Technology Smart phones, laptops, and MS1/2
Started by fahimaz7
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Laptop is helpful for taking notes, but it can also be distracting.
Smartphone is a waste if the only reason you want one is for school. Other than keeping a calendar, there is no use for it in MS1/MS2. During MS3, a smartphone or a PDA is a must IMO.
Smartphone is a waste if the only reason you want one is for school. Other than keeping a calendar, there is no use for it in MS1/MS2. During MS3, a smartphone or a PDA is a must IMO.
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I guess it sort of depends on your school's curriculum.... but I couldn't imagine NOT having a laptop during the 1st two years. I would be willing to bet that at most schools just about every student has/uses a laptop for much of MS1/2.
Good part is that it really doesn't need to be a super-fancy-fast computer. I'm still using my 4 yr old Dell with no problems. Not the fastest out there but all I really need it to do is run Office and get on the internet. If you don't have one now just wait until you start and get one of those $500 laptop deals that every place has. Assuming your school doesn't provide them?
As for the PDA, I agree, really not needed first couple years unless you just really want one. Next year once I start clinicals I'll upgrade and get a PDA/smartphone, but for now it's kind of a waste.
Good part is that it really doesn't need to be a super-fancy-fast computer. I'm still using my 4 yr old Dell with no problems. Not the fastest out there but all I really need it to do is run Office and get on the internet. If you don't have one now just wait until you start and get one of those $500 laptop deals that every place has. Assuming your school doesn't provide them?
As for the PDA, I agree, really not needed first couple years unless you just really want one. Next year once I start clinicals I'll upgrade and get a PDA/smartphone, but for now it's kind of a waste.
I don't use either. Most of the people in my class don't use a laptop to take notes. Usually when I see laptops up in class they are being used to surf the internet. Most people (including myself) do the old fashioned pen-and-paper method of note taking. I don't think you'd use the phone for anything in MS1/2.
Doesn't actually going through the process of "writing" the notes down also help you to embed them in your memory?
I've never taken notes with a laptop so I don't know if typing is the same in that respect as writing.
I had a desktop at the beginning of school (PC) and got a Macbook Pro by the third week. Never looked back since. I like having a laptop for class.
Don't take notes on my laptop, pretty much stopped taking notes all together. In rare times I do it's just with pen/paper. Laptop is there to look up something on internet/uptodate, look at a powerpoint, or a textbook-pdf.
i do everything electronically. I take most notes on professor's powerpoints and use OneNote for everything else.
I could not imagine what I'd do without a laptop. There aren't very many people in my class that don't have one.
I could not imagine what I'd do without a laptop. There aren't very many people in my class that don't have one.
You'll certainly want a PDA when you hit the wards. Why carry a phone and a PDA if you can combine them into a single device?
Also, you can usually get a smartphone without a data plan. Most people don't realize this. A data plan isn't always mandatory (it may affect the price of the phone if you don't get a data plan).
Also, you can usually get a smartphone without a data plan. Most people don't realize this. A data plan isn't always mandatory (it may affect the price of the phone if you don't get a data plan).
I'm going to get an iPhone when I start third year this summer. It's a waste for M1/M2 though. Just an expensive toy. But you will use it for reference when you are rotating. My sprint contract is up in May so I'll be free to switch to AT&T. Maybe I'll get lucky and Apple will come out with a new iPhone by then.
As for a laptop, I got an iMac the summer before M1 and I just got the new Macbook. I haven't used my iMac since I got my MB. I don't actually go to class, but when I go to school I do use my MB. It's nice to have to avoid the loud an obnoxious dells we have on campus. Plus I'd much rather use Quicktime/F4M to stream lectures than WMP.
As for a laptop, I got an iMac the summer before M1 and I just got the new Macbook. I haven't used my iMac since I got my MB. I don't actually go to class, but when I go to school I do use my MB. It's nice to have to avoid the loud an obnoxious dells we have on campus. Plus I'd much rather use Quicktime/F4M to stream lectures than WMP.
