed of the connection seemed to make a difference. Hence, educators who want a class of students to work on Explain Everthing simultaneously may want to be aware of the importance of ample bandwidth.

P.S. - this is probably the first app I have actually bothered to take advantage of the Chromebook Pixel's touch screen.

Cloudbooks

I have to admit the concept of a "cloudbook" is new to me. I can tell because my browser still thinks the word is misspelled. Tech journalists I follow started mentioning cloudbooks after the release of Windows 10 and it is reported that the new devices will be available for well under $200.

So a cloudbook will have an OS other than chrome and will be priced lower than a chromebook. I guess I am not certain how this will work. How much do the companies have to pay Microsoft for the OS. I assume the logic would be that users are not totally dependent on online services, but then what will be the cost of this additional software and how can the combination of Windows and other software be less expensive than a Chromebook?

I understand the challenge Google presents to other providers when it comes to inexpensive hardware and software, but how will companies who make their money  selling software compete. Google can generate revenue from ads.

Acer's cloudbook