Laptops

[SilverBvllet]

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to follow up with the iPad question- yes, i think it is great and i do everything with it now.

i used to type out notes but noticed that i was spending more time typing than "thinking" in class and usually had to go over it all with the video recording anyway.

what i like about using the ipad (with a stylus) and noterize- is that i write directly on the slides. i can also highlight and draw, or put digital "sticky notes" on a slide where i can write/type additional notes. it's flawless, i spend more time ON the slides during lecture and i get 10x more out of it than i did when i was purely typing notes.

but yeah, if you insist on typing you can definitely get a portable/roll-up keyboard, i just don't find it necessary.

i also love love love it for the flashcard program that i have where i import pictures from slides into the flashcards.

i also have textbooks on it (some through the library portal, a few bootleg), and First Aid. Also, Kaplan gave away 3 books for USMLE for free on Kindle- I got those on the Kindle for Ipad.

Life with iPad is awesome- it fits in my white coat too when the time comes. Never drag my laptop to school anymore.

Worth it- and the new ones are coming out soon, so you can get a new one or an old one for cheaper.

You sir or madam should work for Apple because you just convinced me to fast for the next 30 days so I can buy the iPad 2 coming out in April.

 

[MightyMoose]

It is pretentious to use a 500 dollar pen to take notes. Period. Appreciate it all you want, it doesn't lessen the ridiculousness, but hey that's their choice just like it is my choice to mock and laugh at them.

How is owning and using a nice pen pretentious? Either you don't know what that word means or you have a very narrow experience range. The fact that one uses a nice pen does not mean they show it off to their classmates, coworkers, etc.. I can also assure you that it isn't CEO's keeping nice pen companies in business. I will have my pen well after the period of time you will have retired your new ipad (which is just as much of a necessity as a nice pen... AKA, neither are necessary), so to me it seems like I will get more return for my investment.

 

[Fleur de Me]

You sir or madam should work for Apple because you just convinced me to fast for the next 30 days so I can buy the iPad 2 coming out in April.

I promise you won't be sorry! I love it!!

Also- I just checked this out- the Ganong physiology book on the Inkling app- you can buy each chapter for $1.99. It is amazing. See the review on imedicallapps.com:

http://www.imedicalapps.com/2011/02...anong-medical-physiology-app-review-learning/

Interactive textbooks where you can just buy the stuff you need. You get videos and special features as well as the text for a few bucks. It's revolutionary.

Oh, and I've been SO much better to the environment now that I don't print millions of things and make billions of flashcards by hand 🙂

 

[namethatsmell]

Lenovo s10-3t.

It's part netbook and part tablet..."netvertible" in geekspeak. Basically it's a 10" netbook with 7+ hours battery life that can convert into a touchscreen tablet. The touchscreen is not quite as nimble as the iPad but it's darn good. It's not as light as an iPad, but it weighs what a typical netbook does...pretty light.

The advantage is that this thing is a real computer (runs windows7) and can handle whatever computing task a med student might need. I got mine about 1 year ago for ~$350 online (I added extra ram for another ~$30).

When I begin earning an income again maybe I'll probably buy an iPad since they're sweet/fun...but I'm hoping that my s10 carries me until then.

 

[Geekchick921]

Your name and avatar are very interesting, good sir.

 

[MightyMoose]

Lenovo s10-3t.

It's part netbook and part tablet..."netvertible" in geekspeak. Basically it's a 10" netbook with 7+ hours battery life that can convert into a touchscreen tablet. The touchscreen is not quite as nimble as the iPad but it's darn good. It's not as light as an iPad, but it weighs what a typical netbook does...pretty light.

The advantage is that this thing is a real computer (runs windows7) and can handle whatever computing task a med student might need. I got mine about 1 year ago for ~$350 online (I added extra ram for another ~$30).

When I begin earning an income again maybe I'll probably buy an iPad since they're sweet/fun...but I'm hoping that my s10 carries me until then.

Do you have any stylus problems when you are writing with it? We just picked up a dell tablet, and it seems like when the stylus is ~1 cm from the display it starts to write, just not as heavily as it would if the stylus were on the screen. It makes writing in non-cursive standard penmanship very difficult for me. I thought I would love the feature, but it seems to be very messy and clunky, because the stylus is just too sensitive (in terms of distance from display). Any suggestions?

 

[namethatsmell]

Do you have any stylus problems when you are writing with it? We just picked up a dell tablet, and it seems like when the stylus is ~1 cm from the display it starts to write, just not as heavily as it would if the stylus were on the screen. It makes writing in non-cursive standard penmanship very difficult for me. I thought I would love the feature, but it seems to be very messy and clunky, because the stylus is just too sensitive (in terms of distance from display). Any suggestions?

That's a bummer. I used to have an HP tablet with a stylus and I was able to play with the sensitivity of the screen to control the distance at which it would pick up the pen--maybe give that a try? I can totally relate to the frustration of using the stylus...I got pretty fed up with my HP and had plans to sell the thing until I accidentally spilled a colossal amount of juice all over it (only consolation was that I'd purchased it used for minimal cash).

I think the premise of using a stylus with a tablet is cool, but I've yet to encounter a product that delivers a decent experience with the pen as the sole interface--it tends to feel cumbersome. I do think the pen is great for art apps and marking up documents. My current setup just has a multi-touch capacitive screen...so it's fingers only and that's exactly what I want.

 

[cher25]

Has anyone used an Macbook Air in class? Does it seem to hold up to usage? Or have you used any other comparable unit? Looks like I'll be using it mostly for Microsoft Office and Citrix.

Haven't read thru the entire thread so this may be addressed but check your school software requirement before buying a comp. At my school, Mac Pros met the minimum requirements whereas Airs and regular Macbooks did not. Another school that I'd been accepted to didn't allow Macs because they ran exams on something that required the Windows operating system. However, as a MacPro owner, I run VMWare for things I must access windows for.

 

[da8s0859q]

they ran exams on something that required the Windows operating system. However, as a MacPro owner, I run VMWare for things I must access windows for.

What'd they use? The two big computer testing platforms I know of have both Windows and Mac versions...

 

[cher25]

What'd they use? The two big computer testing platforms I know of have both Windows and Mac versions...

I really can't recall... I ended up at another school. I just remember them emphasizing that Macs would not be approved because of their testing system requirements.

 

[cbrons]

If you want something light to take to class- I travel exclusively with my iPad now. It's awesome for lecture and class- I take notes right on the lecture slides, have instant access to everything I need and can watch lectures (2x speed available in iTunes on the ipad!), and even have an elaborate digital flashcard system worked out that incorporates images from the lecture slides. If I get bored, I can even Netflix 😉

I never take my laptop to class now- it stays at home. Might be a better choice than a Macbook air.

Ipad + boxwave stylus + PenUltimate + Noterize is a winning combination.

 

[MCAT guy]

I'd like to press pause on the whole iPad pandemonium thing in here.

The iPad is good, not great. I've owned mine for a little over 2 months and while I think it's nice, it doesn't compete with a real laptop. You're pretty limited sometimes on the web and it definitely is slow compared to real computers.

I think of the iPad as a convenience tool, but by no means is it a workhorse. I wouldn't want it to be the driver of my medical school experience. I'd rather use a Lenovo tablet or just a basic laptop.

You can type faster than you can write (well, most of us). So I'm not sure about how great it is to take notes with the iPad. Obviously you can draw more things for classes that have pathways or whatever, but in reality you should be able to use bullet points or regular notes (or notecards) for most of med school. Quizlet online notecards FTW.

Ipad has nice flash card programs though, no doubt. But android and iphone both have those on lockdown too now.

Maybe the iPad 2 will be better but I doubt it. Apple releases a new whatever ever year, even if all they do is add a camera to the thing.

Here is the thinkpad tablet X201... (if you have a decent budget)

 

[bomgd3]

I actually use fountain pens to take notes instead of a laptop as well. I have a Lamy 2000, Lamy Studio Palladium, and Pelikan M215 for creating "nice" master note sets, and a $30 Lamy Safari for taking quick notes in class (the steel nib is faster to write with than a gold one). I use Clairefontaine notebooks which run about $6 apiece for 80 pages... best paper I've ever used.

Something about writing with a nice pen on nice paper makes notetaking special, like I am writing something that matters. I always make an effort to be very organized and clear with my master note sets, since that's what I study for the exams off of. The cost of fountain pens is definitely worth it for me. In comparison, my college laptop was a used $250 Thinkpad.

 

[cube12ic]

Laptop are now days very popular it has following advantages than Desktop:
- Office and Home PC are same
- Contain Less space than Desktop
- Laptop is also handy during Traveling.

 

[Fleur de Me]

I'd like to press pause on the whole iPad pandemonium thing in here.

The iPad is good, not great. I've owned mine for a little over 2 months and while I think it's nice, it doesn't compete with a real laptop. You're pretty limited sometimes on the web and it definitely is slow compared to real computers.

I think of the iPad as a convenience tool, but by no means is it a workhorse. I wouldn't want it to be the driver of my medical school experience. I'd rather use a Lenovo tablet or just a basic laptop.

I don't think anyone is arguing for the iPad as a replacement for a laptop. I still use my laptop- I just don't drag it with me to school everyday.

The iPad is a supplement, but that being said, I can imagine myself upgrading my iPad before I upgrade my laptop again (it is 2 years old). The laptop is great for writing and doing heavy computing. I still use it everyday. BUT- the iPad is an awesome thing to have in my bag with me 24/7, and at 1.5 pounds or less, it is not a big deal to cart around. Battery life is also superb, I use it for days before recharging.

Will I carry my laptop with me in the clinic all day? No, but I sure as heck will have my ipad in the inside pocket of my white coat. Some of the textbook options are great- I definitely recommend checking out the Ganong Physiology book which is not just a pdf, but made for the iPad, it's extraordinary. And I think there will be more to come. Not to mention First Aid, anatomy reference books, and about 5 other textbooks that I got free through my library that are now with me whenever I want.

Could I live exclusively with my iPad? I wouldn't, unless maybe I was traveling for a few weeks- but it certainly is an amazing accompaniment. The laptop stays home, the iPad comes with me.

Most people in college already have a laptop that will serve them just fine for word processing and making powerpoint slides. I'd say rather than get a brand new laptop for ned school, an iPad is worth thinking about.

 

[Bagh77]

To all those who are recommending the IPAD, make sure to include that the IPAD is NOT a laptop replacement. Don't ever, ever think of it as such. Doing so is going to screw you over. However, a combination of a tablet and a PC isn't a bad idea, just give it a few months or a year if you can, since tablets are starting to come out from a variety of companies, many of which will/have produced a much more stable and simply better product.

 

[MightyMoose]

That's a bummer. I used to have an HP tablet with a stylus and I was able to play with the sensitivity of the screen to control the distance at which it would pick up the pen--maybe give that a try? I can totally relate to the frustration of using the stylus...I got pretty fed up with my HP and had plans to sell the thing until I accidentally spilled a colossal amount of juice all over it (only consolation was that I'd purchased it used for minimal cash).

I think the premise of using a stylus with a tablet is cool, but I've yet to encounter a product that delivers a decent experience with the pen as the sole interface--it tends to feel cumbersome. I do think the pen is great for art apps and marking up documents. My current setup just has a multi-touch capacitive screen...so it's fingers only and that's exactly what I want.

Thanks for the info. I tried to customize the sensitivity and it's a bit better, but still frustrating. I am a huge fan of the fingers approach. It makes the tablet work just like my phone, which is a very nice feature. Hopefully I get a handle on the pen...

 

[SurfWaxAmerica]

I have the 2008 Macbook Air and I love it. I use it all day long for everything and it holds up well, I have the soft incase sleeve for it and that works just perfect. For two quarters now, I have been able to find my textbooks online for free as well, so I don't have to carry anything in my backpack but my Air [3 lbs] and a regular 1-subject notebook. Oh, also the charger.

Even the 2008 version is super fast. Boots up in a flash and apps open after the first click, there's no bouncing in the tray or anything like that. I actually prefer this 2008 version as well because it has the clickable trackpad but a dedicated click button as well.

Another alternative for people is to buy a cheap laptop to keep at home and buy yourself a Nook Color [$250], I have one of these as well and I really recommend it. Has enough HD space to load up on textbooks and it renders PDFs very nicely, there's no difference from viewing it on the Nook Color or a laptop. You can also load in powerpoints, documents, has a web browser, it does everything really. Carrying this around plus a notebook is suuuuuuuuuper convenient.

The books I didn't buy one quarter was enough to buy the Nook Color + some extra change.

 

[SurfWaxAmerica]

I also have a favorite pen/pencil as well. I'm actually obsessed with them. They're a set of chrome Cross pen and lead-pencil. I got them as a gift like in the 7th grade [I've had them almost 11 years now] - it's the ONLY pen/pencil I use, I'm super attached haha and they've held up super well, still look nice.

The set used to be like $30 at Staples, which is where my Dad bought it, but looking online now, its like $60.

http://www.cross.com/Catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?id=350105(Cross)

 

[MCAT guy]

I don't think anyone is arguing for the iPad as a replacement for a laptop. I still use my laptop- I just don't drag it with me to school everyday.

The iPad is a supplement, but that being said, I can imagine myself upgrading my iPad before I upgrade my laptop again (it is 2 years old). The laptop is great for writing and doing heavy computing. I still use it everyday. BUT- the iPad is an awesome thing to have in my bag with me 24/7, and at 1.5 pounds or less, it is not a big deal to cart around. Battery life is also superb, I use it for days before recharging.

Will I carry my laptop with me in the clinic all day? No, but I sure as heck will have my ipad in the inside pocket of my white coat. Some of the textbook options are great- I definitely recommend checking out the Ganong Physiology book which is not just a pdf, but made for the iPad, it's extraordinary. And I think there will be more to come. Not to mention First Aid, anatomy reference books, and about 5 other textbooks that I got free through my library that are now with me whenever I want.

Could I live exclusively with my iPad? I wouldn't, unless maybe I was traveling for a few weeks- but it certainly is an amazing accompaniment. The laptop stays home, the iPad comes with me.

Most people in college already have a laptop that will serve them just fine for word processing and making powerpoint slides. I'd say rather than get a brand new laptop for ned school, an iPad is worth thinking about.

Ok, so agreed. The iPad can be seen as a convenience tool, which is exactly what I said. You in fact reiterated that point saying it is easier to carry around.

I think the iPad is really good for what it does, being a convenient way to access media. My only problem with Apple is they try to lock you down to Apple for life. I won't buy many apps or books for my iPad (i.e. less than $100 worth of stuff) because there will be many tablets soon, and I don't want to invest $500 in various medical flashcards/texts/etc and then not be able to use them later if I find a non-Apple tablet I like. Companies are realizing how great these tablets are, there could be some very nice new tablets to hit market when I'm M3 in a few years. HTC and Motorolla have already done this in the phone market, and the iPhone is no longer leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else.

Google is breaking into the textbook/online book world, I will always buy Google. With Google Books I can read on an iPad, Kindle, any Android based tablet, any android cell phone, iphone, etc. I fell into the Apple trap with my entire music library, which is fine, but I'm definitely not investing a bunch in apps/books that will put Apple shackles on me for life.

Mobility and freedom are key.

 

[MCAT guy]

Laptop are now days very popular it has following advantages than Desktop:
- Office and Home PC are same
- Contain Less space than Desktop
- Laptop is also handy during Traveling.

This post is by far my favorite on this thread.

 

[eablackwell]

Just ordered my new 15" MacBook Pro for med school. 8GB RAM and 1 GB dedicated gfx memory, muhahaha. I enjoyz da overkillz 😉

 

[da8s0859q]

Just ordered my new 15" MacBook Pro for med school. 8GB RAM and 1 GB dedicated gfx memory, muhahaha. I enjoyz da overkillz 😉

Best part: Sandy Bridge for the CPU. That's gonna be a beast of a laptop.

High(er)-res panel also?

 

[JSGoldenbones]

This post is by far my favorite on this thread.

lolz.

 

[eablackwell]

Best part: Sandy Bridge for the CPU. That's gonna be a beast of a laptop.

High(er)-res panel also?

You know it! 😉