Anyone use an iPad?

[Fleur de Me]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I got an iPad for Christmas and am trying to figure out how I can use it more as a medical student. I know that students at Stanford and UCI got iPad's this year, but was wondering if any of you guys use them?

I'm still preclinical, so mostly I'm wondering how it can be used to study.

If anyone has any advice on good apps and good ways to use it, I'd love to hear about it!!

 

[bonsaipalmtree]

This might be relevant: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/12/ipad-replacing-medical-textbooks.html

 

[DrDrToBe]

I have an iPad and use it for most of my classes. I have this app called iAnnotate; it allows you to write on PDF documents. Particularly for Pathology or Anatomy where the slides have a lot of important images, it's nice to be able to take my notes on the slides. I still take my syllabus to class, but the IPOD is useful for making annotated slides, which is a huge plus when it's time to review for exams.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

To be honest I got it when it came out and it is nifty to use studentconsult on there but after a while it becomes a novelty. I can't do any Qbanks on there for World or Rx so it is a bit of a waste for that(which was the main reason I wanted it lol). You will go back to the laptop eventually, just ease of use.

 

[Dr.CCM]

I don't have one, but at one point was considering. Here's how I planned to use during preclinical

1. Import All the PDFs/ppts from class onto the IPAD. You now have a very lightweight portable thing to take with you anywhere and study (kind of cool).

2. I had heard that there is some kind of electronic pen software where you can have stylus (was gonna use to annotate the ppts) but a laptop is just so much better/quicker.

3. All of your video podcasted lectures with you everywhere (again pretty cool)

4. My basic idea would have been to watch the podcasts on my ipad propped up on something as I took notes on the powerpoints. However, my school has a transcription service, so now there is literally no point.

So, 1 and 3 are pretty cool if you already have one, if you don't, probably not worth it during preclinical.

 

[Fleur de Me]

This might be relevant: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/12/ipad-replacing-medical-textbooks.html

Thanks for the link! I've been playing around with iAnnotate, I'm still a little slow with it, so we'll see.

What I do like is that my podcast lectures will play at 2x on the iPad without having to open in another program like VLC! There's a little button on the iTunes player that will do 1/2x, 1x, or 2x- VERY convenient.

Also, the pdf textbooks do great, just wish I had a greater variety. Although in the end I don't end up using too many books. I have electronic access to BRS stuff since I bought new versions of those books, so we'll see how that works.

Anyway- thanks for the responses- looking forward to seeing how else I can use this instead of carting my laptop everywhere!

 

[bonsaipalmtree]

I have one and using it with Dropbox makes taking notes in lecture so much easier. I take the notes in lecture on the iPad, then view the lectures/notes at home on my macbook pro... no need to cart a laptop around. I prefer Noterize to iAnnotate because it coordinates with Dropbox.

 

[Mace1370]

The lack of flash and not having access to the directory structure pretty much destroyed any interest I had in the iPad.

 

[bcwbcw]

If anyone is using Android tablet, they can use: iReader for CHMs, Thinkfree office's and ezPDF PDF reader, Thinking Space Mind-mapping (this is actually most used program on my tablet), and Colordict with 4 medical dictionaries, 2 version fo Britannica encyclopedia and 4 general (incuding merriam webster) dictionaries. Colordict is so sourceful.

Anyone else has any other ideas?

 

[startswithb]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a nice protective case for the iPad? I bought the one that Apple makes and it seems to get dirty.

 

[Strontium]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a nice protective case for the iPad? I bought the one that Apple makes and it seems to get dirty.

Check out the otterbox. It does add a bit of weight, but it makes the thing a tank.

 

[Mografi]

Honestly, apples case is the best case...I just dislike that it gets dirty so easily. All of the cases need to be about half as expensive too, hah.

 

[Guillemot]

Ipad is ideal for me because I wear overalls usually and can put it in the big chest pocket.

 

[medstudent87]

Ipad is ideal for me because I wear overalls usually and can put it in the big chest pocket.

wait, seriously?

I'm sry, but I'd laugh so hard if I saw someone pull an entire iPad out of their overalls lol

😀

 

[themp]

I prefer Noterize over iAnnotate for taking notes. It lets you type notes right onto the page so they're always visible, unlike iAnnotate which just makes PDF annotations. Also, it lets you highlight over anything on the page, whereas iAnnotate only lets you highlight text that it recognizes as text. So if your professor scanned something from a book, or you want to highlight a figure, you're out of luck with iAnnotate. I highly recommend a stylus. The pogostick stylus is not very good, but the Acase stylus is pretty good.

I also use modalityBODY a lot for anatomy. It's an image browser. You have to purchase the image set you want through their store (such as netters flashcards, Thames atlas, Rojen, etc...) but it's the same price as the paper versions and a lot easier to manage. There's also a practice mode where it will quiz you. Awesome.

As for cases, I really like the Apple case. Perfect angle for writing on or typing on. I also use a bluetooth keyboard sometimes if the professor talks too fast.

 

[MossPoh]

I think all the tablets coming out will be much better suited for medical stuff in another year or two. Some of the hospitals I'm supposed to rotate at are supposedly working on the connectivity with them.

The lack of flash really isn't a big deal. There is also an app if you really want to use it. It is being phased out. Frankly, Flash happy people ruin far too many websites. HTML5 and h.264 are going to be the important ones.

 

[Fleur de Me]

I prefer Noterize over iAnnotate for taking notes. It lets you type notes right onto the page so they're always visible, unlike iAnnotate which just makes PDF annotations. Also, it lets you highlight over anything on the page, whereas iAnnotate only lets you highlight text that it recognizes as text. So if your professor scanned something from a book, or you want to highlight a figure, you're out of luck with iAnnotate. I highly recommend a stylus. The pogostick stylus is not very good, but the Acase stylus is pretty good.

I have to say- I first got iAnnotate, but now have Noterize which is 1/3 the price and MUCH MUCH better, so I definitely recommend that people start with this one for the very reasons you laid out. PLUS it opens powerpoint files, which is great cuz some profs post PDFs, others do .ppt, so this works for either without me having to "print to PDF" on my laptop first. Big time saver.

I have the pogostick stylus but I'm not loving it, I'll have to try the Acase one!

 

[bonsaipalmtree]

I have to say- I first got iAnnotate, but now have Noterize which is 1/3 the price and MUCH MUCH better, so I definitely recommend that people start with this one for the very reasons you laid out. PLUS it opens powerpoint files, which is great cuz some profs post PDFs, others do .ppt, so this works for either without me having to "print to PDF" on my laptop first. Big time saver.

I have the pogostick stylus but I'm not loving it, I'll have to try the Acase one!

Boxwave is a good stylus as well-that's what I'm using.