Is it necessary to have a laptop in medical school?

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How important is it to have a laptop in class? I have always been a paper/handout person. I was more comfortable printing out and reading everything on paper so I can mark and make notes. My question is how important is it to have a laptop (my school supposedly requires you to have a laptop) is it really necessary? Let me know..peace out 👍

 

[C8H10N4O2Junkie]

I was wondering this very same thing. Especially with all the campuses going wireless...

 

[Kevbot]

Our school also requires a laptop. And the specs they want are pretty top notch. They justify it by saying that a lot of the first year courses have an online component. Also, our school just became wireless, so it might be worthwhile to have one. As far as in-class use; I've heard that few people actually bring their laptops into class. That's personal preference I suppose.

Anyone have any advice about getting a laptop? I'm thinking of getting a Dell.

 

[jonb12997]

at UNE we all have laptops... I personally use it quite a bit to take notes. It's especially good if the professor is pretty up on using technology and they put their power points online you can have them open and if you miss something it's a easy to just go back and check the slide. Another thing I found, our bacteriology prof lectured incredibly fast, I'd say 110 of the 120 people had their laptops open and were typing notes because you couldn't write fast enough. I also like it because I can go to school and work on typing out study sheets, definitions, etc... or look at old power points without having to print everything, etc. (and I'm not even going to mention when class gets boring you can surf the internet and get on IM with friends)... That being said, I'd definetly get a laptop, even if it does just sit at home most of the time, there might be those few times that you're getting together with a study group at school and you need a computer... Or you can't concentrate at home and need to go to school to study... (I think you get the idea). Plus you have the flexability to move around at home and not be stuck to your computer desk... just my $0.02

 

[Nate]

I went with IBM because I was able to get a huge discount (I may be able to hook you up Kev) although Dell is much less expensive and supposedly good as well. The most important factor is getting a 3 or 4 years warranty because you will most probably need it.

 

[Megalofyia]

I went with Dell for my desktop..
But for a laptop I want to get a tablet PC.. I'm looking at Toshiba at the moment for that.

 

[kaikai128]

My roomate and I both will have Dell x300's. It is very light with a separate docking station that you do not have to take along. My roomate said he frequently took his along and used it on a frequent basis during his master's program.

 

[mcandy]

You need a computer, but I dont think it needs to be a laptop. In fact, as a permanent member of the back row authority, I watch a large percentage of my classmates, who bring their computers to class, waste a lot of time surfing instead of listening. I too am a pen and paper guy...and prefer to write my notes and never bring my computer to class because then I can get work done. Enjoy your last moments of freedom.

 

[jnpeacoc]

I have a Toshiba tablet pc for next year, and I LOVE it. I got it in February and already I can't imagine not having it. I've got a Toshiba, so if anyone has any questions about it, send me a pm.

Jesse
KCOM 2009

 

[TheFish005]

COMP requires you to have a laptop. i very rarely take it to class with me, though, for the above stated reason of being distracted. half the class is on AIM, and then there's the internet right there. it's more of a hindrance than a help for me (in class). i do love having it, though, because i use it constantly at home. we have wireless set up in our apartment, and it comes in handy for study groups.

-E-
COMP 2008

 

[wertyjoe]

I bought the alienware 7700m for portable gaming and of course for school. Its got built in surround sound speakers, built in camera, 17 inch screen, and full size keyboard. Its basically a laptop on steroids which I hope will come in handy for those boring lectures. Its a little much for school but it fits my needs. 🙂

 

[Megalofyia]

I bought the alienware 7700m for portable gaming and of course for school. Its got built in surround sound speakers, built in camera, 17 inch screen, and full size keyboard. Its basically a laptop on steroids which I hope will come in handy for those boring lectures. Its a little much for school but it fits my needs. 🙂

See if alienware had a tablet PC this would be exactly the way I'd go.. but they dont 🙁

 

[DORoe]

I went with Dell for my desktop..
But for a laptop I want to get a tablet PC.. I'm looking at Toshiba at the moment for that.

tablets are great! i am currently testing one out for my school. It is a Gateway and very nice with a good price point at 1400. i would get a laptop I have rid myself of paper forever.

 

[DOctorJay]

you UMDNJ kids should go with a Dell. that's what we use for everything and I'm pretty sure you can get a nice discount. wireless just got installed but i don't know anyone who's using it IN the classroom yet.

i'm not going to say a laptop is NECESSARY for med school, but it's definitely helpful. a lot of the info you get can easily be summarized in tabular form. if you do this on a computer you can quickly rearrange and change things to make them easier to learn and you can add/delete items much easier from a table than you would be able to if you made your own charts.

-J

 

[stomper627]

In todays technological world...yes.
You may be able to get away without one for your first 2 years (maybe....), but once clinicals start, youll need it. Youll have PPT presentations to give and if you plan on doing away rotations....you gonna lug around a desktop? Or I guess you could always do a slide show, you can find projectors pretty cheap now adays.....
stomper

 

[(nicedream)]

Laptops are definitely necessary for IMing and websurfing during boring lectures.

 

[sophiejane]

where's the love for Macintosh?

I have NEVER had a virus and NEVER had a problem. It works like a little dream, my iBook, and is WAY cuter than a Dell.

I have classmates who have had nothing but problems with Dell machines. But all the Mac users are always happy, oddly enough.

Plus, Bill Gates has the Mark of the Beast.

 

[1viking]

Laptop is not needed. I'll be honest, everybody shows up with their laptops for the first week of class, then realizes that there is nothing you need it for. At KCOM we are given lecture notes, so there is no reason for it, unless the lecture has a ton of pictures (derm, histo, path), which makes it nice if you can have the PPT before hand.

I'd get a laptop, though, cause it makes life easier.

Hey, I have a Dell and I have never had a virus or a problem. Just because windows sucks doesn't mean you have to get sucked. By the way, I finally made the switch from windows to unix on my little ol' dell--Fedora Core 3. It sure is nice to get thousands of dollars of window$ software for free because of the open source crowd. Plus, I have a cool little app that has eyes that look to the direction of where my mouse is on the screen and I also get Wanda the fortune teller. Do you get that with Windows or Mac? I think not.

Back to the topic, get a laptop AND a desktop.

 

[Nate]

where's the love for Macintosh?

I have NEVER had a virus and NEVER had a problem. It works like a little dream, my iBook, and is WAY cuter than a Dell.

I have classmates who have had nothing but problems with Dell machines. But all the Mac users are always happy, oddly enough.

Plus, Bill Gates has the Mark of the Beast.

I have had PCs for years and years and never had a virus or a problem (minus the blue screens of death with Windows 95 back in the day but XP is awesome). To be honest, you have to be a real ninny to get a virus because it requires risky behavior... kind of like STDs 😀 On the other hand, I was forced to use a Mac at work and after a few months of torture I threatened to throw it out the window if a PC was not purchased. I was serious.

 

[Kazema]

where's the love for Macintosh?

I have NEVER had a virus and NEVER had a problem. It works like a little dream, my iBook, and is WAY cuter than a Dell.

I have classmates who have had nothing but problems with Dell machines. But all the Mac users are always happy, oddly enough.

Plus, Bill Gates has the Mark of the Beast.

Let these silly Windows people keep their PCs. We Mac users know what brings true computing joy 😀.

 

[pmpndaflip]

Thanks you guys for the honest opinions...NO laptop it is cuz I'm old skool 😎 plus I know it'll distract me during lecture 👎