("Broke") Las Vegas Schools Give Students iPad 2s

Southern Nevada's Clark County School District is giving nearly $800,000 worth of Apple iPad 2 tablet computers to 1,150 Las Vegas area students. It's part of a 1-year pilot program that's the biggest of its kind in the US. Schools receiving the ultra-portable computers include Silverado High School, Leavitt Middle School, Silvestri Middle School, and the Academy for Individualized Study, a special school for non-traditional students like Cirque du Soleil performers.

Each $687 iPad is pre-loaded with a special "interactive" Algebra 1 textbook application. The app -- called the Fuse Algebra textbook -- was developed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and teaches using touch-tab lessons and video tutorials. It also has powerful note-taking functionality.

According to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt the Fuse app is able to deliver "truly personalized instruction" that helps students learn difficult subject matter easier and more quickly. It apparently allows a student to learn at his or her own pace and to easily catch up on lessons if they miss school.

We say: We thought the Clark County School District was completely broke?!? First they spend a million on iPads for teachers last year. Now they buy a butt-load of iPad 2s for lazy high schoolers and middle school students? Does Apple have a mole planted inside the Las Vegas school board or what?

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DoCoMo Tablet PC: New iPad Alternative

Japanese cell phone company NTT DoCoMo is set to unveil there own brand-new tablet computer, which experts say is designed to provide yet another great alternative to the Apple iPad. The device will apparently be made by South Korean company LG Electronics and will run on the Google Android mobile operating system. NTT DoCoMo plan to release the new tablet PC around the end of March 2011.

The DoCoMo cellular network will obviously be the only one users of their device will be able to use. So it'll be interesting to see if a similar LG tablet computer is also released later on in the Unite States and/or Europe. LG tends to make really good, inexpensive gadgets that are able to compete with the most popular high-end electronic products.

As soon as reviews and opinions of the DoCoMo tablet begin to come out early this year we'll post the best ones. Please leave your own comments, questions, and feedback about the newest "iPad-killer" below. Thanks!

Learn some mo': NTT DoCoMo to launch tablet computer: Nikkei

ViewSonic ViewPad 7: Cheap iPad Alternative?

ViewSonic has released their highly-anticipated tablet PC, the ViewPad 7. It's being touted by some gadget experts as a cheaper, better alternative to the ultra-popular Apple iPad. The little computer features a nice 7-inch screen and runs on the Android operating system like the new Samsung Galaxy Tab (another possible "iPad Killer").

ViewSonic is known for their LCD monitors and televisions and their expertise shows in the ultra-clear screen of the ViewPad 7. They also have a new 10-inch tablet out called the Tegra 2, which is getting a lot of good attention, partly due to its incredible screen. The new Android V2.2 from Google is supposed to offer the best tablet experience currently available, so that should help the ViewPad take some market share from the iPad, Galaxy Tab, etc.

It also features tones of input/output options, including micro-SD, micro-USB, and SIM. So it's very easy and super cheap to add more memory... another big advantage over the iPad. The rear-facing camera is supposedly one of the best out there.

So is the ViewPad 7 a true iPad-killer? The market will be letting us know very soon. Please leave your own reviews and opinions of this new tablet PC below... thanks!

Second Generation iPad 2 on the Way?

It seems like the Apple iPad just arrived but in reality it's been around for nearly a year already. So what does that mean for the world of gadget-lovers? Yes, you guessed it: a 2nd Generation "iPad 2"... at least according to rumors buzzing around the interwebs. According to industry insiders, the new iPad model will feature 2 cameras -- on both the front and back. The word on the street is that we can expect the iPad 2 to be released sometime in early 2011, and that it will be a skinnier, lighter tablet computer with a better, higher resolution screen.

If the new iPad has a front-facing camera that would allow it to be used to communicate with the FaceTime video chat program, which is currently available on the iPhone and Apple Mac book. A rear-facing camera would add some interesting functionality possibilities and would allow it to match the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab, which has a similarly placed cam.

Of course, there is still no official "guarantee" that the iPad 2 is truly on the way. Apple fans have a tendency to over-hype new product rumors. But there can be little doubt that, at some point, a 2nd Gen iPad will be released. And seeing how tablet PC devices are set to explode in popularity in the near future, it wouldn't be surprising if Apple tries to outdo everyone with a new and better iPad!

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Good iPad Alternatives On the Way

The big consumer electronics companies that already compete with Apple in the smartphone market are gearing up to provide some good iPad alternatives as well. A few of the best options appear to be the new Samsung Galaxy Tab, the HP Slate, and the BlackBerry Blackpad according to industry experts. Other new tablet computers expected to be released soon include the Toshiba Folio, the Dell Streak, and the "WePad".

One thing's for sure: Apple started a real revolution by offering a truly useful and portable touchscreen gadget that's smaller than a laptop computer but bigger (and therefore much easier to use) than a normal "smart" cell phone. They have already sold more than 3 million iPads, much more than many experts thought they would.

But competition is always good, especially in terms of being able to get more for less money. Many of the new iPad alternatives are expected to be cheaper and possibly even more powerful. Because of Google Android operating system, emerging tablet PCs will be able to use their own "apps" just like the Apple products.

It should be exciting to see what happens in the "iPad alternative" space over the next few months!

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