Apple Inc on Tuesday rolled out a new iPad and classroom software aimed at grabbing more of the education market, but did not cut the price of the entry-level tablet despite schools flocking to laptops costing a third less. Apple is looking to reassert its dominance in schools, where inexpensive laptops running software from Alphabet Inc's Google and Microsoft Corp now top iPad by sales, offering a cheap way to get to cloud-based productivity tools.
“iPad is our vision for the future of computing and hundreds of millions of people around the world use it every day at work, in school and for play. This new 9.7-inch iPad takes everything people love about our most popular iPad and makes it even better for inspiring creativity and learning,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Product Marketing.
The new iPad has a more powerful computing chip and an extensive set of new, free software for teachers to manage students and schoolwork. But the unchanged starting price of $299 for students and $329 for the general public, without a keyboard or case, compares with less than $200 for some Windows and Google Chrome models.
Specs:
1. The new iPad comes with support of Apple Pencil and promises greater performance, starting at $329.
2. It features the Apple-designed A10 Fusion chip with 64‑bit desktop-class architecture, which claims to deliver 40 per cent faster CPU and 50 per cent faster graphics performance for seamless multitasking and graphics-intensive apps.
3. iPad comes in silver, space gray and a new gold finish
4. Price: It starts at an Apple retail price of $329 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $459 for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
5. The new 9.7-inch iPad features an aluminum unibody and ultrafast wireless
6. iOS 11 introduces powerful new features for iPad. The Dock provides quick access to frequently used apps and documents from any screen, and makes it easier to multitask with Split View and Slide Over.
(With inputs from Reuters)