Which tablet?

[BlackSwan]

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I personally love my nexus7, the only issue being I have not considered medical app availability. For the price relative to general use, I think google tablet > apple. My $.02

The N7 is nice, but I don't think it's great for preclinicals.

Have you tried annotating PDFs or PPTs on it? The smaller screen size seems inefficient for writing notes.

 

[Ravizzle]

...no prob.

I can understand why you had such troubles, you had the iPad one...the pioneer! (so did I 😉 ) and back then, the world was just getting into tablets. It was all flash and no html5, webpages were slow and heavy, etc.

Now, things are much different. Like, downloading ePub books. You used to have to download to a computer, convert formats and then upload through iTunes (or blackberry, or whatever else you were using)

Now, you can just browse epub book download for iPad (usually just google the book you want and add ipad download, and it will give you a link that you can click and the iPad downloads it automatically. Nothing to learn really, except just to search for it.

As far as the video formats...most people loved the VLC app, but it got pulled. I have it still, and you can find it for download if you are savvy enough with file sharing...but AVplayerHD does the job too. There are probably a dozen others, but thats the one I know.


Anyway, iPads/iOS are made now so that you never need a computer for anything. So, if you are trying to do something, and you think you need a computer for it...you don't! 🙂

Hope that helps 🙂

OK awesome. Good to know. I'll be very embracing to the iPad if Nova does indeed give them to us.

Otherwise I'll stick with my Asus transformer prime.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

[dudeliness]

Was this the thread where we were talking about MBP vs MBA? I'm trying to decide if its really worth the extra $$$ for the MBA over the MBP

 

[GopherMD]

Was this the thread where we were talking about MBP vs MBA? I'm trying to decide if its really worth the extra $$$ for the MBA over the MBP

I'm probs gonna go with the MBP. There are rumors that the new MBPs (will be released in spring-early summer) are going to be all retina display. Which would be awesome.

I'm aiming at getting a 15in model and using an iPad for taking to class and whatnot

 

[dudeliness]

I'm probs gonna go with the MBP. There are rumors that the new MBPs (will be released in spring-early summer) are going to be all retina display. Which would be awesome.

I'm aiming at getting a 15in model and using an iPad for taking to class and whatnot

Why the 15in and not the 13? Personal preference? I'm torn between a bigger screen/lighter weight/more ram/bigger SSD/smaller profile.

 

[GopherMD]

Why the 15in and not the 13? Personal preference? I'm torn between a bigger screen/lighter weight/more ram/bigger SSD/smaller profile.

Mostly personal preference. A friend has the retina MBP that I tested out and I really enjoy the extra screen space compared to my white 13in MacBook. The retina display is not bad either. I don't plan on bringing my laptop everywhere as I will have an iPad too.

 

[dudeliness]

Mostly personal preference. A friend has the retina MBP that I tested out and I really enjoy the extra screen space compared to my white 13in MacBook. The retina display is not bad either. I don't plan on bringing my laptop everywhere as I will have an iPad too.

I just wish I knew if an iPad would do it for me for the day to day med school stuff, or if I'm going to be wanting my laptop every day. Then if I want the laptop will I think it's worth the extra weight/size to carry around a MBP retina vs the lighter/smaller MBA? So many questions, so many idevices, so little money.

 

[Abi123]

What stylus do you guys use with your tablets?

 

[NeuroLAX]

I just wish I knew if an iPad would do it for me for the day to day med school stuff, or if I'm going to be wanting my laptop every day. Then if I want the laptop will I think it's worth the extra weight/size to carry around a MBP retina vs the lighter/smaller MBA? So many questions, so many idevices, so little money.

We're talking a difference of about 1.5 pounds between the two. Negligible if you ask me. I have no problems carrying my MBP around. The problem with the iPad is if you're multitasking. It would be a pain to go back and forth between programs on an iPad.

 

[dudeliness]

We're talking a difference of about 1.5 pounds between the two. Negligible if you ask me. I have no problems carrying my MBP around. The problem with the iPad is if you're multitasking. It would be a pain to go back and forth between programs on an iPad.

True enough. My real dilemma is not really iPad vs laptop, but which laptop, MBA or MBP...

 

[MedPR]

True enough. My real dilemma is not really iPad vs laptop, but which laptop, MBA or MBP...

If you are only using it for school the MBP isn't necessary.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[NeuroLAX]

True enough. My real dilemma is not really iPad vs laptop, but which laptop, MBA or MBP...

MBP-R 15" would be my pick. I hate tiny screens.

 

[Colbare]

iPad using Notes Plus has been amazing for pdf annotation and slide by slide recording. I wouldn't use anything else

 

[HalfListic]

What stylus do you guys use with your tablets?

finger

True enough. My real dilemma is not really iPad vs laptop, but which laptop, MBA or MBP...

MBA...it's light

 

[dudeliness]

Good points from all.

 

[DrBumblebee]

What stylus do you guys use with your tablets?

That's a good question. I've been reading stories about that some stylus do make micro scratches on the screen. If you use a screen protector to prevent this, then touch screen's sensitivity reduces, either.

Maybe it's gonna be better to have an MBP along with a tablet and a stylus. That'll do.

 

[JGimpel]

Here's the issue; you probably already have a phone that runs Apple iOS or Android, have some form of laptop that you've used for a while that works for you and possibly a home PC that you can get some processor/space heavy work done. You have to decide if you want yet another device to support while you have the luxury of tons of free time in medical school.

I recommend the iPhone 4s or the Samsung Galaxy 3 as the new phone if you're in the market for a new device is really portable. "Rooting" or Jailbreaking" is possible on both, so you can put whatever you want on either one for a substantial discount if that's driving your decision. If you've done that, you can transfer files back and forth whatever way you want and avoid iTunes completely. Torrents of medical apps, ebooks and movies are illegal but the price is right for some people with the technical skill to get them on any device and that's I'll say about that.

Either of these phones are also reasonably priced now that the next device is soon to be out in the next few months. This is the way it is every year with Apple and Android phones. Any of these will fit in your white coat without a problem. Stay with iOS 5.x for iPhone and at least Jelly Bean releases that they run on for the best functionality and compatability with everything else.

If you don't have a laptop, focus on that first and the novelty of having a tablet that you can use your stylus on wears off when you have to hold the screen with one hand while you're writing with the other. The glare factor when in class is also a problem when you're under the bright lights. Both these issues happen with most tablets with the amount of use you'll get in med school.

If you absolutely have to have an Apple tablet device, get a refurbished iPad 3 and save yourself the money. The spec differences between that and an iPad 4 are not enough of a reason to spend the money on them. I love Samsung devices for their screens and build quality, so I would get one of their tablets above any other. MBP can use normal 500GB drives that make more noise from it or the fan used to cool it while the or Air has a flash drive that is more expensive to use for Apple and they have no problem passing on the extra cost to you. Spending over $1000 for any device and getting around 128GB of drive space is ridiculous.

Just please don't be "That Guy" that sits down in the lunch room of your school and proceeds to take the iPad out to plug it into his laptop USB to sync, then his phone into the laptop to charge and sync and finally plugs the laptop into the wall outlet to make sure he doesn't run out of power. I've seen this a lot recently and it's really easy to see that his priorities may not be in the right place. If you want to do this, you may as well carry this one around; it may be a bit lighter:

You will quickly find out all the problems you'll have doing a physical exam with the chance of hitting the patient with the tablet or iPad as you lean over them. What about shared lockers or just a coat rack or having no safe place to lock it up if you have an urgent admission and have left it somewhere else? If you're scrubbed in on a surgery or leaving it in your doctor's office while seeing patient, that defeats the purpose of having something so portable. My phone traveled with me everywhere and was big enough to read off of any app, especially "pinching" the area I wanted to see up close. If you have to buy one of those "Inspector Gadget" white coats with 12 pockets for your devices, you're going in the wrong direction. I thought much higher of the Residents and Attendings that had a small amount of stuff on them than those that seemed to carry everything on them, as if they didn't know enough after being a doctor for several years.

More money spent now means less money for UWorld and interviews later when it really counts.

 

[MedPR]

Here's the issue; you probably already have a phone that runs Apple iOS or Android, have some form of laptop that you've used for a while that works for you and possibly a home PC that you can get some processor/space heavy work done. You have to decide if you want yet another device to support while you have the luxury of tons of free time in medical school.

I recommend the iPhone 4s or the Samsung Galaxy 3 as the new phone if you're in the market for a new device is really portable. "Rooting" or Jailbreaking" is possible on both, so you can put whatever you want on either one for a substantial discount if that's driving your decision. If you've done that, you can transfer files back and forth whatever way you want and avoid iTunes completely. Torrents of medical apps, ebooks and movies are illegal but the price is right for some people with the technical skill to get them on any device and that's I'll say about that.

Either of these phones are also reasonably priced now that the next device is soon to be out in the next few months. This is the way it is every year with Apple and Android phones. Any of these will fit in your white coat without a problem. Stay with iOS 5.x for iPhone and at least Jelly Bean releases that they run on for the best functionality and compatability with everything else.

If you don't have a laptop, focus on that first and the novelty of having a tablet that you can use your stylus on wears off when you have to hold the screen with one hand while you're writing with the other. The glare factor when in class is also a problem when you're under the bright lights. Both these issues happen with most tablets with the amount of use you'll get in med school.

If you absolutely have to have an Apple tablet device, get a refurbished iPad 3 and save yourself the money. The spec differences between that and an iPad 4 are not enough of a reason to spend the money on them. I love Samsung devices for their screens and build quality, so I would get one of their tablets above any other. MBP can use normal 500GB drives that make more noise from it or the fan used to cool it while the or Air has a flash drive that is more expensive to use for Apple and they have no problem passing on the extra cost to you. Spending over $1000 for any device and getting around 128MB of drive space is ridiculous.

Just please don't be "That Guy" that sits down in the lunch room of your school and proceeds to take the iPad out to plug it into his laptop USB to sync, then his phone into the laptop to charge and sync and finally plugs the laptop into the wall outlet to make sure he doesn't run out of power. I've seen this a lot recently and it's really easy to see that his priorities may not be in the right place. If you want to do this, you may as well carry this one around; it may be a bit lighter:

You will quickly find out all the problems you'll have doing a physical exam with the chance of hitting the patient with the tablet or iPad as you lean over them. What about shared lockers or just a coat rack or having no safe place to lock it up if you have an urgent admission and have left it somewhere else? If you're scrubbed in on a surgery or leaving it in your doctor's office while seeing patient, that defeats the purpose of having something so portable. My phone traveled with me everywhere and was big enough to read off of any app, especially "pinching" the area I wanted to see up close. If you have to buy one of those "Inspector Gadget" white coats with 12 pockets for your devices, you're going in the wrong direction. I thought much higher of the Residents and Attendings that had a small amount of stuff on them than those that seemed to carry everything on them, as if they didn't know enough after being a doctor for several years.

More money spent now means less money for UWorld and interviews later when it really counts.

I hate you for being right.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[DrBumblebee]

 

[dudeliness]

I hate you for being right.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

Lol.
Doesn't really change the fact that I'll need some sort of computer for med school and like he said, I don't want to waste time in med school learning a new OS so I'll prob just get a Mac laptop.

 

[MedPR]

Lol.
Doesn't really change the fact that I'll need done sort of computer for med school and like he said, I don't want to waste time in med school learning a new OS so I'll prob just get a Mac laptop.

I've been trying to justify a tablet, but he totally killed it for me lol

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[dudeliness]

I've been trying to justify a tablet, but he totally killed it for me lol

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

Lol. Well you could always get one now and take the next months to get used to using it and then maybe it would be worth it.
I think once the learning curve has been passed, the ability to take notes on PDFs and slideshows without printing them off or using a keyboard could be worth the effort/cost.

 

[JGimpel]

😀
I share because I care.