iPad Mini vs. iPad Air

[SoulinNeed]

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There are some great deals going around for Black Friday, and I was wondering what people's opinions were on getting one for the wards and possibly residency. I'm MS3 now, and I've seen residents use them here and there. I was thinking about the Mini since it can fit in the white coat pocket, but I was wondering if anyone with any experience with them could say whether or not they actually work well enough to look up lab info and type stuff up (I would get a mini keyboard with it). What do you guys think?

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Mini. Gold in your lab coat pocket - tons of med apps at your fingertips (up to date, med calc, epocrates, whatever you use) so you can look up drugs, preferred tx, etc, while you are rounding. Works fine at my institution (I imagine this is wifi-dependent), so I can look up pts on rounds if there's something else I want to see.
ETA: I do not think you need a keyboard, but that's personal pref. It's slimmer without, so I can fit other things in the same pocket.

I also have an iPad (got that first) and regret it.

 

[bashwell]

I have both but I use my mini way more in the hospital, while studying, etc.

 

[TheFuture_22]

A vote for mini here. Unless you are willing to modify your white coat pockets to accommodate an iPad Air.

 

[Gambler 101]

So you guys carry your iPad mini and your iPhone?

 

[stolen_biscuit]

So you guys carry your iPad mini and your iPhone?

I usually leave my iPhone in my locker when I've got my coat on. I feel like referencing things or really doing anything on my iPhone looks a lot like texting, so I just remove all doubt.

 

[Oblique]

mini. fits in scrub pants back pocket

 

[graviton]

iphone 6 plus

 

[Gambler 101]

I also carry my iPhone 6 Plus. It's great if I'm somewhere without wifi (often enough to be useful).

 

[seminoma]

Do people really look things up during rounds? I've never done it.. or really had to do it.

My 2 cents is get something cheap if you just want it for the hospital or rounds. That way if it gets lost or contracts c.diff you won't mind.