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do you guys think I should get myself a new laptop and/or PDA for optometry school? what kind of electronic gadgets are necessary? I like toys 
new gadgets for school!!
- Thread starter luckyfool
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I bought a laptop when i enrolled at ICO. Within a week of school starting I sent it back, because I realized I'd never use it.
The only people in my class that use laptops are the notetakers.
As far as PDAs, some of the third and fourth years have them, but none of us first years use them for school, so wait on that too.
The only people in my class that use laptops are the notetakers.
As far as PDAs, some of the third and fourth years have them, but none of us first years use them for school, so wait on that too.
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I just bought a tablet pc thinking i would use it to take notes in all my classes, and i've given up on it already! It's too heavy to bring, and i don't like the idea of studying off of a computer screen instead of paper notes! Oh well, at least now i'll have a computer to use in my new apartment =]
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Pacific requires a laptop for all incoming students. (I don't think you're attending Pacific, so this doesn't really apply to you...) As far as a PDA, I've heard it is handy to have while in clinic, using programs like Epocrates. Perhaps someone with more experience can chime in?
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I'd also say wait unless there are some unusual requirements at your school. Unless you have LOTS and LOTS of money to throw around, which most of us don't, but you might. 😛
My opinion is to skip the laptop unless you don't have a desktop to use at home. I use the computers at school to print stuff off, and I have a home computer...that's all I've ever really needed.
As people have already pointed out, PDAs can be useful in the future (when you're spending more time in clinic), but you really don't need one first year. A handful of my classmates have one for epocrates and Wills, but most of us get along fine without it.
I feel ya though, I'm dying for an excuse to buy a laptop. I just can't justify it right now (I'm a 3rd year).
My opinion is to skip the laptop unless you don't have a desktop to use at home. I use the computers at school to print stuff off, and I have a home computer...that's all I've ever really needed.
As people have already pointed out, PDAs can be useful in the future (when you're spending more time in clinic), but you really don't need one first year. A handful of my classmates have one for epocrates and Wills, but most of us get along fine without it.
I feel ya though, I'm dying for an excuse to buy a laptop. I just can't justify it right now (I'm a 3rd year).
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it's the IBM thinkpad, less then 4 lbs and i am never never never going back to paper - love it love it love it!
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You will get a better feel for expenses after you've been in school a few months. Maybe wait until after you order equipment. ^^
If you still feel like you can (and want) to swing for a laptop, then go for it.
It's just hard for me to think of any major purchases without considering interest on loans. Even if you have the cash in your hand, when you spend it on other stuff, that's more loans you have to take out.
I have also heard the argument that this is the "cheapest money we'll ever borrow." Though the way interest rates have gone up, I'm not sure that's true anymore.
If you still feel like you can (and want) to swing for a laptop, then go for it.
It's just hard for me to think of any major purchases without considering interest on loans. Even if you have the cash in your hand, when you spend it on other stuff, that's more loans you have to take out.
I have also heard the argument that this is the "cheapest money we'll ever borrow." Though the way interest rates have gone up, I'm not sure that's true anymore.
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Epocrates is very useful to me. I refer to it often to review side effect profiles ocular and systemic, pregnancy catagories, as well as pricing of meds. It gives an average price to topicals, as well as the bottle size availible...no sense dispensing 15 ml when a 10 or 5 Ml is available and sufficient. I also look out for the generics when I can- I would want the less expensive choice for me if it were as effective, so that's what I write for. 🙂
You may not need it right away in school(PDA), so it may be better to wait. As technology always improves.... there are some phones now that have palm operating software and could run Epocrates...
I don't know if you would want it in the exam room though.😱
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At SCO we were required to buy a PDA and used it in one class for some quizzes but since then, it's been useless. Most just use it to play games during class 🙄
I'm in my third year so we're in the clinic but I still dont' use it and several of my classmates have sold theirs.
As far as a laptop, I got one my second year and love the fact that I have wireless and can just move around my apartment!
I'm in my third year so we're in the clinic but I still dont' use it and several of my classmates have sold theirs.
As far as a laptop, I got one my second year and love the fact that I have wireless and can just move around my apartment!
