Thoughts on which laptop/other devices during residency

[Eyeball Tickler]

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I wanted to ask everyone here on what their thoughts are with regards to their preferred laptop or tablet device (or other technology) for their learning, productivity, and growth during residency?

I currently own a surface pro from med school which was nice because it could record audio and video. But I would imagine that taking notes on a touch screen laptop or tablet with a stylus would just be too impractical during the hectic and haphazard residency teaching sessions and lectures...?

I would imagine that a simple enough laptop would work for studying purposes... but does anyone in here use something more powerful like a surface or anything else?

Thoughts?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

A hospital/residency may have strict rules about what can and cannot be used. Plus, some programs may supply devices. Once you match somewhere, best option is to ask others at that program what they use, and what works best.

 

[operaman]

Definitely program specific.

For us, everyone seems to use a laptop, something light and portable. You’ll probably need a real computer just for productivity. We use them in clinic and anywhere else where workstations are at a premium. I find it hard to be anywhere near as productive on a tablet.

I also use an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil for reading and note taking. I love it for this but it doesn’t replace a laptop.

 

[PlutoBoy]

I wanted to ask everyone here on what their thoughts are with regards to their preferred laptop or tablet device (or other technology) for their learning, productivity, and growth during residency?

I currently own a surface pro from med school which was nice because it could record audio and video. But I would imagine that taking notes on a touch screen laptop or tablet with a stylus would just be too impractical during the hectic and haphazard residency teaching sessions and lectures...?

I would imagine that a simple enough laptop would work for studying purposes... but does anyone in here use something more powerful like a surface or anything else?

Thoughts?

You don't need any special devices. I did and still use my phone a lot to access UpToDate.

 

[Raryn]

Hospital may have rules about what you can use, but everywhere I've ever worked or trained was agnostic as to platform. We could use whatever we wanted, both at work and at home (for remote access and such).

That said, other than the iPad I had as a third year medical student, the only device I ever took to work was my cellphone. YMMV.