<p>The bottom line is that an iPad can’t replace a laptop/desktop for most users - especially college students. It might be a nice additional device to have but that’s about it and if one already has an iPhone or similar smartphone the iPad’s utility is even less since the iPhone can run all the apps and do it in a much more portable package. </p>
<p>Given that, I’m sure lots of college students woud ‘like’ one, just as they’d like to have lots of things, but it certainly isn’t ‘necessary’ by any stretch and would be a poor choice if the student must have only one or the other between the iPad and a PC.</p>