Ipad a good idea?

[emighb]

---

Members do not see this ad.

This might be a message for current students in Ireland (primarily at UCD where I will be attending).

Is there any use to getting an ipad for course books? I was initially looking into the Kindle (due to the lower price), but could only find 2 or 3 e-books available from the year 1 book list. I understand the ipad can read not only read pdfs, it can display the entire page as well -- a benefit to me because I hate having to scroll through text.

Are any current students using ipads for readings? Are they more/less expensive in Ireland than they are back in North America?

 

[kermicrzy]

Not sure if I can answer your question, but just a side note to everyone out there planing on moving over here. Buy all electronics before you come here, go to apple.ie if you wanna see how crap the prices are compared to dollars!

The only thing that seems to be cheaper here is textbooks. And ALOT less expensive they are. So many its just worth buying the actual books instead? Im sick of staring at a computer all day, the last thing I wanna stare at is an Ipad to study (coming from an devoted Apple user). Maybe just easer to buy the new Macbook Air? But def buy whatever u can at home before coming!

Hope that helps a bit 🙂

 

[bambi]

An iPad is always a good idea! Just for general life! I have one and have a bunch of textbooks on it but I don't use it for that that much but that is just because I like to use actual books. It is definitely a good idea if you don't want to cart a load of books around.

America is cheaper for almost everything. Apple stuff is significantly cheaper.

 

[kermicrzy]

I think I just realized I must be getting old; Im turning into a bit of a technophobe and rather a hard copy of a book. Maybe its because I spend 18 hrs a day writing a thesis at the moment. But def keep your apple store set to US, so you can still get the good cheap stuff in dollars.. as well as stuff they dont have here (like movie rentals, and TV shows etc).

I know people who are using Ipads here in UCD have no problem with wireless. However UCD uses proxy settings so no (illegal!) downloads, no access to apple store, and limited email access.. The proxy settings are a killer on campus for anything good you need. So be prepared to have good, fast internet at home to make up for this, unless you are on campus and are totally screwed 😱

EDIT: I would also suggest a Slingbox setup at your home in America/Canada if you can. Its brilliant to be able watch american TV when you only get 4 channels here for free over the internet. But Proxy settings dont let you use it on campus in UCD. Just something I found helped me when I use to get homesick. But Im sure we'll be too busy anyway 🙂

 

[Lbgem]

I think I just realized I must be getting old; Im turning into a bit of a technophobe and rather a hard copy of a book. Maybe its because I spend 18 hrs a day writing a thesis at the moment. But def keep your apple store set to US, so you can still get the good cheap stuff in dollars.. as well as stuff they dont have here (like movie rentals, and TV shows etc).

I know people who are using Ipads here in UCD have no problem with wireless. However UCD uses proxy settings so no (illegal!) downloads, no access to apple store, and limited email access.. The proxy settings are a killer on campus for anything good you need. So be prepared to have good, fast internet at home to make up for this, unless you are on campus and are totally screwed 😱

EDIT: I would also suggest a Slingbox setup at your home in America/Canada if you can. Its brilliant to be able watch american TV when you only get 4 channels here for free over the internet. But Proxy settings dont let you use it on campus in UCD. Just something I found helped me when I use to get homesick. But Im sure we'll be too busy anyway 🙂

No hulu or American shows? Guess I will have to ask my friends to save some episodes for me to catch up on over winter hols. 😱 I actually did get a laptop, but also yes yes I know I shouldn't have, have a lot of the books already. I just couldn't help myself - I wanted to look through them before school started. I'm debating whether to mail them over via surface mail (is what one person told me to do) or sacrifice a luggage bag for books instead of clothes. The downside is the 50 pound weight limit and I'm pretty sure one of my books is like 15 pounds alone...

 

[Facebookaddict]

Yeah I was wondering if an ipad would be a good idea too! But I'm in the 6 yr programme, so do any of you know if those books will be available on the kindle/nook app?
And is the internet really that bad at UCD? I was going to bring my macbook pro. Is there anything to make the internet faster? :l

 

[Broker]

iPad is great for reference, but i still prefer real books...

I have all of the USMLE texts in PDF format for the iPad, and it's easy to search for keywords. But I'm just not a fan of reading on the backlit screen, the kindle is much easier on the eyes but doesn't have nearly enough texts...

Other than PDFs there are some great apps, some paid and some free, here are just a few of the best:
eMedicine - amazing fountain of all knowledge, plus can be accessed offline
BNF - British national formulary, not sure if they use it in Ireland (I am UK based)
OHCM - lifesaver on the wards
Wikipedia - there are apps to access wiki offline...
Various anatomy textbooks
Tapatalk - easy access to student forums.

I would recommend the iPad, but not to rely on it solely, I use it mainly as i live abroad and don't want to travel with textbooks...

A lot of the best textbooks can now be accessed online, I studied for 1st and 2nd year exams using studentconsult, access to kumar &clark, treys anatomy, boron physiology.

Hope this helps.

 

[kermicrzy]

No hulu or American shows? Guess I will have to ask my friends to save some episodes for me to catch up on over winter hols. 😱 I actually did get a laptop, but also yes yes I know I shouldn't have, have a lot of the books already. I just couldn't help myself - I wanted to look through them before school started. I'm debating whether to mail them over via surface mail (is what one person told me to do) or sacrifice a luggage bag for books instead of clothes. The downside is the 50 pound weight limit and I'm pretty sure one of my books is like 15 pounds alone...

Yeah def no Hulu, only works in America anyway.. Its not that internet is slow, its quite fast, its just that the proxy settings you must use to get online stop you from being able to access many things. And undergrads arent allowed to access the hardwire network (Im only allowed because Im a postgrad at the moment).

 

[emighb]

Thanks for the advice everyone - I think I'm going to go for it.

I was warned about reading for long periods of time on the backlit screen, but I think it will be helpful to have as a reference that can always be in my school bag.

 

[Facebookaddict]

yeah thanks for the help! But, I was going to get 3g internet for my ipad...but would that only work in the US? its AT&T or Verizon internet.

 

[emighb]

I'm going to purchase it here, but forego on the data plan. I will just get a plan for it when I get to Dublin, likely when I pick up a cell phone.

 

[atran017]

With regards to dataplans and apple stuff...Orange has 25EUR monthly pay as you go for the iphone with data, text, and calling....much cheaper than what I have now with AT&T 👍 I figure dataplans for the ipad will follow a similar trend.

 

[franceschino]

Just to say that I bought an iPad and since then I no longer use paper books. I am currently studying for an e-learning master and they provide online books. I created my own notes from major books and converted them in PDF: it's awesome!!!
+ switching from internet, adding notes, copying and pasting is a breeze!

Truthfully I no longer wish to go back to paper books : )