Apple iPad Gets Thrown Out of School

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We’ve just seen how Israel has banned any iPad imports for now as they’re taking rather seriously the way the tablet uses its Wi-Fi connection. It looks like Israel is not the only party concerned over the iPad and ready to ban the device.

Several American universities are not that fond of the device either. The iPad has been banned at Cornell University, Princeton University and George Washington University. Students won’t be able to use the iPad in any of these three campuses to surf the Internet which is definitely not good news for all those students that purchased the Wi-Fi version of the iPad already.

The reason? Security issues and bandwidth consumption. Cornell is concerned with the fact that iPad usage will clog their wireless network while the Princeton and George Washington see the iPad as a security threat.

Now that’s definitely not what Apple wanted, is it? Especially since Cupertino has tried to pitch this tablet to students as a great device ready to offer them fast access to eBooks and other educational materials.

One other important matter to consider is that these universities might not have the proper infrastructure yet to support as many wireless devices as we tend to carry around with us. iPad owners surely happen to use a smartphone and a laptop that offer wireless connectivity. Add to that an iPod touch or a portable gaming device and you’ll understand why IT departments in various universities will see the iPad as a threat to the integrity of their Wi-Fi network.

Sure in the future the same universities will probably have to invest more in the equipment needed to deliver wireless Internet to more and more iPad-like hot devices but it might take a while until you’ll be able to freely use your iPad on those particular campuses.

In case you happen to be a student at Cornell, Princeton or George Washington you could always consider getting an iPad 3G and thus avoid the local wireless network while the iPad ban lasts. Of course this isn’t the perfect solution as it involves being ready to spend an extra $130 on that 3G capabilities.

So let’s hear it from iPad owners that happen to be students. Are you affected by any iPad ban?