The Acer Iconia which runs Android 3.0 has been praised in many reviews for having the lowest price of any comparable tablet device and for being generally well put together. As a long term (if you can call 13 months long term) iPad user who works with schools who are deploying mobile devices, price is a big factor for schools, some of who may be looking at devices other than iPads even if just to differentiate themselves. Hopefully whatever device schools choose its because they have some sound curriculum goals they see the devices as advancing.
Anyway, I have to say I was more impressed with an Android tablet than I expected to be – hardware wise it was mostly responsive and had the bibs and bobs you’d expect. Even the widescreen format that Android tablets use which I’d found annoying elongated on a Windows 7 tablet was fine in this slimmer device. I also quite liked the haptic ‘buzz’ touch feedback when some screen buttons are pressed. However, what I did find lacking was not the device itself but A. the software interface and B. the software. With A, my conclusion is that the interface of Android 3.0 is too close to just being a desktop – options and pop ups and screens seem to operate in different ways that while I had no problem puzzling out, didn’t quite meet the simplicity test I apply for Post-PC devices – ie. Can my 70 year old mother pick it up and know what to do. With B, while there are heaps of Android apps now, only 2000 are optimised for the tablet form factor, which is just unacceptable. Of course its growing over time so in a few months this may not be an issue at all, but for now I think schools would really struggle to find the range of applications necessary to support their curriculum. I am also unsure how the much more cloud-centric Android fits with schools who legally are required to ensure student and work information is not transmitted through the cloud where it could potentially be stored and accessed outside of the schools control. Apart from that, as a personal productivity machine for educators, there is much to explore.
Anyway, I have to say I was more impressed with an Android tablet than I expected to be – hardware wise it was mostly responsive and had the bibs and bobs you’d expect. Even the widescreen format that Android tablets use which I’d found annoying elongated on a Windows 7 tablet was fine in this slimmer device. I also quite liked the haptic ‘buzz’ touch feedback when some screen buttons are pressed. However, what I did find lacking was not the device itself but A. the software interface and B. the software. With A, my conclusion is that the interface of Android 3.0 is too close to just being a desktop – options and pop ups and screens seem to operate in different ways that while I had no problem puzzling out, didn’t quite meet the simplicity test I apply for Post-PC devices – ie. Can my 70 year old mother pick it up and know what to do. With B, while there are heaps of Android apps now, only 2000 are optimised for the tablet form factor, which is just unacceptable. Of course its growing over time so in a few months this may not be an issue at all, but for now I think schools would really struggle to find the range of applications necessary to support their curriculum. I am also unsure how the much more cloud-centric Android fits with schools who legally are required to ensure student and work information is not transmitted through the cloud where it could potentially be stored and accessed outside of the schools control. Apart from that, as a personal productivity machine for educators, there is much to explore.
