Laptop vs iPad for secondary school

[ChangingStates]

Exh & I are discussing whether dd would be better getting a laptop or an iPad (with keyboard) for secondary school.
Would love some opinions from secondary teachers and parents who've done one or other.
Thanks!

[rainingcatsanddog]

Definitely laptop.

[negomi90]

laptop - typing essays is much easier with a keyboard

[WelshPooch]

As far as I know you can't connect anything external to an iPad beyond headphones, there are no USB ports. You also can't us a memory stick or cd or increase the memory capacity.
My dd is lucky enough to have access to both an iPad and laptop, but since going to uni has not used her iPad at all.

[BackforGood]

Laptop
(Parent - have had 3dc go through secondary)

[higgyyellow]

Laptop. Mine are always doing stuff on theirs and taking it in to school on a memory stick.

[VimFuego101]

You can get iPad keyboards but I can't imagine it would be easy typing a whole essay on it, so I'd go laptop.

[ChangingStates]

I think a laptop but know exh, quite techy but not in education, will argue it.

[ChangingStates]

Sorry meant to say thanks for the replies!

[RexManning]

Actually neither - you could get a much more powerful desktop for the same investment, which would last her pretty much all of the way through secondary school as well as being more ergonomic. The only exception would be if you and exh share custody and she needs to be able to transport the computer between you, in which case laptop. Certainly not an iPad.

[TooTrueToBeGood]

A laptop. Not much less portable than a tablet, faster, more storage and processing power, more support for external devices and is likely to be more compatible with any applications she might use at school.

[rainingcatsanddog]

Does your dd currently have a smart phone? Smart phone plus laptop is the most common combination to own.

My ds has an iPad and it's only used for Netflix and the odd Skype call. Laptop is used for school work, smart phone for leisure.

[Rubyroses3]

A laptop 100%

[Xenia]

Definitely lap tops of all kinds of reasons. My teenagers need things like slots at the side you often don't get on ipads.
Smart phone and lap top at university (and one took their printer too this term). At home they do have a PC although one has a rather old one which is very slow so he doesn't use it much. The other would always use his PC at home though and the lap top is just for university. I work at a PC despite having a lap top when I am on holidays or away on business as it's much easier too.

[Ifailed]

I agree with RexManning, you can more for your £s with a desktop and they are far easier to repair/upgrade etc.

[penguinsandpanda]

Laptop but could do a 2 in 1.

[ChangingStates]

Thanks all, will share the overwhelming vote for laptops with Exh. Will also have a think about whether a desktop could work as hadn't considered it. Do kids never take their laptops into school to work on then (not starting secondary until sept- box standard local comp)?

[RexManning]

Do kids never take their laptops into school to work on then (not starting secondary until sept- box standard local comp)?

Honestly, no. Never ever. Too heavy to carry around, lack of secure storage, too much scope for distraction

[noblegiraffe]

The only kids who take laptops into school have SEN and need to use them to type in lessons. Students are discouraged from bringing expensive equipment into school.

Don’t get an ipad - some websites that schools often use don’t work on them because they use flash (e.g. mymaths that a lot of schools have a subscription to).

[penguinsandpanda]

No never take into school, only the usb stick.

[RosieLig]

Definitely a laptop. My DC uses his as a normal mode of working (in exams too) but loads of them bring laptops in. At their school they need to have one as so much is in the VLE.

[higgyyellow]

Do kids never take their laptops into school to work on then

No, just a simple memory stick

[Snowysky20009]

Laptop. + phone + memory stick.

Ds' have never taken their laptops to school, never needed, plenty or pc's in school. They just take a memory stick to print out or carry on with work (6th form ds).

[Xenia]

No, only those with writing problems etc take in lap tops on the whole. Mine would just email work to their school account and sometimes use a memory stick. Their school h ad a lot of computers anyway.

[thalia2018]

Laptop here too. Much easier for working on, for connecting to MyMaths etc. We went for a laptop rather than desktop as she only has a small desk so she can put it away when she needs to do writing or artwork. Also she can take it with her, for example when visiting the grandparents in the holidays, to do her homework on.
She also got a wireless mouse for a Christmas present which she loves!