But iPads don't ______

I feel like such a flip flopper. One week I'm for 1:1 iPads and the next I'm in favor of laptops. Here are the final two options: an 11.6" lenovo laptop or the iPad 2.

At the start, please let me say a couple of things: I willingly pay the Apple Tax for all my home computing needs (though I still don't own a cell phone); I like my iPad and use it in my classroom every day; If we went to iPads as a school we would most likely switch over to macs for the teachers; The previous option would be awesome.

In a math classroom, there are certain things I want my students to be able to do: 1) work with interactive websites, 2) not have to click the keyboard 2 times every time they want to type a number and 3) make cool stuff.

1) Currently, there are two primary websites I'm looking at: ThatQuiz.org and SAS Curriculum Pathways (you could add using CPMP tools into this list though technically is a java-based program and not a website). None of them work well on the iPad.

2) The number issue can be solved by purchasing a bluetooth keyboard. It's not an ideal solution but it does work.

3) I think the iPad opens up more possibilities for multimedia projects (beyond PowerPoint) than a laptop. Though a classroom digital camera closes some of that gap.

4) I know there isn't a 4 on my starting list--that's because this point isn't such an issue in my math classroom. There needs to be some way to get information off the iPads and to the teacher without going through iTunes or clicking 14 different things in 3 different apps or emailing the documents to me (I don't need an extra 100 emails a day).

So, as of today, I don't think iPads are the best educational option for my classroom. I'm going to visit [school district name] next month to see how they are doing with 1:1 iPads at the high school. Admittedly, I'm going as a skeptic who wants to be convinced.

If you have any insights, I'd love to hear them.