iPad Pro v Surface Pro

[youngkal]

Hey everyone! I’m starting to look at tablets for school! I’m a current Apple person (iPhone 7 and MacBook Pro) but I’m currently looking at both the iPad Pro and the surface pro to buy for this fall!

I’m really curious as to which one you think and why! I would plan on taking my computer for exam days because I know that the school I’ll most likely be attending has their students download the exam software but for daily note taking I would like to use a tablet. If you use either of these or have any feelings on way or the other let me know!!




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[Vombatidae]

Interesting. I was a teacher for several years and recently took a promotion to become an instructional technology specialist for high schools in Houston. I am a fan of (and will choose from) the HPx360 (smaller and lighter than a normal laptop but more sturdy and functional - is a fully functional laptop that is touchscreen and flips into a tablet), the SurfacePro (never had one but am interested - I'm not the biggest fan of their interface but think the OneNote would be really useful for taking notes in school), and the Google Pixelbook (I'm a HUGE Google fan and love their updates). My biggest struggle is whether to get a laptop that flips into a tablet or buy a tablet and a laptop separately. I can't say I'm an Apple fan, nor are most tech people (although some use the iPhone), but I would definitely go to stores to try the functionality of your top 2-3 before spending that much money.

 

[ResoluteMike]

Hey everyone! I’m starting to look at tablets for school! I’m a current Apple person (iPhone 7 and MacBook Pro) but I’m currently looking at both the iPad Pro and the surface pro to buy for this fall!

I’m really curious as to which one you think and why! I would plan on taking my computer for exam days because I know that the school I’ll most likely be attending has their students download the exam software but for daily note taking I would like to use a tablet. If you use either of these or have any feelings on way or the other let me know!!

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Before you buy anything, make sure your school isn't going to force you to buy a particular laptop at the start of the year. Our class had to purchase some Lenovo Thinkpads that were provided to us at orientation. That said, I can't stand the Thinkpad and prefer using my Surface Pro 3. I do still use the Lenovo for anatomy lab, because lab is gross.

The Surface Pro has a better pen then the Lenovo and vastly prefer it to the Lenovo. It is thinner, lighter and generally more friendly to use. The battery life also seems better, but I haven't quantified it. It works great as both a laptop and a tablet with the detachable keyboard. Writing notes directly on the power point slides in one note is really nice.

I'll let you know about the Ipad Pro once the tax return comes in and my wife gets one for her schooling.

 

[flameshock]

I love the iPad Pro. I bought one for school and have never regretted it. I use notability and everything is backed up to my school’s google drive. The Apple Pencil does a really good job on my handwriting. Only thing I ever use my computers for now are making table/image heavy word documents and gaming.

 

[SkiOtter]

@cdoconn do you have the iPad Pro?

 

[cdo96]

@cdoconn do you have the iPad Pro?

I do! I LOVE it for school! @Caiter92 has one too and we both really like it.

 

[battie]

I bought a referb surface and have been using it for 1.5 years with one minor problem I was able to resolve myself. I use it for everything: daily notes, exams, our patient info interface. It's light, durable (have dropped it multiple times...), and intuitive (to me). 10/10 recommend. I bought the tablet, pen, a terabyte hard drive, and the type pad for $600 off amazon. Don't get the type pad; it has flat keys, not clicky keys. Extremely annoying. Lol

 

[Ashgirl]

I bought a Surface Pro 3 way back before first year, and it is seriously the best thing I could have bought for vet school. It is, for all intensive purposes, my computer. It does everything, from let me draw on my notes, use it as a tablet, draw accurately with the pen, or type. It has held up extremely well for a 4 year old tablet/pc. If you want something that is an excellent note taker and could also be used as a personal laptop outside of class, I would totally recommend the surface.

 

[imdyinscoob]

I love my iPad Pro with the Pencil, and if you have other Apple products it’s really seamless in terms of transferring data and stuff. A really good app to take notes is Notability or Good Notes (I think that’s what it’s called)

 

[JustPaws]

Am I the only one that still takes notes on paper? I had planned on continuing this in vet school next year. Am I crazy? I like being able to flip back through a notebook and will remember what that page generally looks like when trying to find something specific...

 

[Ashgirl]

Am I the only one that still takes notes on paper? I had planned on continuing this in vet school next year. Am I crazy? I like being able to flip back through a notebook and will remember what that page generally looks like when trying to find something specific...

So I think coming into vet school, there was a good chunk (idk 30%?), who still handwrote their notes. Now, I think one or maybe two in my class out of 120 does handwritten notes. If it's something really important to you, then you can still do this. However, I'm not going to lie, there is so much volume, so much material, and so much class, that you may find that handwritting notes is a bit inefficient.

As an alternative, you can print out the powerpoint slides and write on them (but the amount of paper would be extreme). Honestly, I used to handwrite notes and found it to be much better and easier to organize if I put my powerpoints in onenote or another note taking software and type/write on them in there. All of my notes from the past 4 years are searchable and are a click away, which is nice.

However you decide to take notes is up to you, and you might find it best to experiment until you find the way that is best for you.

 

[JustPaws]

So I think coming into vet school, there was a good chunk (idk 30%?), who still handwrote their notes. Now, I think one or maybe two in my class out of 120 does handwritten notes. If it's something really important to you, then you can still do this. However, I'm not going to lie, there is so much volume, so much material, and so much class, that you may find that handwritting notes is a bit inefficient.

As an alternative, you can print out the powerpoint slides and write on them (but the amount of paper would be extreme). Honestly, I used to handwrite notes and found it to be much better and easier to organize if I put my powerpoints in onenote or another note taking software and type/write on them in there. All of my notes from the past 4 years are searchable and are a click away, which is nice.

However you decide to take notes is up to you, and you might find it best to experiment until you find the way that is best for you.

Hmm, will have to think on this. Physically writing notes has always been my go to for learning the material as I read/ listen in lecture. Never have been one to print out the slides for the quantity of paper reason either. I guess this still happens if I'm using one of the tablets that you physically write on...

 

[Cephal0pod]

Am I the only one that still takes notes on paper? I had planned on continuing this in vet school next year. Am I crazy? I like being able to flip back through a notebook and will remember what that page generally looks like when trying to find something specific...

I took notes on paper all throughout undergrad and made the switch to electronic note taking for vet school. We were required to get iPad Pros, and they really encouraged us to take advantage of their note-taking abilities - especially with the Apple Pen (which is awesome by the way). That stylus + the iPad Pro is the reason my transition to electronic notetaking was as smooth as it was; I definitely agree with the comments above about how the handwriting looks and feels just like my typical handwriting.

Some of my classmates did print off powerpoints and take notes by hand for 1st year, but I think at this point the overwhelming majority of people have converted to electronic note-taking.

My advice to you would be to go electronic. Not all profs are going to post their powerpoints far enough in advance to facilitate printing them off, and it really is so, so handy to have all of your notes on one device and not have to lug around a bunch of binders.

Edited to add -- with the volume of content and, often, rate at which it is delivered, I think it would be physically impossible to keep up by completely writing notes by hand without at least taking notes on powerpoints.

 

[battie]

Am I the only one that still takes notes on paper? I had planned on continuing this in vet school next year. Am I crazy? I like being able to flip back through a notebook and will remember what that page generally looks like when trying to find something specific...

My closeat friend in vet school hand writes all her notes. She prints out lectures, 4 slides to a page double sided. The she takes notes on those. Then rewrites them after that. She's done that for 3 semesters now. So it's doable.

For what it's worth, I was taking notes on my surface directly on the power point with the stylus. All hand written, just electronic.

 

[JaynaAli]

My friend printed the powerpoints and took handwritten notes. I was bad at paying attention in class but found I could type much faster than I could write. But I do remember things best if I hand write them. So my study method was to take some notes in class, but rewatch all lectures and take more notes. Then I would hand write key points in a summary type thing to really hammer it home. Worked for all four years.

Now I'm studying for my specialty boards and I'm doing a similar thing, only modified because there aren't any lectures. I read a book chapter, highlight important parts, and hand write key points/things to memorize. After I go through a book I spend time reviewing my handwritten pages. Then when boards gets closer I'll work on desperately memorizing everything I hand wrote.

 

[mmmdreamerz]

I absolutely adore my iPad Pro + Apple Pencil and Notability. I was super skeptical about taking notes on a tablet but I can’t imagine handwriting notes now.

 

[youngkal]

Am I the only one that still takes notes on paper? I had planned on continuing this in vet school next year. Am I crazy? I like being able to flip back through a notebook and will remember what that page generally looks like when trying to find something specific...

My roommate goes to MSU currently so from what I’ve seen with her lectures (50+ slides per class each day) there was no way I’m gonna keep up with handwritten notes. Idk what the curriculum change will do for us. That’s why I’m thinking tablet because I can write right on the slides and such.


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[youngkal]

I bought a referb surface and have been using it for 1.5 years with one minor problem I was able to resolve myself. I use it for everything: daily notes, exams, our patient info interface. It's light, durable (have dropped it multiple times...), and intuitive (to me). 10/10 recommend. I bought the tablet, pen, a terabyte hard drive, and the type pad for $600 off amazon. Don't get the type pad; it has flat keys, not clicky keys. Extremely annoying. Lol

Ew flat keys?! I liked the the iPad Pro had real keys!

Thanks for your input


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[youngkal]

I took notes on paper all throughout undergrad and made the switch to electronic note taking for vet school. We were required to get iPad Pros, and they really encouraged us to take advantage of their note-taking abilities - especially with the Apple Pen (which is awesome by the way). That stylus + the iPad Pro is the reason my transition to electronic notetaking was as smooth as it was; I definitely agree with the comments above about how the handwriting looks and feels just like my typical handwriting.

Some of my classmates did print off powerpoints and take notes by hand for 1st year, but I think at this point the overwhelming majority of people have converted to electronic note-taking.

My advice to you would be to go electronic. Not all profs are going to post their powerpoints far enough in advance to facilitate printing them off, and it really is so, so handy to have all of your notes on one device and not have to lug around a bunch of binders.

Edited to add -- with the volume of content and, often, rate at which it is delivered, I think it would be physically impossible to keep up by completely writing notes by hand without at least taking notes on powerpoints.

Where do your profs post power points? We typically use D2L and I’m curious how downloads work on the iPad Pro?


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[Cephal0pod]

Where do your profs post power points? We typically use D2L and I’m curious how downloads work on the iPad Pro?


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We use Canvas - they post the powerpoints as pdfs, and it's easy to download them from there and export to the note taking app of your choice.

 

[cdo96]

I absolutely adore my iPad Pro + Apple Pencil and Notability. I was super skeptical about taking notes on a tablet but I can’t imagine handwriting notes now.

mmm yes! I added the Logitech iPad case because I have the 12.5 and it’s faaaaantastic.

Where do your profs post power points? We typically use D2L and I’m curious how downloads work on the iPad Pro?


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We (OkState) have a server called “Moodle” and professors put their PDF’s/ PowerPoints on there. I just click the download button on the iPad and then “Open with Notability” and it’s a breeze. The only problem you might face is when professors don’t upload the PowerPoint until the last minute and the WiFi is terrible, but I fixed that by downloading the document to my iPhone and then AirDropping the document to my IPad. It works really well for me.

 

[Cephal0pod]

but I fixed that by downloading the document to my iPhone and then AirDropping the document to my IPad. It works really well for me.

I think you just changed my life.

 

[SkiOtter]

The only problem you might face is when professors don’t upload the PowerPoint until the last minute and the WiFi is terrible, but I fixed that by downloading the document to my iPhone and then AirDropping the document to my IPad. It works really well for me.

I think you just changed my life.

Technolegg-gy

 

[cdo96]

I think you just changed my life.

I made so many friends this way because our WiFi would completely stop working and our entire row would be trying to download it so I once AirDropped a document to 14 other classmates.

 

[battie]

Ew flat keys?! I liked the the iPad Pro had real keys!

Thanks for your input


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Just got a clicky key board for my birthday!

I made so many friends this way because our WiFi would completely stop working and our entire row would be trying to download it so I once AirDropped a document to 14 other classmates.

Read that gif in his voice. Thank you for that.

 

[cdo96]

Just got a clicky key board for my birthday!



Read that gif in his voice. Thank you for that.

 

[battie]

It got better.

 

[cdo96]

It got better.

 

[battie]

I can't even

 

[cdo96]

I can't even

 

[battie]

Ugh. Dead. <3

 

[Caiter92]

I have the 9.7" iPad pro and totally love it. I download our note packets or ppt for classes into notability and annotate them there. I back it all up to my google drive, and also have it synced with my computer so I can have notes up there when I do assignments or study, ect.

I personally really disliked the smart keyboard and bought a logic tech keys2go instead (like $30-40 instead of $100-150 for the smart keyboard). Comes in handy when I decide to type notes or work on assignments on my ipad at school.

I think Surface Pro's are great too and had wanted to get a SP4 initially since my computer was on it's way out, but when I bought the pro was when surfaces were having so many issues and went with the ipad instead. Haven't regretted it at all.

 

[pinkpuppy9]

I think Surface Pro's are great too and had wanted to get a SP4 initially since my computer was on it's way out, but when I bought the pro was when surfaces were having so many issues and went with the ipad instead. Haven't regretted it at all.

I was going to mention this too-many of my classmates hated their SP first year, to the point where they just ended up buying a laptop. Maybe the issues have since resolved? They just seemed so unreliable that I wouldn't want to give it a chance myself.

Am I the only one that still takes notes on paper? I had planned on continuing this in vet school next year. Am I crazy? I like being able to flip back through a notebook and will remember what that page generally looks like when trying to find something specific...

My notes/outlines tend to reach well over 100 pages just for 8 weeks, and that's double sided/small font typed up. I print my notes and study from them. There are maybe 2 people who still take handwritten notes in my class, their binders are massive. I just don't want to deal with that much lugging around tbh. Plus, with the lecture speed, I'd have to re-listen to everything. I can keep up when I type.

It's also helpful to have your notes saved to your laptop so you have everything in one place when it comes time to studying for boards. All of this is personal preference though. Whatever you like best.

 

[mmmdreamerz]

mmm yes! I added the Logitech iPad case because I have the 12.5 and it’s faaaaantastic.
We (OkState) have a server called “Moodle” and professors put their PDF’s/ PowerPoints on there. I just click the download button on the iPad and then “Open with Notability” and it’s a breeze. The only problem you might face is when professors don’t upload the PowerPoint until the last minute and the WiFi is terrible, but I fixed that by downloading the document to my iPhone and then AirDropping the document to my IPad. It works really well for me.

I have the Smart Keyboard and I like it because it works fine but I think it is totally overpriced in hindsight. I wish it was a little sturdier?

I think you just changed my life.

Omg I seriously can’t wait to try this.

 

[cdo96]

I have the Smart Keyboard and I like it because it works fine but I think it is totally overpriced in hindsight. I wish it was a little sturdier?



Omg I seriously can’t wait to try this.

I hated the way the Smart Keyboard typed... it felt really slow to me, but my Logitech types exactly like my MacBook Air so I’m able to type fast plus it’s backlit, runs on the smart connectivity, and it’s a case itself so you don’t ALSO need a case. Mine was a little expensive, but so worth it

 

[mmmdreamerz]

I hated the way the Smart Keyboard typed... it felt really slow to me, but my Logitech types exactly like my MacBook Air so I’m able to type fast plus it’s backlit, runs on the smart connectivity, and it’s a case itself so you don’t ALSO need a case. Mine was a little expensive, but so worth it

Do you remember which Logitech it is that you have?

 

[ResoluteMike]

Ew flat keys?! I liked the the iPad Pro had real keys!

Thanks for your input


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The flatter keys aren't a problem and it really helps reduce the size of the Surface Pro.

 

[cdo96]

Do you remember which Logitech it is that you have?

Yeah it was the Logitech Create or something like that’

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

mmm yes! I added the Logitech iPad case because I have the 12.5 and it’s faaaaantastic.
We (OkState) have a server called “Moodle” and professors put their PDF’s/ PowerPoints on there. I just click the download button on the iPad and then “Open with Notability” and it’s a breeze. The only problem you might face is when professors don’t upload the PowerPoint until the last minute and the WiFi is terrible, but I fixed that by downloading the document to my iPhone and then AirDropping the document to my IPad. It works really well for me.

Woah my undergrad uses Moodle!

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

I have a question. In undergrad, where the notes are more word based, I took notes on my macbook (ie most bio classes). But in classes like organic or calculus, I took notes on paper because there was so much drawing or doing calculations. Can anyone give me an idea on what your notes look like for vet school? If it's mostly typing/writing words, I would stick with my macbook pro at least for the meantime. But if it's a lot of drawing and calculating (notes that aren't easy to do on a standard computer) I would consider a tablet like the ipad pro. However I'm a little skeptical of the ease of its operating system, though I can't say I have really used on recently. My macbook is just so easy to use for me personally.

 

[JustPaws]

Where do your profs post power points? We typically use D2L and I’m curious how downloads work on the iPad Pro?

Pretty sure I saw that MSU uses D2L...

 

[battie]

I have a question. In undergrad, where the notes are more word based, I took notes on my macbook (ie most bio classes). But in classes like organic or calculus, I took notes on paper because there was so much drawing or doing calculations. Can anyone give me an idea on what your notes look like for vet school? If it's mostly typing/writing words, I would stick with my macbook pro at least for the meantime. But if it's a lot of drawing and calculating (notes that aren't easy to do on a standard computer) I would consider a tablet like the ipad pro. However I'm a little skeptical of the ease of its operating system, though I can't say I have really used on recently. My macbook is just so easy to use for me personally.

At U of I, the vast majority of the notes are straight writing. During resp and cardio phys, there was a few calculations or drawings.

 

[youngkal]

Pretty sure I saw that MSU uses D2L...

Lol yeah i know that’s what i was saying.


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[JustPaws]

Lol yeah i know that’s what i was saying.


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My bad, thought you were saying you used d2l now, and wondered how downloads work at MSU, in other words, what system they used

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

At U of I, the vast majority of the notes are straight writing. During resp and cardio phys, there was a few calculations or drawings.

Thanks! I figure I would just start off with my MacBook to begin with. If it’s just a few things here and there that should be hand written I would just have a small binder too.

 

[meningealworm]

I've had a SP3 since the beginning of 1st year (am 4th year now) and have never had problems with it. I do a lot of handwriting and drawing when I take notes, so I use the stylus a LOT during class; I also have the original keyboard with the flat keys, and have had zero issues with it. I find OneNote to be very user-friendly, and I like the functionality of the Surface as a laptop and tablet. It's nice to have all my notes in one place, especially now that I'm on clinics, because the search function works well (and can even read my handwriting) so it's easy to search for a topic from anywhere in my many years of notes. The only thing I've had to replace is the charger, but that's my own fault because I lose them apparently!

 

[pinkpuppy9]

I have a question. In undergrad, where the notes are more word based, I took notes on my macbook (ie most bio classes). But in classes like organic or calculus, I took notes on paper because there was so much drawing or doing calculations. Can anyone give me an idea on what your notes look like for vet school? If it's mostly typing/writing words, I would stick with my macbook pro at least for the meantime. But if it's a lot of drawing and calculating (notes that aren't easy to do on a standard computer) I would consider a tablet like the ipad pro. However I'm a little skeptical of the ease of its operating system, though I can't say I have really used on recently. My macbook is just so easy to use for me personally.

At U of I, the vast majority of the notes are straight writing. During resp and cardio phys, there was a few calculations or drawings.

What Bats said.

When there's a diagram, image, or calculation I want to put into my notes, I just copy/paste the slide itself into my word document and crop. Faster than trying to hand draw it or use the equation maker thing in Word.

 

[ChoopLoops]

For those of you using OneNote for taking notes on Powerpoint, does it save them to OneDrive? Is it easy to organize them into folders? ATM I use a regular iPad and Notability for class, but my for my computer I have Windows 10 and I really prefer that to MacOS. But I really like how Notability works and how easy it is to keep all my slides organized on Google and in class folders etc.

 

[ChoopLoops]

You can set up OneNote to save notebooks either locally or on the cloud via OneDrive---whichever you prefer. If you choose the latter, you can also toggle between automatic or manual backup/synchronization with OneDrive, which is of course pretty handy if your machine crashes on you. You can log back into your account using another computer (or tablet, or phone...) with OneNote and retrieve everything that's been backed up.

In terms of organization, OneNote is super flexible and everyone at my school had their own "system". The basic hierarchy goes from Notebook --> (Tab Groups) --> Tabs --> Pages

For me, personally, I made a notebook for each semester, a tab group for every class, a tab per unit or exam, and then a page per lecture. Some of my classmates did a notebook for every class instead or did tabs for every lecture and pages for additional material... it's totally up to you and how you choose to set things up. I've attached a screenshot of my own scheme using notes from anat path 2 so you can kind of get an idea what I'm talking about.

View attachment 228079

This so helpful! So Notability converts Powerpoints into PDFs, whats the format in OneNote?

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

For people with iPads, did you go with the 10.5 or the 12.9? If I got one I would be tempted to go with the larger one because I am farsighted and have difficulty with smaller text. But I don't know if it feels ridiculously large for writing on or if it's a pain.

Also, when did Apple's student and government discount get so crappy? They literally only give you $20 off now. I got at least $100 off my macbook pro if not more.