Google has surpassed Apple in education hardware shipping this quarter for the first time, making Chromebooks the highest-grossing educational device - putting the iPad second.

715,000 Chromebooks shipped to education facilities in the U.S., in the third quarter. Apple managed 702,000 units, meaning they are not far behind in the race, especially since iPad Air and Mini units cost more for schools per unit.

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Google has been heavily marketing the Chromebooks towards education, offering the Google Apps for Education Suite. These tools have made it easier for schools and teachers to integrate the cloud, email and other tools into the classroom.

Chromebooks have also become the new gadget of choice when marketing education. Several facilities see the iPad as too informal - offering an app store beaming with games for the students to play - instead of learning.

The list of partners for Chrome OS is growing on a monthly basis, with new partners and laptops getting introduced to the market. The $199 price point appears to have hit home for Google, but customers are not sold on the Chromebook just yet.

Apple's iPad has had the worst year since its inception in 2011, hitting four straight quarters of decline. The largest grossing device in Apple's history has reportedly peaked, and customers are holding onto their tablets for longer than expected.

It might be the same sort of issue in the education market as well, although the Chromebooks seem to be replacing or changing the iPads relevance in the classroom.

Chromebooks have a lot of advantages over the iPad when it comes to productivity. The fact it has an integrated keyboard makes note taking easier and Google has a very popular suite of applications for users.

Microsoft has, for the longest time, had the dominance in the IT education sector, but lacks the focus on mobile gadgets. Education facilities are looking at iPads and Chromebooks to take over all subjects and allow the teachers a completely new way to work with the class.

TagsChromebook, Ipad, education, laptops