Apple awarded $30m contract to supply LA schools with iPads, Microsoft not happy

By Trevor Mogg June 20, 2013

Apple has scored a lucrative contract with the LA Unified Schools District to supply every student with an iPad.

According to an LA Times report this week, the district’s Board of Education awarded the $30 million contract to the Cupertino company after testing a number of devices. It said the iPad was chosen as it was considered “both the best in quality and the least expensive option that met the district’s specifications.”

Students across 47 campuses in the district, which happens to be the second-largest school system in the country, will receive the tablet later this year.

At $678 per iPad, the district will be paying more than the store price for the device. However, each one will be pre-loaded with a number of third-party educational apps together with various Apple software. A three-year warranty will also be included.

As you might expect, competitors such as Microsoft are not happy about the deal.

Robyn Hines, senior director of state government affairs for the Redmond-based computer giant warned that considering only one device and limiting itself to a single platform could prevent the schools district from benefiting from future price reductions and innovations. Hines added that students should be given the chance to experience a range of platforms and machines, such as those from Microsoft, as the workplace is not just limited to Apple products.

Several Board of Education members also voiced concerns, with Richard Vladovic wondering if the board had collected enough detailed information regarding costs.

But the contract is signed and sealed now, and Apple is of course just fine with that, with the tech giant announcing on Wednesday that it’s “thrilled” with the deal.

“Education is in Apple’s DNA and we’re thrilled to work with Los Angeles Unified public schools on this major initiative as they plan to roll out iPads to every student across 47 campuses this fall,” Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said in a release.

Contracts with education boards are, of course, a big deal for computer companies. Apple claims to have 10 million iPads in schools around the world, with educational establishments from elementary schools to universities taking an interest in the Cupertino company’s tablet.

[Image: ebayink]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

The most common iPad problems and how to fix them

Several iPads on a table together.

Apple's iPad has consistently marked among the best tablets, and is considered to be a sort of trailblazer in the field in its own right. As a logical result, your first encounters with common tablet glitches are likely to be iPad glitches. If you're not sure what to do to fix your device, that's okay, as you have to start somewhere. Here are some somewhat common problems that we've found plague iPads again and again, as well as some related iPad troubleshooting advice. Take care and read through the issues related to your problem to get started troubleshooting your iPad.

Mobile

This iPad just got a rare discount — save $100 at Best Buy

Call of Duty: Mobile on the iPad (2022).

The standard Apple 10.9-inch iPad rarely sees a deep discount but that’s the case over at Best Buy at the moment. Normally priced at $449, you can buy one for just $349 for a limited time. A hefty saving of $100, this is one of the better iPad deals at the moment and worth checking out if you want a new tablet or you’re keen to buy someone a great gift. Here’s what the Apple 10.9-inch iPad has to offer.

Why you should buy the Apple 10.9-inch iPad
The Apple 10.9-inch iPad is a pretty good tablet for anyone who wants something straightforward and useful. It has an attractive 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone support so it looks great with whatever you’re doing, whether you’re browsing the internet, watching videos, or playing a game. It’s powered by the A14 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU which is why the Apple 10.9-inch iPad easily joins the best iPads list for anyone seeking a great mid-range example. It’s easily capable of playing many games through Apple Arcade as well as being snappy when it comes to looking up YouTube videos and similar.

Mobile

Best iPad deals: Save on iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini for the New Year

iPad Pro 2020 Screen.

There's a tablet out there for almost everyone, with designs available to accommodate anything from kids to creative professionals. The Apple iPad is one of the most popular tablet lineups, with the best iPads offering a wide range of options and capabilities. If you’re in the market for a new iPad, there are some great iPad deals worth shopping right now. In fact, not only are iPads some of the best Apple deals currently taking place, but some of the best tablet deals as well. We’ve rounded up what we feel are the best tablet deals to shop at the moment. They include iPads, iPad cases and covers, and iPad accessories, so read onward for more details.
Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) 64GB Wi-Fi -- $249, was $329

Apple's A13 Bionic chip is no M1 or M2, but it still offers 64-bit architecture and neural engine support for excellent performance. In other words, this 10.2-inch iPad is incredible value. It has a 10.2-inch Retina display, 64GB of storage, supports Touch ID and Apple Pencil (1st Gen), and it's size, plus all-day battery life make it an excellent choice for anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle.