stupid alert

[pippitysqueakity]

Help, need some advice. Am not a luddite, but am techno challenged. I am competent (ish) using computer for email, mning, fb etc.
Am a teacher who works in lots of diff schools, so often don't have access to school computers (ie, no login id etc)
Do use comp for work but often, even if logged in, my memory stick not compatible or it all just gets so complicated.
Anyway, was wondering if an Ipad might help.
Could I use it to access internet even if not logged in thru school? We have wireless at home, would they sort of register a new computer so I can then use it? What about if I wanted to print something? (often get resources over net) would I have to link up somehow with each school???
Trouble is I really don't know the right q's to ask, so apologise if seem completely thick!

First, there's a new iPad due out fairly soon (end of the month for the announcement, I think), but while it may be a lovely device, the original (which may come down in price as stores clear their shelves and stock iPad v2) has no USB sockets, which I see as a downside. (*)

You mention printing, but how much of that would be for your own benefit and not for the school you were in (ie would printing it be essential 'at that school' eg for an imminent lesson, or could it be done at home?)

Unless you know there are staff in every school you have visited who are using Apple kit, whether it be an iPad or Mac 'notebook' (sorry, lost track of all their names) then you could find yourself out on a limb regarding getting any assistance.

Internet access if not connected in via school wireless network could be done using 3G dongle, and the upper end iPads (600 to 900 for current iPads, I think) but a dongle and a laptop could be had for 450 to 500 quite easily and have bigger screen and keyboard, USB ports and capacity to plug into a projector etc.

Query regarding print was because I use a bit of software to 'print' into a PDF document. Have hardly printed (on paper) anything in the past 10 years.

If you are printing some material for use in the school then using one of their mchines and printer would be an obvious solution, would not get you involved in learning their security methods and may cause you (and their staff) far less head scratching!

(*) using a USB stick you could have school-related and pupil-related material information and be more easily able to keep it separate from the computer, so having the computer stolen would be a loss, but would not include information about lots of schools (eg wireless access) or about individual pupils, or (worse) whole classes of pupils.

So, in reality, would be better getting a laptop and dongle? Could I get different types of memory sticks?
Need sometimes to print a worksheet etc, sometimes can do this at school, sometimes just not possible.
Ps can you come to PC world with me, networkguy, pretty please....

I'd be happy to :)

Yes, you can get different size memory sticks, but I only mentioned it on the off-chance you do have 'personal' information about pupils (which implies being a moderately frequent visitor, perhaps covering a longer-term spell, such as a few weeks if member of staff is suffering stress or getting over some fall).

As for using school wireless vs paying for a dongle, do you have regular visits to particular schools, so you could get formal permission to use their wireless access and their printer ? It would seem churlish if they didn't allow you access, considering you are not asking them to give up one of their own laptops for this and it is to aid their pupils too, after all.

Is the lack of option to print at school something down to time constraints, lack of knowledge /support at school so you don't know if there is an easy to access printer, or no printers available via their network (ie members of staff print locally, but their PC is the only way to access their printer, IYSWIM) ?