Tablet for Med school?

[EpiPEN]

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So I'm thinking of getting a new laptop in preparation for medical school (or just another execuse to get some cool toys) and I'm having trouble deciding if I should get a Tablet pc. I still have my gaming pc so I don't need my laptop to run Crysis at max video option or anything (but it should be good enough that if I'm bored in class I can boot up a good round of Civ 3).

Any suggestions, ideas, opinions, experiences?

I figured one note could come in handy since most professors gives electronic copies of their lectures or presentations. So to be able to take notes on them directly would seem like a good idea. But yeah I'll admit I am also partially buying it because I think tablets are cool looking (despite the underpowered graphics). I guess I can also consider an ultra-mobile PC but they look like I would be killing my eyes to use.

 

[161468]

I don't have personal experience with tablets, but I often hear that using the tablet functionality of OneNote is not the best way to take notes. You could type faster than you can write for one thing and all the misinterpreted letters could really slow you down. I use OneNote all the time but just on a regular computer.

I am personally looking to get an ultra-portable laptop (like an eee PC) for med school. I just need something to take notes on and surf the net, nothing more. However, I do want it to run Windows (so I can use OneNote), which is proving to be a problem. I hate spending lots of money on portable computers because they are not worth the cost.

 

[insane]

lenovo is good, panasonic is decent with the toughbook, toshiba is pretty good for the price. i would recommend lenovo from experience because the toshiba accelerometers tend to wear out really fast.

 

[EpiPEN]

I don't have personal experience with tablets, but I often hear that using the tablet functionality of OneNote is not the best way to take notes. You could type faster than you can write for one thing and all the misinterpreted letters could really slow you down. I use OneNote all the time but just on a regular computer.

I am personally looking to get an ultra-portable laptop (like an eee PC) for med school. I just need something to take notes on and surf the net, nothing more. However, I do want it to run Windows (so I can use OneNote), which is proving to be a problem. I hate spending lots of money on portable computers because they are not worth the cost.

dude the eee PC has like 8 gigs of memory total, which is okay... but what if you want to watch a movie in class? 😀

no but what if you want to run powerpoint presentations for your projects later?

 

[EpiPEN]

lenovo is good, panasonic is decent with the toughbook, toshiba is pretty good for the price. i would recommend lenovo from experience because the toshiba accelerometers tend to wear out really fast.

haha, panasonic is automatically out of the picture for being way to $$$$

yeah the lenovo t61 seems pretty interesting but has no built in DVD/CD/RW/etc... if I recall correctly

you own a lenovo tablet or regular laptop?

 

[TheRealMD]

Unless you've used a tablet before, I wouldn't recommend getting one now.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Me neither. Get yourself a Lenovo, and go to town. Here's a fantastic laptop for the money: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834146293

 

[wally47]

if you are getting a tablet, plan on getting a dock to go with it to negate the lack of a cd drive and extra usb ports

 

[Bond8204]

I agree that you can type faster for notes, but a tablet would let you draw diagrams or pictures, which I wish my laptop could've done in college. I got a small HP tablet, which I'm pretty happy with...but can't say how useful it is for med school classes yet..

 

[Bond8204]

if you are getting a tablet, plan on getting a dock to go with it to negate the lack of a cd drive and extra usb ports

😕 are you thinking about the macbook air?

 

[EpiPEN]

Me neither. Get yourself a Lenovo, and go to town. Here's a fantastic laptop for the money: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834146293

bleh... if I wanted a regular laptop I would probably go for one that had dedicated graphics. Besides, this one is on par with my current laptop.

 

[EpiPEN]

😕 are you thinking about the macbook air?

man that thing looks like it would break if I hold it in my hands 😀

 

[SirGecko]

if you are getting a tablet, plan on getting a dock to go with it to negate the lack of a cd drive and extra usb ports

Or you could just get one of those convertable tablets that do have a cd drive and keyboard. (like the screen twists around)

On whether or not the OP should get a tablet... I'd try to get my hands on one if I were you and try it out. If you like it then get it. I don't have one but got to use one for a few weeks at the beginning of this semester and loved it. If you are going to use it to take note though I'd get some practice with it before you start actually using it in class. (there are some aspects which take getting used to)

 

[EpiPEN]

Or you could just get one of those convertable tablets that do have a cd drive and keyboard. (like the screen twists around)

On whether or not the OP should get a tablet... I'd try to get my hands on one if I were you and try it out. If you like it then get it. I don't have one but got to use one for a few weeks at the beginning of this semester and loved it. If you are going to use it to take note though I'd get some practice with it before you start actually using it in class. (there are some aspects which take getting used to)

the way I figured I could use the tablet mode, if I don't like it, I can still take note like a regular laptop but I can do other stuff in tablet mode i.e. watch movies since it much handier to hold a computer to watch in tablet mode when i'm relaxing then it is to have the thing sit on my lap or stomach.

 

[insane]

haha, panasonic is automatically out of the picture for being way to $$$$

yeah the lenovo t61 seems pretty interesting but has no built in DVD/CD/RW/etc... if I recall correctly

you own a lenovo tablet or regular laptop?

i have a lenovo laptop but i repair pcs and laptops for people and i get quite a bit of tablets through and considering that i used to own a toshiba tablet don't get it. Panasonics are the best hands down for tablets and laptops can't beat the cop-puter but my brother has a lenovo, and as much as i dislike tablets in general for their lack of built in inputs the lenovo is really something.

Ideally you should get a pc but its not very portable, so I would recommend a laptop lenovo makes some pretty damn amazing laptops for the price, i configured one recently for a friend and after all discounts it came out to around $2000 which is decent for all the extra crap he wanted on it.

Get a nice laptop over a tablet but if you must get a lenovo.

 

[Schmitty]

My brother bought a fujitsu LifeBook tablet...it has a 12.1" screen, DVD-RW, tons of features, etc....and it's amazing! It has a 3M coating on the screen that makes it pretty much impossible to hurt (he sets his coffee mug on it during lectures while taking notes...)...yes you can type faster using the keyboard, but if you are in a class that has very few diagrams, just can just swivel the screen and type like normal...but if you want diagrams or to annotate, you can use it in tablet mode.

I have a Dell m1330 and I use OneNote for everyhting....I even print all my PDF docs into it and highlight in OneNote...I don't have a single note on paper anywhere, everything is right at my fingertips.

I'm not in Med School yet (unfortunately) but I would think a tablet would be very handy for classes such as anatomy, etc, where diagrams would be very helpful.

Also, I write MIGHT neater on a tablet than on paper....

 

[emttim]

My brother bought a fujitsu LifeBook tablet...it has a 12.1" screen, DVD-RW, tons of features, etc....and it's amazing! It has a 3M coating on the screen that makes it pretty much impossible to hurt (he sets his coffee mug on it during lectures while taking notes...)...yes you can type faster using the keyboard, but if you are in a class that has very few diagrams, just can just swivel the screen and type like normal...but if you want diagrams or to annotate, you can use it in tablet mode.

I have a Dell m1330 and I use OneNote for everyhting....I even print all my PDF docs into it and highlight in OneNote...I don't have a single note on paper anywhere, everything is right at my fingertips.

I'm not in Med School yet (unfortunately) but I would think a tablet would be very handy for classes such as anatomy, etc, where diagrams would be very helpful.

Also, I write MIGHT neater on a tablet than on paper....

Schmitty, so would you recommend writing notes on a tablet laptop with OneNote over writing notes by hand and then scanning the pages (for the same purpose, to have a digital copy)? I've been contemplating doing this myself for med school (I already have a laptop right now which has no tablet unfortunately) but I'm wary of the technology being good enough...sounds like you're doing it so figured I'd ask.

 

[Tutmos]

This I can actually speak from experience about, unlike medschool 🙂

Fujitsu it the best choice for a lot of reasons. They're the most reliable, designed to last with far better hinge etc. I've been using my lifebook for 2 full years of undergrad now and would never go back. It writes just like using a pen and takes a beating. About half the time I ride a crotch rocket to school and it vibrates along in a tank bag and has nice scrapes and gouges in the case but plugs away. You have to get used to how Onenote works and learn how thing behave when mixing text and notes but once you do it's pretty slick. I don't use the writing to text conversion because my left handed slop doesn't convert well. The Fujitsu doesn't have the biggest screen or bling features but it's what really works for the job. I do have to say I got quite a laugh out of people trying to take notes with a normal laptop during OChem.

Get the extended warranty just in case you mangle the screen matrix or something.

My brother bought a fujitsu LifeBook tablet...it has a 12.1" screen, DVD-RW, tons of features, etc....and it's amazing! It has a 3M coating on the screen that makes it pretty much impossible to hurt (he sets his coffee mug on it during lectures while taking notes...)...yes you can type faster using the keyboard, but if you are in a class that has very few diagrams, just can just swivel the screen and type like normal...but if you want diagrams or to annotate, you can use it in tablet mode.

I have a Dell m1330 and I use OneNote for everyhting....I even print all my PDF docs into it and highlight in OneNote...I don't have a single note on paper anywhere, everything is right at my fingertips.

I'm not in Med School yet (unfortunately) but I would think a tablet would be very handy for classes such as anatomy, etc, where diagrams would be very helpful.

Also, I write MIGHT neater on a tablet than on paper....

 

[carwreck]

I recommend just getting a portable writing tablet like the Wacom Bamboo Small. I bought one of those for about $70 and use it with OneNote. It's great.

 

[EpiPEN]

No one is in favor of the Toshiba m700?

 

[notdeadyet]

(he sets his coffee mug on it during lectures while taking notes...)

With all due respect, Schmitty, your brother is insane.

Regarding whether or not to get a tablet, some folks like them and some don't. For folks who have them and don't like them, they almost always tend to be people who went with a cheap one.

If you are toying with the idea of getting a tablet, either get a great one, or don't buy one. The cheap ones will have support issues and can ergonomically be a nightmare. It is similar to one laptops came out and you could either buy expensive ones or pieces of $hit.

I have a Lenovo and like it a whole lot. In med school, I mostly use it as a laptop, typing comments into the notes fields of PowerPoint or commenting in OneNote. But when you take some classes (histology and pathology come to mind), the ability to circle things, draw arrows and such on the slides in realtime are a real plus.

If you get a tablet, I'd recommend getting a lightweight one that has a docking station at home for CDs and DVDs. You just don't need CDs or DVDs in your daily life, so you may as well leave the weight at home.

Lastly, regarding cost, I find that once you get used to the tablet, you buy less hard copy material (syllabi, etc.). I don't know that it pays for itself, but it's nice being hard copy-free, while most other students seem to drown in paper.

 

[alyssadk]

I just bought a cheapie version of the Lenovo someone posted (3000 N200) and I was really impressed. For being $375 it is pretty fast and the graphics are decent. That HD is small (80 gig) is really my only complaint after owning it for a week. Then again, I just bought it because my old computer (an hp) wouldn't recognize my ipod 😀

 

[insane]

No one is in favor of the Toshiba m700?

no im typing from one right now, has a bad accelrometer dosen't automaticlly change the screen when you turn it. stick with the lenovo

 

[EpiPEN]

Anyone do any multi-media / entertainment stuff w/ the tablet? How is it in that field? (besides the obvious lack of graphics power due to lack of dedicated card)

 

[taponthecloud]

Unless you've used a tablet before, I wouldn't recommend getting one now.

how come?

 

[taponthecloud]

haha, panasonic is automatically out of the picture for being way to $$$$

yeah the lenovo t61 seems pretty interesting but has no built in DVD/CD/RW/etc... if I recall correctly

you own a lenovo tablet or regular laptop?

i dont think the t61 has tablet capability.. and i believe the x61 is the one without an optic drive.

 

[EpiPEN]

i dont think the t61 has tablet capability.. and i believe the x61 is the one without an optic drive.

I meant the x61 sry, ofcoures the t series wouldn't have tablet *bonks self in head*

 

[blueblood]

i wish apple would come out with their tablet already...i've heard rumors about it for so long now...i bet it will rock when it finally comes out considering the ipod touch and iphone have some really cool touch screen functionality already...

 

[taponthecloud]

I meant the x61 sry, ofcoures the t series wouldn't have tablet *bonks self in head*

yea it's pretty weird how the "t" in t-series doesn't stand for tablet.... i would've been as confused if it wasn't for the fact that i'm getting a T61 soon.

 

[UVABranch]

I know HUCM uses toshiba...but I reccomend against all toshiba computer products. I currently ork ion IT and I have never had such consistantly poor customer service/tech support in my whole time here.

 

[EyeDocPlus]

I use 2 Motion Computing LE1600's in my practice for electronic medical records. I have a convertible keyboard on my desk that I can use in between patients. It also snaps over the screen to protect it for travel. I have a regular mouse and a DVD-ROM drive hooked to the keyboard as well as my AC power. My technician has a docking station on her desk with a keyboard and mouse. I have an extended battery pack on mine and I can get about 7 hours total out of a full charge. It was expensive in the beginning, but I opted for the largest hard-drive and the highest RAM. I have been really happy with them so far. I already had to replace the extended battery pack and one digitizer pen. Other than that they have been trouble free. The handwriting recognition software that comes with the tablet works well for taking notes. It usually gets it pretty close so I don't have to make to many corrections on the fly. I don't know that I would want to use one all day to take notes with though. The EMR software I use has lots of check boxes with phrasing already set for exams so I don't have to do a lot of writing during exams. I have played World of Warcraft on it and have watched some DVD's on plane rides. It actually has very good graphics and playback for movies.

 

[Rabid Manitee]

I have a Toshiba R25 S315 tablet convertible, I don't know who was saying they wouldn't get one again, I love mine and toshiba's tech support has been great.

I stepped on my laptop and broke the screen in half, called toshiba sent it off and it was fixed and back to me within 5 days!

Upgraded to vista and decided I needed to double my RAM to 2 gigs, also switched out the harddrive to a 160gb 7200rpm.

I dual boot Vista and Ubuntu and no problems with either. Onenote with a tablet is pretty sweet when being able to make diagrams on powerpoints for anatomy.

I usuaully run photoshop, dreamweaver, and two or other three programs and have no problem/lag.

The only negative is the Li-ion battery has halved but that's common with any laptop and I'm on my third AC adapter and have loosed the powerjack from normal wear and tear and tried to re-solder it back on and was unsuccessful but oh well.

I think for my next computer I might look at Asus, their tablets and mobile laptops look nice so we'll see...