TAKING NOTES: Over 2.4 million devices were shipped to the U.S. K-12 education market in Q2 2014, reports Futuresource Consulting, a UK market research and consulting firm. This marks a 12% increase over Q2 2013, according to its data:
Thirty percent of the 2.4 million shipments were Chromebooks, a figure that may increase given the popularity of Google's teaching tools, along with the fact that nearly every major laptop manufacturer now offer a Chromebook device.
Tablet shipments appear to have stalled, falling 10% from Q2 2014. But this may not be reflective of demand. More parents plan on buying a tablet this year as part of a back-to-school purchase, according to an American Express survey. And iPads still top the wish list for many teachers in blogger Audrey Watter's annual back-to-school survey.
"With new Microsoft devices due to be launched later this year from many OEMs, new Chromebooks--as well as the launch of Apple's next iPad-- the choices for US school districts is continuing to increase," says Futuresource Market Analyst, Phil Maddocks, in the release. (Microsoft recently announced $200 Windows laptops in a move that appears to be directed at Chromebooks.)
