IPad Sufficient?

[MedPR]

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I don't game or really do any multimedia stuff anymore and am considering a tablet for med school. Namely iPad since apparently development is way better on ios (not a fan boy at all). Would it be sufficient for everything I need as a medical student? For example can I watch pathoma on it? Can it run Kaplan HY lectures?

I do still have a pc laptop that's about 2 years old and working well. Can I Dropbox things (pdfs and lecture slides) between Win7 and iOS?

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[dsoz]

The only down side to iPad is that it does not support Flash player. The school where I am going currently only audio records lectures and uses Flash only. This may be changing, but I am not going to hold my breath. So for me, an iPad is not going to be my only device.

On the other side, the old lecture hall (new one is under construction to be ready in fall of 2014) does not have adequate plugs for electricity for everyone. If lecture is 4+ hours a day, a long life battery is a requirement, not a luxury.

I have been enjoying my new iPad4. I am typing on it right now. I don't know how it will be in class because I am not taking a class at the moment. I am following along with the iPad apps thread to see if there is anything great that I need to get in addition to what I have.

Supposedly Dropbox works on the iPad. I have not tried it yet. Apple also has a similar "cloud" that you can put on a windows based computer (I think).

I am not sure, but I think I want a keyboard and a stylus. The virtual keyboard on the iPad is ok, but I like to feel the keys so I can touch type more accurately. It is more difficult to do when there is nothing to stimulate the index fingers (bumps on the F and J keys) to keep my hands in the correct position on the home row. I think the stylus would allow for slightly better writing than my finger on the screen.

Good luck with the hunt for the perfect computing device.

dsoz

 

[Ismet]

I don't game or really do any multimedia stuff anymore and am considering a tablet for med school. Namely iPad since apparently development is way better on ios (not a fan boy at all). Would it be sufficient for everything I need as a medical student? For example can I watch pathoma on it? Can it run Kaplan HY lectures?

I do still have a pc laptop that's about 2 years old and working well. Can I Dropbox things (pdfs and lecture slides) between Win7 and iOS?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

I wouldn't say an iPad is sufficient for everything. I still like to use my laptop for some things, especially if I'm typing a lot. I do have a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad but it drains battery like crazy and the keyboard is a lot smaller and more annoying to use for long periods of time. I don't know about board review lectures, but I watch my school's lectures on my ipad with no problem.

Dropbox works over the internet...so it doesn't matter what OS you use. The iPad has a Dropbox app and many apps (like Notability) are compatible with Dropbox. I've started moving more towards Google Drive actually, and there's now an app for that as well.

I use the iPad mainly for portability when listening to lectures and also to annotate study guides/journal articles/whatever

 

[MedPR]

The only down side to iPad is that it does not support Flash player. The school where I am going currently only audio records lectures and uses Flash only. This may be changing, but I am not going to hold my breath. So for me, an iPad is not going to be my only device.

On the other side, the old lecture hall (new one is under construction to be ready in fall of 2014) does not have adequate plugs for electricity for everyone. If lecture is 4+ hours a day, a long life battery is a requirement, not a luxury.

I have been enjoying my new iPad4. I am typing on it right now. I don't know how it will be in class because I am not taking a class at the moment. I am following along with the iPad apps thread to see if there is anything great that I need to get in addition to what I have.

Supposedly Dropbox works on the iPad. I have not tried it yet. Apple also has a similar "cloud" that you can put on a windows based computer (I think).

I am not sure, but I think I want a keyboard and a stylus. The virtual keyboard on the iPad is ok, but I like to feel the keys so I can touch type more accurately. It is more difficult to do when there is nothing to stimulate the index fingers (bumps on the F and J keys) to keep my hands in the correct position on the home row. I think the stylus would allow for slightly better writing than my finger on the screen.

Good luck with the hunt for the perfect computing device.

dsoz

Thank you. Flash is not something I had considered. I plan on bringing my laptop with me to whatever school i matriculate (not to class) though it would be nice to be able to do everything on a single lightweight device with a great battery life, hence the obvious cult like movement away from laptops and towards tablets.

Don't tablets have optional external keyboards?


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[mimelim]

A tablet is not sufficient for current medical school classrooms. Unless a school makes a conscious effort to change this (none of which I am aware of), this will not change.

 

[MedPR]

A tablet is not sufficient for current medical school classrooms. Unless a school makes a conscious effort to change this (none of which I am aware of), this will not change.

Could you elaborate?

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[Member 331305]

I'm also considering getting a new laptop/tablet, but I've been looking into ultrabook convertibles instead of dedicated tablets like the iPad. Maybe something like the Lenovo Yoga 13. I feel like it is a good balance between laptop and tablet.

I just wanted to throw that out there as an alternative.

 

[Ismet]

A tablet is not sufficient for current medical school classrooms. Unless a school makes a conscious effort to change this (none of which I am aware of), this will not change.

I don't think the insufficiency is on the school's part, it's just that for some things I like a bigger screen and better keyboard. I would never write an essay or make a study guide on my iPad with that tiny keyboard killing my battery.

EDIT: I guess a lot of it depends on the school. Almost all of the material we're given (syllabus, slides, handouts, etc) is posted online, so it's very easy to make a pdf of it, put it in Dropbox, open it in Notability, and annotate. I still like using the hard copy of our syllabus for general class notes, but viewing the slides on the iPad is nice. Or not having to print out journal articles or other readings. I can see where schools that don't make electronic copies available might decrease the benefit of iPad over laptop.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

I'm with dsoz on the flash player thing (I'm using an iPad right now), the Internet just isn't the same. Plus, google mail, maps, and everything else is watered down which is irksome as well.

 

[MedPR]

I'm also considering getting a new laptop/tablet, but I've been looking into ultrabook convertibles instead of dedicated tablets like the iPad. Maybe something like the Lenovo Yoga 13. I feel like it is a good balance between laptop and tablet.

I just wanted to throw that out there as an alternative.

The main reason I'm leaning towards tablets is for the apps. I have a gs3 but the screen is small (compared to a tab/laptop)

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[Ismet]

The main reason I'm leaning towards tablets is for the apps. I have a gs3 but the screen is small (compared to a tab/laptop)

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That shouldn't be a reason for getting a tablet. There's really nothing you can do with an app that can't be done better and faster with a laptop and functioning internet.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Have you considered a netbook?

 

[MedPR]

Have you considered a netbook?

Had one. Didn't have 10hr batter life.

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[mimelim]

Could you elaborate?

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From the moment you set foot in medical school to the day you die, your most precious commodity is time. How efficient you work increases the quantity of free time that you will have. The concept of a tablet is nice. I own two, an iPad and a Nexus 7. But the device isn't everything. Three things matter. Device, the information and how the system interfaces the device and the information. The biggest problem is that last one. Curriculums simply are not designed to utilize tablets effectively. Yes, there are going to be some things that work and even some things that work well on your tablet (regardless of maker). But, there are going to be compatibility issues. There are going to be annoyances about resolution of media or text. There is going to be the issue of being able to input/take notes, which tablets significantly lag behind 1) laptops and 2) pencil and paper.

A laptop, even a netbook, will in general have far fewer issues interfacing with schools/hospitals because they were designed to function with a PC in mind. They are simply more versatile. That isn't to say that a tablet isn't a nice add on. There are going to be niches where a tablet is superior to a notebook or PC in general. I use my Nexus 7 every day with our EMR. But I don't do anything else with it. It simply does a specific job very well.


As an aside, take my advice with a grain of salt. I am writing this post from a desktop with three 24" monitors and there are 3 desktop computers within 4 feet of me. If I see a piece of computer hardware that makes my jobs easier, I get it. I work faster with damn near unlimited desktop space. I can't imagine life without a desktop. Maybe I am just too old and or stupid to use a tablet effectively, but I can't imagine going to medical school and not planning on a laptop/desktop as being my primary computer on campus.


Edit: Battery life is over rated. There are outlets everywhere. Yes, freedom from the wall is nice, but not at the cost of efficiency and increased frustration.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Had one. Didn't have 10hr batter life.

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Carry the charger with you and take advantage of outlets?

 

[deleted303591]

I don't want to sound like a fangirl, but I used to be a Geeksquad tech. I am also an electrical engineering student. I have to use both a laptop and an iPad to get through my studies.

MacLife is a great magazine for finding the right apps and tools for the iPad. (I know, a fanboy magazine)

The only down side to iPad is that it does not support Flash player. The school where I am going currently only audio records lectures and uses Flash only. This may be changing, but I am not going to hold my breath. So for me, an iPad is not going to be my only device.

The Skyfire browser (App) supports flash on the iPad.

On the other side, the old lecture hall (new one is under construction to be ready in fall of 2014) does not have adequate plugs for electricity for everyone. If lecture is 4+ hours a day, a long life battery is a requirement, not a luxury.

The iPad usually has a 10 hour battery. If you are concerned about power outlets, get this, but it is expensive. It is a solar panel that charges (about) as fast as the battery depletion rate of the iPad. It also comes with an external battery, so you have an extra battery. http://www.voltaicsystems.com/spark.shtml

Supposedly Dropbox works on the iPad. I have not tried it yet. Apple also has a similar "cloud" that you can put on a windows based computer (I think).

I don't use Dropbox, but obviously there is an app for it.

I am not sure, but I think I want a keyboard and a stylus. The virtual keyboard on the iPad is ok, but I like to feel the keys so I can touch type more accurately. It is more difficult to do when there is nothing to stimulate the index fingers (bumps on the F and J keys) to keep my hands in the correct position on the home row. I think the stylus would allow for slightly better writing than my finger on the screen.

The best (most durable) case for the iPad is the Lifeproof case. It is sold at exclusively Bestbuy. \Thisand This are what you want. There is a special screen protector for it from Zagg, but I would not necessarily recommend it because it is not needed unless you are really careless.

I cannot specifically recommend a keyboard. But I would probably get either the traditional Apple Wireless Keyboard or a silicone Bluetooth keyboard.

For a stylus, the Pogo Connect is probably the best, since it is pressure sensitive. (lines are bigger when you press harder). The website is also good for finding note-taking apps that are ideal for the stylus.

 

[MedPR]

I guess I need to keep looking at laptops then. Perhaps an ultrabook or MBP.

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[deleted303591]

I guess I need to keep looking at laptops then. Perhaps an ultrabook or MBP.

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If you get a Macbook Pro, there is an awesome App called Voodoopad.

You can create wikis for your courses, that will sync on virtually any mobile device. It also can export the files in HTML instantly, so you can have a website for studying for each course.

That way, you can always study on the go.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

If you get a Macbook Pro, there is an awesome App called Voodoopad.

You can create wikis for your courses, that will sync on virtually any mobile device. It also can export the files in HTML instantly, so you can have a website for studying for each course.

That way, you can always study on the go.

Whoa... Now that sounds cool.

 

[sector9]

A LOT of my classmates only bring their iPad to school with them. Some of them have fancy keyboards for it, most of them have some sort of stylus. They're able to download the lecture slides and take notes right on the slides, like you can do with a laptop. Our school converts all of our lecture podcasts to multiple formats suited for laptops, iPads, etc. All of these students do have some sort of laptop though because we have to bring a laptop to take quizzes on. A two year old laptop will probably do just fine IMO. My laptop is older than that and still working great (no iPad for me btw)

The advice you get will vary by school so I wouldn't commit either way until you can talk to a few students at your chosen school.

 

[MedPR]

A LOT of my classmates only bring their iPad to school with them. Some of them have fancy keyboards for it, most of them have some sort of stylus. They're able to download the lecture slides and take notes right on the slides, like you can do with a laptop. Our school converts all of our lecture podcasts to multiple formats suited for laptops, iPads, etc. All of these students do have some sort of laptop though because we have to bring a laptop to take quizzes on. A two year old laptop will probably do just fine IMO. My laptop is older than that and still working great (no iPad for me btw)

The advice you get will vary by school so I wouldn't commit either way until you can talk to a few students at your chosen school.

Cool thanks. My laptop works fine but the battery life is weak and it's pretty heavy.

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[Hemorrage]

Cool thanks. My laptop works fine but the battery life is weak and it's pretty heavy.

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i would honestly suggest spending your money on a macbook air 11.6 inch. You'll find that there are just far more things you can do with Mac OSX. I own an iPad and its great for alot of things but if your on a budget the air is the better investment

 

[angemon89]

I guess I need to keep looking at laptops then. Perhaps an ultrabook or MBP.

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Perhaps an ultramac(aka MacBook Air)? Its:

Fasssst
Ultraportable
A Mac (I'm a fanboy) 😀

Edit: I forgot to mention battery. Apple claims a 7 hour battery on the 13" but in reality it's more like 5 hours if you throw some youtube into the mix.

 

[MedPR]

i would honestly suggest spending your money on a macbook air 11.6 inch. You'll find that there are just far more things you can do with Mac OSX. I own an iPad and its great for alot of things but if your on a budget the air is the better investment

Perhaps an ultramac(aka MacBook Air)? Its:

Fasssst
Ultraportable
A Mac (I'm a fanboy) 😀

Yea, forgot to add that into the post about MBP. I always did like the MB Airs, but I truthfully don't know what makes them worth (cost) more than the other ultrathin laptops out there. I've found it fruitless to ask people on forums (here and elsewhere) because it just becomes a fanboy battle. Essentially it should come down to feeling most comfortable with one, but I can't really go out and borrow one for a few days to figure out which I like best.

 

[Ellie Arroway]

From what I have heard it can be good to wait to hear from your specific school (or ask) about what kind of computing equipment you should have. My student host at Mayo had a school-issued windows PC and said his macbook pro was basically an expensive & unwieldy facebook device. I would expect to need a laptop, and if its a mac, to need to install windows with bootcamp. It will depend on the school and the kind of work you plan to do. I don't know whether statistical packages like SPSS & STATA work on Mac OS if public health is your thing at all.

That said, the iPads with the retina displays are nice for keeping digital versions of textbooks if you have access to them. Some schools design coursework materials for the iPad but that is a minority at this point. Some schools will also build $2000-$3000 for computer stuff into your financial aid package. I imagine I will replace my 2009 macbook pro (something is up hardware-wise and it is a little unstable) and get an ipad as well. Though I imagine the "real" computer will mostly be for when I have to write things.

 

[Xlorgguss]

As an alternative to Apple, have you thought about any android devices? If you really like the idea of taking intensive notes, I really can't say anything will be as good as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (I'll be picking mine up in a few weeks assuming I don't get it for Christmas). The designated stylus is great since it is an active wacom digitizer so the writing will be natural instead of junky. Now I am not an artist at all, but there seems to be really good integration with the device. You can take a screen shot of your screen, adjust the size of the image and insert directly into your notes and then annotate it. It's the first tablet to offer decent multitasking ie watching a video and taking notes simultaneously. It's a really amazing device to me. It's not retina display quality, but honestly, I doubt I will notice.

Some other alternatives:

Microsoft Surface RT (or Pro). The advantage of the surface is the integration of the Windows Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc). I believe they might be slightly watered down for the RT but in all honesty it should get done whatever you need it to. It has the nice keyboard which locks right into place. I believe the pro version might have a designated active digitizer which would make this a pretty beastly device.

Asus Transformer Infinity. The infinity is nice because it has an optional (why wouldn't you tbh) keyboard for the device that has a battery which actually boosts the battery life of the device. I think it adds like 3 hours or something? It seems like another very capable device. The built in SuperNote application by Asus seems like a very nice addition as well.

Honestly it just comes down to what specifics you want. If you want media consumption, the Ipad is going to be your best bet. They are the first ones to come out with the best apps. But at the same time you are limited by Apple (no additional removable storage, lack of output ports, etc). The android tablets have a closer feel of an actual computer, but then you have variety. Keep an eye on what is coming out, because with windows 8 we are going to see more hybridization of a notebook computer and a tablet. You can already see it with some upcoming Samsung devices and the Sony Vaoi Duo (looks pretty awesome as well!).

But when would you be starting? I am assuming late July? If that's the case I would probably hold off until you get closer just to see what might come out between then and now.

 

[angemon89]

Yea, forgot to add that into the post about MBP. I always did like the MB Airs, but I truthfully don't know what makes them worth (cost) more than the other ultrathin laptops out there. I've found it fruitless to ask people on forums (here and elsewhere) because it just becomes a fanboy battle. Essentially it should come down to feeling most comfortable with one, but I can't really go out and borrow one for a few days to figure out which I like best.

I agree. I think you really have to play around with OSX before you buy one just to see if you think it's suitable for you. There's definitely a learning curve to OSX if you're coming from a PC so I wouldn't suggest you try to learn how to work your computer during medical school. Generally it's a lot easier for people who are good with PC's to get good with using OSX. Most initial problems that people have with Mac's can be solved with simple google searches until they get accustomed to the new OS.

As far as price, check again. It's pretty on par with the price of other ultrabooks.

And like rachelkj said, first check with your school if you're seriously considering getting one.

 

[MedPR]

As an alternative to Apple, have you thought about any android devices? If you really like the idea of taking intensive notes, I really can't say anything will be as good as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (I'll be picking mine up in a few weeks assuming I don't get it for Christmas). The designated stylus is great since it is an active wacom digitizer so the writing will be natural instead of junky. Now I am not an artist at all, but there seems to be really good integration with the device. You can take a screen shot of your screen, adjust the size of the image and insert directly into your notes and then annotate it. It's the first tablet to offer decent multitasking ie watching a video and taking notes simultaneously. It's a really amazing device to me. It's not retina display quality, but honestly, I doubt I will notice.

Some other alternatives:

Microsoft Surface RT (or Pro). The advantage of the surface is the integration of the Windows Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc). I believe they might be slightly watered down for the RT but in all honesty it should get done whatever you need it to. It has the nice keyboard which locks right into place. I believe the pro version might have a designated active digitizer which would make this a pretty beastly device.

Asus Transformer Infinity. The infinity is nice because it has an optional (why wouldn't you tbh) keyboard for the device that has a battery which actually boosts the battery life of the device. I think it adds like 3 hours or something? It seems like another very capable device. The built in SuperNote application by Asus seems like a very nice addition as well.

Honestly it just comes down to what specifics you want. If you want media consumption, the Ipad is going to be your best bet. They are the first ones to come out with the best apps. But at the same time you are limited by Apple (no additional removable storage, lack of output ports, etc). The android tablets have a closer feel of an actual computer, but then you have variety. Keep an eye on what is coming out, because with windows 8 we are going to see more hybridization of a notebook computer and a tablet. You can already see it with some upcoming Samsung devices and the Sony Vaoi Duo (looks pretty awesome as well!).

But when would you be starting? I am assuming late July? If that's the case I would probably hold off until you get closer just to see what might come out between then and now.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The real problem is that I don't have a preference. I've never used a tablet and truthfully I would probably be happy with anything that I get. I was only leaning towards ipad because it seems like a lot of the apps used by med students are available only on IOS.

When it comes to ultrabooks vs MBA, I've realized that the big upside to MBA is battery life and flash storage. However, it doesn't have an HDMI, and 128gb seems like very little space.

 

[MedPR]

I agree. I think you really have to play around with OSX before you buy one just to see if you think it's suitable for you. There's definitely a learning curve to OSX if you're coming from a PC so I wouldn't suggest you try to learn how to work your computer during medical school. Generally it's a lot easier for people who are good with PC's to get good with using OSX. Most initial problems that people have with Mac's can be solved with simple google searches until they get accustomed to the new OS.

As far as price, check again. It's pretty on par with the price of other ultrabooks.

And like rachelkj said, first check with your school if you're seriously considering getting one.

Yea after a bit of research I did find the MBA to be competitively priced. As above, the only downside is the lack of an HDMI and what I perceive to be very little storage.

What exactly should I be checking with my school? If their notes are OSX friendly? I know the school I've been accepted to (and will most likely matriculate) offers the option of hard copy or electronic copy notes/slides. Beyond that I don't really know what I should be asking them about to help with my decision.

 

[angemon89]

Yea after a bit of research I did find the MBA to be competitively priced. As above, the only downside is the lack of an HDMI and what I perceive to be very little storage.

What exactly should I be checking with my school? If their notes are OSX friendly? I know the school I've been accepted to (and will most likely matriculate) offers the option of hard copy or electronic copy notes/slides. Beyond that I don't really know what I should be asking them about to help with my decision.

I'm not sure about the school specific stuff. I was just going off rachelkj's post.

You can get HDMI out with a thunderbolt adapter. Thunderbolt can do a lot more too but unfortunately it hasn't taken off yet because the price of thunderbolt accessories are still ridiculously high. It's a pretty amazing interface though.

 

[deleted303591]

Yea after a bit of research I did find the MBA to be competitively priced. As above, the only downside is the lack of an HDMI and what I perceive to be very little storage.

What exactly should I be checking with my school? If their notes are OSX friendly? I know the school I've been accepted to (and will most likely matriculate) offers the option of hard copy or electronic copy notes/slides. Beyond that I don't really know what I should be asking them about to help with my decision.

If you get a Macbook Air, make sure to get the upgraded option for the increased amount of memory (RAM), like 8 GB of RAM versus 4 GB of RAM. If you don't do this, you cannot upgrade the RAM in the future because the motherboard that comes with the Macbook Air with the 4 GB of RAM at purchase will not accommodate further memory upgrades.

So, if you want long-term use (> 3 years) on a Macbook Air, make sure to get this $100 upgrade.

 

[deleted303591]

From what I have heard it can be good to wait to hear from your specific school (or ask) about what kind of computing equipment you should have. My student host at Mayo had a school-issued windows PC and said his macbook pro was basically an expensive & unwieldy facebook device. I would expect to need a laptop, and if its a mac, to need to install windows with bootcamp. It will depend on the school and the kind of work you plan to do. I don't know whether statistical packages like SPSS & STATA work on Mac OS if public health is your thing at all.

I have SPSS for Mac and it works great. I would not recommend using it with a Macbook Air. I have a Macbook Pro 15", with an 2.66 GHz i7 Intel processor, 4 GB RAM.

For example, I am an engineering student and I also use MatLab. So, in my situation, a Macbook Air would be unsuitable for the type of work I am doing, since there is heavy data processing involved.

That said, the iPads with the retina displays are nice for keeping digital versions of textbooks if you have access to them.

OP, if you plan on getting an iPad and reading textbooks on it, get one with a retina display. It is MUCH easier to read books on an iPad 3 versus an iPad 2, due to having more pixels per inch.

 

[Hemorrage]

Yea after a bit of research I did find the MBA to be competitively priced. As above, the only downside is the lack of an HDMI and what I perceive to be very little storage.

What exactly should I be checking with my school? If their notes are OSX friendly? I know the school I've been accepted to (and will most likely matriculate) offers the option of hard copy or electronic copy notes/slides. Beyond that I don't really know what I should be asking them about to help with my decision.

It doesn't have hdmi because it has thunderbolt, thunderbolt can run a whole slew of different interfaces you just have to buy the adapter. You can also find the airs refurbished through apple for around ~800 and it comes with a one year warranty

 

[deleted303591]

Failure rates of laptops by brand

Look at page 6 in particular, which is most relevant.

 

[tn4596]

I am planning to get an ultra-book with the new window 8. Probably gonna look for one made by Asus or Samsung. I am gonna hold off buying it until probablyyyy... July or August next year so I can get the most out of my money. I just look at a few of em during Black Friday and they look pretty good although prices is still high...

 

[BabyDoc86]

Here's a blog of a med student that uses an iPad for lectures. Might be helpful for your question.

http://ahyesplans.wordpress.com

 

[MedPR]

I'm assuming MBA are compatible with most forms of external storage (e.g the external doesn't have to be flash storage like the MBA)? Also, if I end up needing to boot Win7, would it have been a better idea to get a PC ultrabook?

I've never been a Mac guy, but I am curious what all the hype is about and that's partially why I'm leaning MBA.

 

[Hemorrage]

I'm assuming MBA are compatible with most forms of external storage (e.g the external doesn't have to be flash storage like the MBA)? Also, if I end up needing to boot Win7, would it have been a better idea to get a PC ultrabook?

I've never been a Mac guy, but I am curious what all the hype is about and that's partially why I'm leaning MBA.

Its well worth the hype. Don't buy into the whole anti-Mac argument until you try Mac OSX for yourself. I do a ton of IT/web development on the side (+ school) and i honestly would never go back to windows. Mac is just extremely fluid, the OS works well and its way more stable than windows by far. It was based off a variant of linux (long time ago). and yes, you can boot windows if you would like which makes it even more sensible to get the mac, however, you don't even really need to "dual-boot" windows in the traditional sense. There is a piece of software called Parallels which will let you run windows side by side with mac, so if there happens to be that one random windows application that doesn't have a mac version you can run it using parallels.

Also, if you end up buying one of the new airs (i want one so bad), they come with an awesome technology called Fusion Drive which is essentially a solid state drive + a regular HD coupled together into one "logical" drive. The advantage of this system is that that OSX will automatically cache all of your most recent files as well as the OS files onto the solid state drive so your computer is snappy, but at the same time you don't have the storage limitations of traditional solid state drives.

Once you go mac, you wont go back 🙂

This isn't to bash on windows though, theres plenty of things i still prefer windows for. (Windows Server, home file sharing, etc), however for just standard productivity i prefer Mac

 

[deleted303591]

I'm assuming MBA are compatible with most forms of external storage (e.g the external doesn't have to be flash storage like the MBA)? Also, if I end up needing to boot Win7, would it have been a better idea to get a PC ultrabook?

I've never been a Mac guy, but I am curious what all the hype is about and that's partially why I'm leaning MBA.

Flash drives are generally not a problem with Macs, since they are typically in the FAT32 partition (Windows and Mac compatible). Hard drives either have to be formatted in FAT32 (to be compatible with both Macs and PCs-I don't recommend doing this because the files are less secure) or Mac OS Journaled to be NATIVELY compatible on a Mac.

Windows drives (any hard drive, internal, external, portable) that are formatted for Windows XP and later are formatted in the NTFS format, which cannot be NATIVELY read on a Mac. This obviously causes problems when your friends try to transfer stuff from a NTFS formatted drive on to your Mac.

The way to get around this is to purchase a software called Tuxera NTFS, which allows the NTFS drives to be read, written to, and even formatted on a Mac.

If you need to boot Windows 7 or higher on a Mac, you will need a minimum of 40 GB of a partition for Bootcamp. Keep that in mind since the solid state drives do not have as much space as a regular hard drive (at least for now).

Another option for booting Windows (and is also more convenient) on your computer is using VMWare Fusion. But I recommend 40 GB of free space for Windows 7 and higher.

I have to boot Windows on my Mac all the time as an engineering student, for a variety of reasons, mostly for convenience. I use Windows XP on VMWare Fusion and I only need 20 GB of free space.

 

[MedPR]

Its well worth the hype. Don't buy into the whole anti-Mac argument until you try Mac OSX for yourself. I do a ton of IT/web development on the side (+ school) and i honestly would never go back to windows. Mac is just extremely fluid, the OS works well and its way more stable than windows by far. It was based off a variant of linux (long time ago). and yes, you can boot windows if you would like which makes it even more sensible to get the mac, however, you don't even really need to "dual-boot" windows in the traditional sense. There is a piece of software called Parallels which will let you run windows side by side with mac, so if there happens to be that one random windows application that doesn't have a mac version you can run it using parallels.

Also, if you end up buying one of the new airs (i want one so bad), they come with an awesome technology called Fusion Drive which is essentially a solid state drive + a regular HD coupled together into one "logical" drive. The advantage of this system is that that OSX will automatically cache all of your most recent files as well as the OS files onto the solid state drive so your computer is snappy, but at the same time you don't have the storage limitations of traditional solid state drives.

Once you go mac, you wont go back 🙂

This isn't to bash on windows though, theres plenty of things i still prefer windows for. (Windows Server, home file sharing, etc), however for just standard productivity i prefer Mac

I will likely end up buying the newest version of whatever I do decide on. I've never had much luck with refurbs and I don't want to run into problems during med school just because I wanted to save a few hundred bucks. Fusion Drive sounds cool, but in a gimmicky way (no offense) rather than an increased productivity way.

Flash drives are generally not a problem with Macs, since they are typically in the FAT32 partition (Windows and Mac compatible). Hard drives either have to be formatted in FAT32 (to be compatible with both Macs and PCs-I don't recommend doing this because the files are less secure) or Mac OS Journaled to be NATIVELY compatible on a Mac.

Windows drives (any hard drive, internal, external, portable) that are formatted for Windows XP and later are formatted in the NTFS format, which cannot be NATIVELY read on a Mac. This obviously causes problems when your friends try to transfer stuff from a NTFS formatted drive on to your Mac.

The way to get around this is to purchase a software called Tuxera NTFS, which allows the NTFS drives to be read, written to, and even formatted on a Mac.

If you need to boot Windows 7 or higher on a Mac, you will need a minimum of 40 GB of a partition for Bootcamp. Keep that in mind since the solid state drives do not have as much space as a regular hard drive (at least for now).

Another option for booting Windows (and is also more convenient) on your computer is using VMWare Fusion. But I recommend 40 GB of free space for Windows 7 and higher.

I have to boot Windows on my Mac all the time as an engineering student, for a variety of reasons, mostly for convenience. I use Windows XP on VMWare Fusion and I only need 20 GB of free space.

That's good to know. I was reading about bootcamp and needing to use up a good amount of space with the second partition. Why don't people dual boot (with Parallels as mentioned in the above post) and save the space?

Do you use OSX at all or are you just always on WinXP?

 

[powerfetish]

Get a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 because I have all of my textbooks on it, and I prefer to read them on the tablet over hardcover because I can search for topics quickly, bookmark, etc. Another of its feature that I love is its note taking ability, and I take all of my notes on it because I can quickly take notes and videos without needing to get paper and carry a binder with me.

 

[NickNaylor]

I will likely end up buying the newest version of whatever I do decide on. I've never had much luck with refurbs and I don't want to run into problems during med school just because I wanted to save a few hundred bucks. Fusion Drive sounds cool, but in a gimmicky way (no offense) rather than an increased productivity way.




That's good to know. I was reading about bootcamp and needing to use up a good amount of space with the second partition. Why don't people dual boot (with Parallels as mentioned in the above post) and save the space?

Do you use OSX at all or are you just always on WinXP?

A second OS by its nature requires a ton of space. It doesn't matter if you run it in an emulator (as in VMWare) or as a dual boot system. You still have to have space for the OS and programs/data.

(sent from my phone)

 

[MedPR]

A second OS by its nature requires a ton of space. It doesn't matter if you run it in an emulator (as in VMWare) or as a dual boot system. You still have to have space for the OS and programs/data.

(sent from my phone)

I understand. My thought was designating X amount to a second partition kind of leaves some of the space unusable compared to dual booting.

For example Win7 needs a 40GB partition to itself, then the OSX partition only has ~88GB. If you dual boot, Win7 isn't always going to be using all 40GB like it does when it's in its own partition. I don't know if that's factual, but that's my perception.

 

[deleted303591]

I understand. My thought was designating X amount to a second partition kind of leaves some of the space unusable compared to dual booting.

For example Win7 needs a 40GB partition to itself, then the OSX partition only has ~88GB. If you dual boot, Win7 isn't always going to be using all 40GB like it does when it's in its own partition. I don't know if that's factual, but that's my perception.

True.

A partition is "allocated" space, set aside for storage, such as for an operating system.

 

[Abi123]

I have been contemplating getting an IPad and using VNC software to connect w/ a desktop PC at home (for things the IPad does not support). Any thoughts on this? I would be able to store a lot more things on my desktop and would be able to access it from anywhere.

Alternatively, I was considering purchasing a laptop and an Ipad. I would still use the VNC software to remote access my laptop which can remain at home. This option is little bit more expensive than the desktop + IPad route.

I have a WiFi hotspot gadget, so I will practically always have internet connection to access my files.

 

[MedPR]

I have been contemplating getting an IPad and using VNC software to connect w/ a desktop PC at home (for things the IPad does not support). Any thoughts on this? I would be able to store a lot more things on my desktop and would be able to access it from anywhere.

Alternatively, I was considering purchasing a laptop and an Ipad. I would still use the VNC software to remote access my laptop which can remain at home. This option is little bit more expensive than the desktop + IPad route.

I have a WiFi hotspot gadget, so I will practically always have internet connection to access my files.

Not sure what VNC is, but why couldn't you use dropbox/cloud?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[Abi123]

Not sure what VNC is, but why couldn't you use dropbox/cloud?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

VNC = Virtual Network Computing (otherwise known as remote desktop)

Basically, you could use your desktop (and all of its functions) using your IPad. You can do this remotely from anywhere as long as you have internet access. Its kind of like your computer will be at home and your IPad would work as your computer's monitor. This way you would have access to all the documents on your PC. You could also run things like MS Office or any other program you have on your computer. You could also run some games (FPS games would be a problem b/c of framerate issues though). You could run things w/ flash as well. Dropbox/Cloud allow you to have a storage space for documents and files, remote desktop would be like accessing your entire computer from somewhere else. There are plenty of YouTube videos displaying this if you want to check it out.

At a nearby hospital, doctors use the IPad along with this software to connect with the desktops in their office to approve CT scans, look at MRIs, approve treatment plans, etc.

 

[NeuroLAX]

VNC = Virtual Network Computing (otherwise known as remote desktop)

Basically, you could use your desktop (and all of its functions) using your IPad. You can do this remotely from anywhere as long as you have internet access. Its kind of like your computer will be at home and your IPad would work as your computer's monitor. This way you would have access to all the documents on your PC. You could also run things like MS Office or any other program you have on your computer. You could also run some games (FPS games would be a problem b/c of framerate issues though). You could run things w/ flash as well. Dropbox/Cloud allow you to have a storage space for documents and files, remote desktop would be like accessing your entire computer from somewhere else. There are plenty of YouTube videos displaying this if you want to check it out.

At a nearby hospital, doctors use the IPad along with this software to connect with the desktops in their office to approve CT scans, look at MRIs, approve treatment plans, etc.

I used to do this with my iPad and my work computer for research projects. I think the app was Citrix.

 

[Abi123]

I used to do this with my iPad and my work computer for research projects. I think the app was Citrix.

Yea, the hospital i was referring to uses Citrix. There are other IPad apps that allow you to do this as well.

 

[appleman123]

MedPR, given your post history, i'm certain you know the difference between an ipad / mac / pc.

why you trollin?