I used to work for Apple and watched it lose the K-12 education market to Google. Now it could lose the next generation of fans.

• Apple used to dominate the K-12 education market. Generations of kids were raised on its tech. 
• Chromebooks now fill the void for several reasons, columnist Michael Gartenberg says.
• By missing out on schools, Apple is losing the unique relationship it once had with students.

Long before music was part of Apple's DNA and computers were something to be strapped to one's face, Apple was the de facto standard for K-12 education. An entire generation grew up trying to get through the "Oregon Trail" series or learning to type with the help of Mavis Beacon. Today, Apple logos shine brightly in universities around the world but it's all but gone from K-12 classrooms.