Though Chrome OS still tops the list, when it comes to US schools. Both Microsoft and Apple have, traditionally, had a very strong focus on the education market.
But their hold has been softened by Google, what with the advent of Chromebooks.
These affordable devices have carved quite a niche for themselves in markets like education. Even businesses are increasingly showing acceptance of Chrome OS powered hardware, so much so that these types of machines now make up the majority.
In fact, as this report by Futuresource Consulting reveals, some 59.8% of mobile units shipped to schools in the US, by the end of Q3 2017, were running Chrome OS. Windows was only being used on 22.3% of machines, up 0.1% from 2016, while iOS was only found on 12.3%, down from 14.3% in 2016.
Worldwide, it’s a different tale, however.
Windows is in lead here, with 66.5% of the classrooms using the platform as of Q3 of this year, while Chrome OS is only on 7.7%, and iOS has a share of 6.1% to its name. Android, actually, has a 14.4% adoption rate when it comes to shipped units here, which is quite remarkable.
Nevertheless, as the noted, both Microsoft and Apple are making significant investments here:
“Microsoft and Apple have made major education focused investments in the past couple of years. Microsoft has developed its solutions ecosystem, including the launch of Microsoft Teams for collaboration, InTune for device management, Windows 10S and a number of new licensing packages. In addition, a large number of education specific, sub $300 Windows based devices have entered the market and are having an impact.
Apple meanwhile has introduced the Classroom app, Swift Playgrounds coding solution and major education focused functionality updates to iOS, including the ability to share iPads and improved device management solutions.”
Whether that is enough to catch Chromebooks remains to be seen, but Windows does have momentum now. More so with Windows 10 S powered devices, and the newly announced Always Connected PCs.
As for Microsoft, the company still seems confident, and focuses on the positives, revealing how the share of Windows devices grew 4.3% on devices under $300 in K-12 schools in the United States last year. This figure goes up to 8.2% on devices over $300.
Basically, there is an increasing number of schools that are choosing Windows powered hardware.
And that can only be a good sign.
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