He's already got the MBA, so the iPad is just more expenses to be able to do what he can already do.
no. you cannot write by hand with an mba. you cannot read regularly (portrait mode) on an mba. you cannot use it all day without a plug (back to back lectures). And, you cannot easily take it out and study (flashcard programs, reviewing notes, etc.--think the bathroom or laying in bed). the ipad and mba do a lot of the same things, but it is surprising how long i go without even turning on my computer. it is just nicer to do stuff with the ipad. it depends a lot on your field of study and how well you use it, though.
Taking notes in class? The extreme majority of people will prefer the MBA. A MBA will last an entire day of classes. It's extremely lightweight already.
how can a five hour battery last all day (assuming you stay on campus more than five hours)? yes, there are people huddled around the outlets. i, on the other hand, am lounging around outside, or just sitting anywhere i please. i don't know of any studies on this preference you mention for the mba, but given that you can type with the bluettooth keyboard exactly the same as with the mba, you can read, and you can handwrite, i don't see the benefit of an mba in class. maybe the students you surveyed just don't know how to use it well. i have found this to be the case, and have given presentations to faculty and students on how to incorporate it into their workflows. it isn't for everyone, but it is certainly something with great potential.
The cost (for a college student) just isn't justifiable for class/schoolwork use.
that is a case by case thing. it depends on your budget. for me, i basically have every book, note, receipt, etc. at my fingertips. i have flashcard programs, i have notetaking programs, i have all sorts of things that greatly increase my productivity and learning. i love the mba, but it just isn't very pleasant for reading. to each his own. i don't think you can write it off as a frivolous expense, though.
wow, two strong groups of opinions. Anyways, there is the best buy deal for $45 off, and the micro something? store for $50 off. Definitely a steal. More temptations?
I spend a lot time in front of the comp, so I avoid reading on a pdf, if I can read a book. I also like write and highlight my books.
i can't tell you how nice it is to read, write in the margins, highlight, and then email that to yourself. basically, you get to do exactly the same thing as you would with a regular book, but you can:
a) read all of the notes separate from the book (highlighted and annotated parts get exported)
b) read the book/article anywhere/anytime.
c) find any word anywhere. how many times does the name "john f. kennedy" come up in my notes and the thousands of books and articles i have digitized? i can tell you in a few seconds. an expert in the field couldn't beat that.
i just got back from a meeting with a retired professor. we had a discussion about the usage of a term in one of the texts i am reading. i pulled up every instance of the word from the 16th century in a few seconds and we read through the texts together.
yes, this is possible with the mba, but how likely is it that you will have it charged, on, ready to whip out of your bag, and are you both going to huddle around the screen? probably not. i put my ipad flat on the table and had it all there in seconds.
the ipad has paid for itself time and time again. the mba has its place and i definitely don't recommend the ipad for everything, but on campus, it's usually all i need.
