More and more classrooms around the world are going digital. Paper textbooks are gradually being replaced by electronic copies, which are loaded with interactive content, thus significantly improving the education process. And of course, the tablets on which virtual books are being used are much easier to carry around than their hardcover counterparts.Intel has listed information about two new educational tablets on its site. They have both a 7" and a 10" version, aimed specifically at educational uses, and powered by cost-effective Atom processors and Android 4.0 or 4.1.
The smaller and presumably cheaper of the two comes with an Atom Z2420 chip running at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM, and a 7-inch, 1024 by 600 pixel display. There are also 8GB of storage, a built-in speaker and mike, basic front and rear cameras, and a sealed battery that should last through 8 hours of usage. That the tablet is resistant to some water and shock damage, bearing IP41 certification, is worth noting.
The larger of the two Intel Education Tablets is powered by a 1.6GHz Atom Z2460 processor backed by 1GB of RAM and its 10.1-inch display has a resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels. It offers twice the built-in storage, 16 gigs, but has a slightly shorter battery life of about 6.5 hours. You also get both front and rear cameras, built-in speaker and a microphone, and a stylus. Again, the device is resistant to drops and water damage.
Obviously, these Intel Education Tablets aren't built to crush the benchmarks, rather to be as useful in the educational process as possible. As such, they come with accessories that may be used in class, including a temperature probe and a magnification lens that snaps on the rear camera. Lots of educational software comes bundled as well, including e-reader and notes applications, painting tools, laboratory experiments, and software allowing teachers to manage the class' activities. McAfee Mobile Security keeps malware away, while Intel's Education Theft Deterrent makes the slates harder to be stolen.
Intel does not say when these tablets are going to be available for purchase and for how much. Chances are that the slates will be sold directly to schools in bulk so seeing them on any retailer's shelves is not likely.
Although not exactly the same caliber tablets Apple will be providing to the Los Angeles Unified School District, Intel's alternative will certainly be able to power the host of included educational apps, and offer a low cost solution for school districts on a tight budget. Intel's new education-focused tablets won't stir much envy among the iPad-toting kids of L.A., but they may suit more budget-conscious school districts.Apple's contract on the other hand will see the company bring31,000 high end iPads, worth about $678 each, to teachers and students across Los AngelesAs you may note, the hardware specs for the devices are not the greatest. It seems likely Intel intends to sell these at a low price point directly to school systems. .
The Intel Educational Tablets come bundled with apps like Kno Interactive eReader, Intel Education Lab Camera by Intellisense, My Notes Keeper and PASCO's SPARKvue science along with applications specifically for teachers, art applications and educational video content.
At this point we don't have specific details on pricing for either of the Intel Educational Tablets. For more information, head over to the official information page on Intel's site.
Intel is also set to reveal the Bay Trail-T processor, its next gen Atom tablet CPU, at IDF in September.
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