Tablet for Med School

[vbgal41]

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I am seriously considering buying a tablet for medical school. Many of the students I have staying with have found it very useful for class. I don't think any of the schools I am considering supply them for the class. I was deciding between an iPad and a Nexus 10, but have pretty much decided on the iPad because I can get a discount. My question: what do I need? Memory size- 16 vs 32 vs 64 GB? 4G or Wi-Fi? Or am I just wasting my money? Any opinions would be welcome. Thanks!

 

[cwrig14]

I would definitely stick with the wifi over the 4g version. IMO, not worth the initial extra $$$ for the 4g or the monthly payments.
As for the memory, I think you'll be fine with the 16 or 32. If you have a laptop that you will also use failry frequently, I'd do the 16. If it's your primary source of computing, get the 32.

My .02$

 

[psychegots]

How can you type notes on a touch-screen!? I need a good old keyboard.

 

[SeverusSnape]

You can always get a case that has an actual keyboard built in if you're worried about typing. I've had an ipad for awhile now though and the typing isn't incredibly difficult after you get used to it. Autocorrect though, that's an entirely different story.

 

[Goobs]

Or you can use an app like notability and a stylus. Thats what they're forcing high school students in my area to do now.

 

[cerno]

How can you type notes on a touch-screen!? I need a good old keyboard.

I've heard that if you look hard enough, you can find a stylus and accompanying software that is NOT garbage. That can help if you like written notes.

 

[cwrig14]

I've heard that if you look hard enough, you can find a stylus and accompanying software that is NOT garbage. That can help if you like written notes.

Anybody have any recommendations as to which specific styluses (or styli) and keyboards are most accommodating?

Probably has been discussed before but I lazy today

 

[redshadow]

How can you type notes on a touch-screen!? I need a good old keyboard.

This.

As much as I find the tablet to be "fun" for sitting on the couch and browsing the web while I'm watching TV or something, the few times I tried to use an iPad in classes proved to be pretty fruitless. I can see it for reading books and course materials, but note taking? Ehhhh. I'll keep with a laptop.

 

[cwrig14]

This.

As much as I find the tablet to be "fun" for sitting on the couch and browsing the web while I'm watching TV or something, the few times I tried to use an iPad in classes proved to be pretty fruitless. I can see it for reading books and course materials, but note taking? Ehhhh. I'll keep with a laptop.

But with a decent keyboard, isn't it efficient enough to warrant not having to carry a laptop around all day?
I don't have a tablet, but this was my assumption and why I plan to save up for one this summer.

 

[redshadow]

But with a decent keyboard, isn't it efficient enough to warrant not having to carry a laptop around all day?
I don't have a tablet, but this was my assumption and why I plan to save up for one this summer.

Depends.


If you're carrying a separate keyboard around, that's just added hassle IMO (iPads still work best with apples wireless keyboard). If you're using a case-integrated keyboard, then it's all about how well the actual keyboard works. I don't want to be sitting in lecture worrying whether or not my button presses on my third-party device will register.


Never had that issue with a laptop, and I carry a backpack anyway. My 13 inch macbook has always fit right in with my books...pair that in with the more robust software available on the platform...I just don't see a reason to swap out for a tablet. I work more efficiently on a laptop.

 

[battousai]

I know that you said you decided on an iPad, but I'd personally vouch an android tablet instead. It's cheaper, has upgradable memory and is much more customizable than an iPad.

 

[Goobs]

Anybody have any recommendations as to which specific styluses (or styli) and keyboards are most accommodating?

Probably has been discussed before but I lazy today

http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Solo-S...&qid=1360958673&sr=8-1&keywords=bamboo+stylus

For a writing app theres a lot of debate between notability, noteshelf, and penultimate. Personally I use notability.

PS I'm just trying this out too, but I'm not sure I prefer it over pen and paper or even typing stuff on my 11 inch air. With that said I have the ipad mini so that might be the reason why I'm having more difficulty.

 

[galaxyx]

It's not the fanciest or the best screen, but if you want to do handwritten notes on a tablet as its primary purpose, get a Galaxy Note 10.1 It's active stylus is way easier to deal with because it can tell the difference between the stylus and your hand, is pressure sensitive, etc.

 

[Remxed]

It's not the fanciest or the best screen, but if you want to do handwritten notes on a tablet as its primary purpose, get a Galaxy Note 10.1 It's active stylus is way easier to deal with because it can tell the difference between the stylus and your hand, is pressure sensitive, etc.

Problem with the Galaxy Note 10.1 is that aside from the S Pen, the rest of the tablet is not very good: http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/15/3243546/samsung-galaxy-note-10-1-review

If you want the best stylus experience for note taking, the Surface Pro may be your best bet right now despite its short battery life: http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/5/3955130/microsoft-surface-pro-review

 

[vbgal41]

I know that you said you decided on an iPad, but I'd personally vouch an android tablet instead. It's cheaper, has upgradable memory and is much more customizable than an iPad.

If so, which would you recommend? And is it cheap enough to offset a 20-25% discount on the iPad? From the research I've done, the only comparable one I've found is the Nexus 10 and I can't get a discount on that one.

 

[Mountaineer12]

But with a decent keyboard, isn't it efficient enough to warrant not having to carry a laptop around all day?
I don't have a tablet, but this was my assumption and why I plan to save up for one this summer.

I have small keyboard built into my iPad case and it's amazing. It's definitely lighter than a laptop and super easy to use. I've never had a problem with my iPad not registering what I typed and I've only had to charge the battery once since I bought it in the summer. Definitely the way to go for portability.

 

[vbgal41]

This.

As much as I find the tablet to be "fun" for sitting on the couch and browsing the web while I'm watching TV or something, the few times I tried to use an iPad in classes proved to be pretty fruitless. I can see it for reading books and course materials, but note taking? Ehhhh. I'll keep with a laptop.

Personally I prefer to take notes by hand, but some students I've talked to have found that you can pull up notes/ppts/texts and annotate them with a tablet. So I guess I wouldn't be using it as my primary method of taking notes. Also, when doing research, it's nice to have 2 screens to work with (browse articles on tablet, take notes/write with laptop).

 

[dgsilvervid]

Anybody have any recommendations as to which specific styluses (or styli) and keyboards are most accommodating?

Probably has been discussed before but I lazy today

Im a fan of the Cosmonaut stylus. I have been using it for nearing a year and I love it. I had a keyboard for my iPad but ended up ditching it for the screen keyboard, after using it for a couple of weeks, I can type great on screen and its not worth the hassle of carrying a keyboard or keyboard case.

I have a used an iPad to take notes in every one of my courses over the past year and I absolutely love it, the thought of using a laptop in class sounds awful at this point, plus you cant draw figures and such unless you want to bring like a bamboo writing tablet or something with you. Using NotesPlus on the iPad and the thicker cosmonaut stylus has really changed the way I study.

I either have unlimited notebook paper in class specific folders on notes plus or i import slides into notes plus and write directly on the slides themselves and it all backs up to drop box if you want it to. It is great.

 

[galaxyx]

Problem with the Galaxy Note 10.1 is that aside from the S Pen, the rest of the tablet is not very good: http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/15/3243546/samsung-galaxy-note-10-1-review

If you want the best stylus experience for note taking, the Surface Pro may be your best bet right now despite its short battery life: http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/5/3955130/microsoft-surface-pro-review

A lot of the negative reviews are from when the Note 10.1 was initially released and before the OS update. If you actually look at more than one review, people either love it or hate it. Some of the negatives in this review have actually been fixed. No lag between programs in split view. Lots more programs are compatible with multiview, etc.
It's still the best for hand note taking/annotating powerpoints/pdfs. It's not the best for HD movies.

 

[113]

If so, which would you recommend? And is it cheap enough to offset a 20-25% discount on the iPad? From the research I've done, the only comparable one I've found is the Nexus 10 and I can't get a discount on that one.

25% iPad discount? Go on...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[vbgal41]

25% iPad discount? Go on...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

I work at target but we don't sell the nexus 10.

 

[jopee]

I just purchased a Microsoft surface RT for school. Same weight as an iPad, 10 hour battery life, a full size (and removable) keyboard, and the ability to run Office. Using OneNote to take notes this semester has been wonderful. I type the majority of my notes but use a capacitive stylus for drawing figures. This tablet has totally replaced my laptop. As far as multitasking and productivity, it is much more capable than my Nexus 7 ever dreamed of being. When I am hope, I dock it to my external monitor and a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse for a tradition desktop experience. Definitely worth your consideration.

 

[bboy doc]

Samsung ativ pro if you can afford one is the BEST tablet for med school or undergrad.