Apple announced that it would release its newest iPad product at the end of next week. As tablets continue to gain popularity across the United States, this release means more people flocking to the Apple Store to get their hands on the newest iPad.

There has been an increasing number of students and teachers in classrooms across the nation using tablets, but laptops are still prominent.

This is where the questions start. Should students entering college purchase the newest tablet instead of a new laptop?

Tablets are easier to carry, but many times laptops are more dependable and easier to use. However, laptops do not have a smartphone-like camera such as most tablets. Instead, laptops usually only have a webcam for Skype or iChat.

But that does not mean everyone should quickly hop on the tablet bandwagon.

The newest iPad does not seem all that different from previous versions. Apple has reported that its newest model would feature a sharper screen, a faster processor and a high-resolution camera. This is all good, but is it worth the minimum $499 to upgrade to this newest model? And this $499 version is the bare-bones package that probably does not include a way to connect with “3G” cellular networks.

In order for students to take full advantage of the tablet, they would probably have to purchase one that costs more than the $499 because students cannot always tap into a wireless network.

There are some people, though, who will use this as their opportunity to purchase the iPad for the first time. But for those who already have one of the older models, is it worth dropping $500 on a shinier version of what they already have?

With a new iPad model being released every year since 2010, the benefits of purchasing the tablet must increase if the price is going to stay about the same.