The educational sector is a very important market for tech companies and they all struggle to get their products into as many schools as possible on a global scale. The U.S. schools are particularly important and the fierce competition between American companies has been interestingly analyzed by The Financial Times, with a focus on the battle between Google and Apple. The Chromebook vs. iPad eternal conflict moved from the consumers’ market into national schools, and it seems that Google is winning.

According to a market research firm’s latest reports, Google has overtaken Apple’s lead in terms of tablet sales in schools for the third quarter of this year. The IDC shows that Google sold 715,500 Chromebooks to U.S. schools, while Apple managed to sell only 702,000 iPads. At a first glance, one might think that the numbers are close enough to not make a difference. But in the Chromebook vs. iPad fight, these numbers clearly show a shift in the schools’ interest from the popular Apple tablets to Google’s laptop – like tablets.

Apple’s iPad was very well liked so far and it seemed to be the number one choice in American schools. What turned things around? Specialists talk about affordability as the main factor, and we all should take it into account: the price difference between the Chromebook and the iPad is around $200. While the lowest – end Google tablet digs into schools’ pockets for only $199, Apple’s iPad starts from $379.

The second factor that contributed to Google’s recent success is the presence of a keyboard. Given the already high price of the iPad, buying additional keyboards is not a financial wise strategy for schools. Apple boasts its touch screen technology, but the Chromebook comes with a keyboard. It seems that students still need a keyboard to go through their educational tasks, even in a post PC era. Moreover, schools report that the Chromebook is user – friendlier than the iPad and is easier to manage.

The Chromebook vs. iPad fight is opening new opportunities for other tablet manufacturers. The IDC told Financial Times that

“Chromebooks are really gaining traction. The growth of Chromebook is a major concern for Apple’s iPad.”

Sources from the IDC say that there is a

“heavy promotion of Chromebooks from Samsung, HP, Dell and Acer, as well as the fact that these devices all have keyboards – “very important” as pupils grow older.”

While the iPad Air 2 is still the best selling tablet of the year, Apple didn’t comment upon Google’s recent success in the Chromebook vs. iPad battle. Will Google be able to keep its edge? Are U.S. schools going to preserve the trend and invest in cheaper, friendlier and easier – to – manage devices, or is Apple going to come up with something better to regain supremacy?