Not using school provided technology?

[MDPedigree]

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Hey guys, so I'm starting med school this fall and my med school provides all students with a surface pro 4 tablet/computer. I however don't want to use that device because I have been a heavy apple user for more than a decade and love iOS and MacOS. I already own a macbook pro and ipad pro from undergrad and they did wonders for me and I hope to continue using them.

Has anyone done or heard of someone completely ditching or selling the computer/tablet issued by the school in favor of their own? I'm hoping if I do this however that there is no school specific programs only compatible with the surface. Any input would be highly appreciated!

 

[MDPedigree]

Starting med school by going against what the school appears to require of its students is a bad idea. Start learning windows now. As they said on Star Trek: Resistance is Futile, You will Assilimated

I just feel like med school is hard enough as it is. I don't want be facing another battle using programs I'm not comfortable with. I'm so used to the smoothness of my apple products I feel like it will make learning easier and more enjoyable for me to use them.

As Shania Twain said : Dance with the one that brought you

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

I just feel like med school is hard enough as it is. I don't want be facing another battle using programs I'm not comfortable with. I'm so used to the smoothness of my apple products I feel like it will make learning easier and more enjoyable for me to use them.

As Shania Twain said : Dance with the one that brought you

Maybe you can only use EMR on windows products. Maybe there's a specific security firewall they put on their lectures that can only be bypassed through one of their devices. You need to talk to current students to find out why they give this computer to everyone.

 

[smukke]

I just feel like med school is hard enough as it is. I don't want be facing another battle using programs I'm not comfortable with. I'm so used to the smoothness of my apple products I feel like it will make learning easier and more enjoyable for me to use them.

As Shania Twain said : Dance with the one that brought you

Get used to it now with the rest of your former-Mac-only classmates. Not getting used to it now potentially means any issues that come up later on, you'll be on your own.

What exactly of Windows do you find so different though? As a Windows/OSX/Linux and Android/iOS user, it sort of baffles me how much trouble people seem to have switching between platforms. Sure the exact shortcut/key sequence/button location isn't the same but there's always something very similar you can use.

 

[MDPedigree]

Get used to it now with the rest of your former-Mac-only classmates. Not getting used to it now potentially means any issues that come up later on, you'll be on your own.

What exactly of Windows do you find so different though? As a Windows/OSX/Linux and Android/iOS user, it sort of baffles me how much trouble people seem to have switching between platforms. Sure the exact shortcut/key sequence/button location isn't the same but there's always something very similar you can use.

I can use windows. I know how to use windows. I use windows almost everyday as part of my scribing job. The first computers I used to work on at Best Buy were largely windows. It's not a question of can I use windows or not, but its a question of preference on my PERSONAL device that I will be using almost 24/7. Because I am going to be using a device 24/7 in med school, I'd rather it be one im excited/happy to use as opposed to one I can use but am not a fan of. Med school has enough difficulties as it is, I would hate to one day be having a terrible day only to have to go study and be thinking "wow I hate this device, I'd much rather be using one that I love and have laying around but I can't."

I have used a Surface Pro in the Microsoft store by my house, and it is nowhere near as smooth as an ipad pro for note-taking. Look up any review online, they'll tell you the same thing.

 

[Phile98]

Are there any softwares needed for med school specific to windows that don't have a Mac version? These days everything is made for both platforms. I feel your pain though. Mac>>>>>>>>>Windows in comfort, reliability, and everything. Just keep using Mac until a roadblock (if ever) occurs. If one occurs, dual boot your Mac or get parallels.

 

[raiderette]

FFS, it is an operating system. I have learned 3 EMR systems and will learn another during an away rotation. Use what your school requires. If you insist on sticking in Jr. high with Apple, that can be for additional information. Be flexible. It will help you during clinicals.

 

[MDPedigree]

FFS, it is an operating system. I have learned 3 EMR systems and will learn another during an away rotation. Use what your school requires. If you insist on sticking in Jr. high with Apple, that can be for additional information. Be flexible. It will help you during clinicals.

For me, it's not even about the operating system. I could honestly care less about MacOS vs Windows here. It just comes down to smoothness of taking notes on an iPad Pro vs Surface Pro. One is way smoother and nicer for note taking. I would rather use that.

 

[smukke]

For me, it's not even about the operating system. I could honestly care less about MacOS vs Windows here. It just comes down to smoothness of taking notes on an iPad Pro vs Surface Pro. One is way smoother and nicer for note taking. I would rather use that.

I took notes on a Surface Pro and OneNote throughout med school and never really found any problems with smoothness. And online reviews I've seen have been pretty much a draw when it comes to notes/handwriting with Pen vs Pencil, the biggest difference I've seen was with drawing/art when using taking advantage of the advanced features of the Pencil like the tilt.

I can say that from an IT standpoint it's a lot easier to support 1 model of computer than try to appease every student who needs help. Makes it a lot easier to deploy settings for wifi/printing/shared drives, less testing of programs for tests/etc, and have an easy way to swap out a student's broken laptop so they aren't waiting for days while their's is in the shop. As long as you are already comfortable using Windows, I don't think there's any harm in using what you prefer but think that selling off what they provide may set you up to have a bad time later on.

 

[ciestar]

LOL what even is this thread?!

OP, use what you’re comfortable with to take notes. It does NOT matter. I doubt people woulr be riding your case if you were asking about taking notes on paper.

My school as a tech requirement. Many used the ipad, many didnt. Some used their laptop, some used a surface pro they had, some used paper. Just be aware when you’ll need what they give you. For simple note taking, who literally cares. For my school you only needed the ipad for exams and certain apps the school developers put together.

My friend’s school gave everyone a laptop, and they were required for one thing: exam taking. Other than that, they don’t care and my friend took all of her notes on paper.

 

[maplecookie]

To be honest, it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind on what to do.

I don’t think it’d matter that much note-wise like the poster above me has said but if the rest of your school is windows focused I’d be a bit concerned about how much help you’d be able to get from their IT department in a pinch. At the very least I wouldn’t sell/get rid of the school given surface until I’m sure all the softwares I need will work on your Apple products and even then I would try to hold onto them in case something comes up in the future.

 

[Catalystik]

Phone the tech guys affiliated with the med school now. They can answer your questions before you start.