Cheap iPads and printers on installment: Homebound students and parents cope with coronavirus epidemic

Demand for computers and tech accessories surges as people hunker down at home to avoid catching Covid-19

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A primary school student salutes to the national flag while attending an online flag-raising ceremony at her home in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. (Picture: China News Service)

Karen Chiu

Published: 7:21pm, 24 Feb 2020

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Under normal circumstances, doing well in school involves showing up to class and handing in assignments on time. Now the coronavirus outbreak has introduced a brand new challenge to completing these simple tasks: Getting ahold of computers and printers.

“Begging for my online classes to delay a little longer!” one person posted on Weibo. “My iPad hasn’t shipped yet.”

“I bought an iPad a week ago to take online classes,” another wrote. “Online classes are starting tomorrow, but my iPad still hasn’t shipped.”

From elementary schools to universities, campuses across China have remained shut since January while the country grapples with a deadly epidemic. As teachers turn to live-streamed lessons and hand out homework online, students and parents suddenly find themselves scrambling for tablets and other gizmos.

“My mom bought me a laptop for online classes,” said a Weibo user. “It’s because dad is hogging our home computer to play poker and watch movies.”