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iPad 2 for College

intervenient said:
The thing about buying the iPad is it's supposed to fit IN to your lifestyle, not have to make you shift things around to MAKE it fit in. I could see the iPad being the perfect alternative for a laptop for a Literature major, or a History major, but doing as something as technical as Civil engineering means that you don't have the luxury of relying on handwritten notes on a device that's meant to be used for entertainment or light productivity.

I've fallen into this mentality before (and now I'm doing it every day with the advent of the iPad 2 announcement), but at the end of the day, I don't need to ruin my productivity with a fun device, but need a working laptop for my stay in college.

And if that doesn't help, just think of it like this: the iPad 6 will be out when you graduate. Then you'll have plenty of time for a "play" computer and a "work" computer



Edit: I see a lot of university students chiming in here saying that the iPad works fine for them. My question is, what are you majoring in?
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Good post btw. For the sake of the question, Visual Effects BA (which requires software mostly dedicated to PCs with powerful specs) and the odd history lectures here and there.

iPad doesn't fit so much into the path of finishing my degree, it helps ease away from all the concentration/constant workflow during the week. This way, I can have a break from hardcore techonology, whilst being in a comfortable position and still being able to access any basic area of work.
 
I'm so tired of these threads, and yet i feel the need to answer them. To be extremely brief, I use my iPad for everything you mentioned plus more. It can be used for everything, is faster in my opinion, end of story. The majority of people who say the iPad can't, well, they're a bunch of old people that cant adjust to the new times.

Technology has progressed past computers and into more portable devices. Its the same thing as to why some older aged people to this day still don't have cellphones and know how to use a computer. This was a huge technological step that many cant adapt to. But i know for a fact, as a college student myself, that the iPad can replace almost all the needs for a computer. Its improved my grades by keeping me organized and was literally a life saver.

Oh, I don't use a physical keyboard either. Only my virtual, and it's godly and i can type nearly as fast and accurate.
 
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I have a MBA and an iPad.

For Chemistry and Biology, I download the lecture slides and annotate straight on them with good reader on the iPad.

For Physics and Maths (I assume elec engineer would take these 2 courses?), I annotate onto PRINTED lecture slides or notebooks...
My university gave FREE iPads to all first year students in a science degree (I had one already), I'm yet to see ANYONE take maths or physics notes on the iPad yet.
How are you going to keep up when the lecturer is deriving equations when you're looking for the stupid antiderivative symbol 3 equations back? Forget about trying to line up matrices...
If you're going to use a stylus, then you might as well use a pen and write on the lecture slides so it's in context. (Especially when the lecturer has hinted it would be in the exam.) You can always scan it and put it on the iPad later.

That being said, our campus has committed to having everything online, ie lecture recordings, slides up before the lecture, so it's easy to be organised with it. I also have 80% of my textbooks on there... Which saves me carrying about 15kgs, and if I have a break, I can pull it put and do some of the required readings.

So, yes, the iPad is helpful, but just don't think it'll do everything.
I don't even take the MBA into Uni.
(I'm writing this on my iPhone, so if it comes out funny I'm sorry!)
 
If it's engineering I can tell you now that note taking on an iPad will be exceptionally difficult. Considering the amount of equations you'll be writing down...you'll be using a pencil and paper before the end of the first week. In a class of 200 I've yet to see someone using anything electronic for note taking, however there are a good few people who keep an electronic copy of the class notes or textbook and refer to it during lectures.
 
for what it's worth, my son went through a 4 year computer science degree and I couldn't force even a laptop on him. Computers at school on their network and his computer at home that he could remote into school with. Hand notes for everything else. Did use the hell out of the iPod Touch I gave him though.
 
stefc93 said:
Well see, that's the thing: I don't (nor can I) spend the extra money for an MBA. And since I have a great computer at home, I really don't need another computer and, therefore, can not justify the cost of buying one.

Like I said, the iPad would be used mostly for note taking but maybe once in a while for working on things "on the go."
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everyones giving you the long answer.

Short answer - Get it. Get 3G if you can just in case even if you don't use it much, it's nice to have. Get the keyboard for longer note taking and paper writing.

Get a VNC/RDP App like Jump Desktop where you can connect to your home computer remotely and access all programs and files. There's nothing you'll need to do in college that you can't do on an iPad (except maybe some flash websites.. teehee)
 
I tried it for law school, I bought the iPad 3G on launch day. It just didn't work out. The cool thing about the iPad, I thought, would be that I could write notes in addition to typing with a bluetooth keyboard.

Months later, I even bought the Zagg Mate (which is awesome, by the way):
http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zaggmate-ipad-case

It's just that the software just isn't there yet. The iPad is great for other uses, but when you have to write a paper and have several windows open for research, it takes too much time to do that on the iPad, and without a trackpad.

But the main issue is handwriting- unless the app supports palm detection (many don't, one or two do, but they aren't really for PDF annotation), you can't write. Your hand will touch the screen and create stray marks, and the Pogo stylus I tried was only so-so for annotation.

I'm on the verge of buying my wife a MacBook Air (she's also in grad school), but I'm waiting for the June update, hopefully we'll get an i3 or i5 processor in there first. The 11.6" version is awesome- it barely feels heavier than the original iPad (and it's slimmer), and it has the same screen resolution as her 15" MacBook Pro it'll be replacing.

If I were you, I'd go with the Air. It's also really fast because of the SSD, and when Lion comes out with TRIM support, it'll be even better. The UI is also becoming more iPad-like, which is great.

I just can't recommend the iPad for school use. You need a laptop (I was really disappointed when I found out the hard way).
 
As a grad student I can say it doesn't work really well if you're in a math/science related major where typing notes isn't efficient. It would be perfect if there was an active digitizer/Wacom technology embedded, but otherwise trying to use a stylus on the iPad screen doesn't work too well. I'm currently considering whether to give the iPad 2 another try or move on to an HP Slate 500, but the iPad is just so damn sexy!:(
 
saberahul said:
Note taking: Notes Plus App
Typing Essays, etc: Pages App
Downloading PDF's and annotating them in real time: PDF Expert, GoodReader App
Learning Civil Engineering while being entertained with the ease of videos: iTunes University
Bottom line: adapt to it, get used to it, you will see the benefits and use it a lot more than you think you will. Consider purchasing the targus rubber tip stylus for note taking. As this is the bottom line, i should also mention that it is your decision but in my experience, my suggestion is to go with the iPad and not the MBA. You can also draw on the iPad which is a big plus for free-body diagrams that you will be doing your first 2 years and then CAD which you can somewhat do (enough for college level) using the autocad app for the iPad.
Hope this helps.
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I just got into grad school and am also anticipating getting the iPad. This thread and this particular post have been very helpful :D
 
Textbooks

I would like to add, during my time using the original ipad for class, I rarely took direct notes onto the ipad even though I owned the apple keyboard; I prefer to jot down and highlight. I used it more so to save my back from the three huge textbooks I would have had to buy if I didn't own the electronic versions on my ipad. That in itself made the ipad completely worth it.

Plus I noticed myself surfing less on the net and actually listening to lectures more so than if I had an actual laptop with me.
 
secksthoi said:
I would like to add, during my time using the original ipad for class, I rarely took direct notes onto the ipad even though I owned the apple keyboard; I prefer to jot down and highlight. I used it more so to save my back from the three huge textbooks I would have had to buy if I didn't own the electronic versions on my ipad. That in itself made the ipad completely worth it.

Plus I noticed myself surfing less on the net and actually listening to lectures more so than if I had an actual laptop with me.
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Is that because of the lack of multitasking on iPad?
 
I'm a computer science student and I have both a Macbook Pro and iPad and i love them both. Generally i think of the Macbook Pro for college and the iPad for couch surfing, emai and games. I wouldn't ever do anything major on an iPad. If i could only keep one item i'd definitely keep the Macbook Pro but the iPad is still lovely to have as a luxury. Upto you at the end of the day!
 
it'd be nice depending on what class you're in. If it's a simple class where all you have to do is write, such as history then you're fine. It'd be like using a laptop. Simple notes where all you need are paragraphs and lines.

Math and science though you should just forget about it. Eventually you'll need a drawing and it work as well. Paper and pen would still be best. But there are some apps where you can draw in your own details. I'd like to try it out myself if i ever get an ipad.

one plus though, you get to play games and still look productive lol... i'm on my phone through most of chem anyway... class is boring and i just teach myself so i play angry birds or something haha
 
I bought an iPad 1 the day it came out with the intentions of using it for college. I ended up selling it because I found a guitar on Craigslist that I really wanted about 2 months later so the iPad had to go. This was back before iOS 4 was available so things have changed quite a bit, but honestly, as much as I tried to use it for note taking, typing papers, and just about anything else school related, it just didn't work. The GIS software that is used (ArcGIS by ESRI) at my university only runs on Windows (I do have the ArcGIS app on my iPod touch however), I can find used or previous edition used copies of my textbooks on Amazon or eBay for much cheaper than the electronic versions from what I recall, and my university has so many computers on campus (about 1/4 as many Macs as PCs), that it would be possible to make it through college without ever owning a computer. With that being said, for the brief time I had it, I enjoyed using it for other things such as couch browsing at home, reading books, netflix, etc. I'd definitely consider an iPad 2 for these things and 95% of what I use my iMac for are these things.
 
Bluetooth keyboard + note taking app will be more than adequate for taking notes. Dropbox to file sync.

You still have your computer to edit and write papers on, but anything you need to do on the go or in class as a student, the iPad + a bluetooth keyboard can get done.

I tried it for law school, I bought the iPad 3G on launch day. It just didn't work out. The cool thing about the iPad, I thought, would be that I could write notes in addition to typing with a bluetooth keyboard.

Months later, I even bought the Zagg Mate (which is awesome, by the way):
http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zaggmate-ipad-case

It's just that the software just isn't there yet. The iPad is great for other uses, but when you have to write a paper and have several windows open for research, it takes too much time to do that on the iPad, and without a trackpad.

But the main issue is handwriting- unless the app supports palm detection (many don't, one or two do, but they aren't really for PDF annotation), you can't write. Your hand will touch the screen and create stray marks, and the Pogo stylus I tried was only so-so for annotation.
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Who in their right mind would try to write a legal research paper on the iPad? And what the heck are you annotating in law school? Electronic text books? There's a reason law books haven't come to the Kindle and whatnot yet...You're annotating your notes? PDF handouts? I'm confused. Outside of a textbook, I can count on one hand the number of times I needed to annotate something. Besides, annotating has never been easier on a computer than it is by hand.

OP just has to realize the devices limitations.

Research papers:

You can write them on the iPad, as long as your near a dedicated research machine. This might save some time, actually, as you can keep research up on the computer and the document up on the iPad (or vice versa). Editing will almost certainly have to be done on the computer.

Note taking:

Paired with a bluetooth keyboard, absolutely fine. I've heard notability is a great app, but I haven't tried it yet.

Research assignments:

No less capable at research than a laptop or desktop, unless your research requires flash.

Homework:

Depends on the nature of the homework. Law school case briefs would be just fine on the iPad.
 
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I am a second year undergrad university student and I just bought the iPad 2 to replace my MacBook pro as my on campus computer. The main reason is that my mbp is like 10lbs and I actually torrent half my textbooks in PDF so I have easy access with my pad. But I can tell you now it definitely does not replace my mbp in any way besides portability. It's glitchy and slow in browsing and sometimes I can't do things like pull up the touch screen keyboard so I am stuck when I am typing notes. If I did not have my mbp I would easily get a MacBook air for campus convenience. That being said, I love my iPad and the fact that I can show it off to my friends however, I do feel like a jackass using it in class.

Also, I am typing this post on my iPad. It took me over 10 minutes.it would have taken me 30 seconds on the laptop.
 
*sigh*

b5054b8a.png
 
From an Electrical Engineering student

I have been in your same position. It is all about how you make of it. I can take stylus notes on my ipad2 for University physicsII, Computer organization, etc. etc.. Once you gain familiarity it is really convenient. I use a an app named Noted I think and it has a very good layout and user friendly. It also has great organization with files (i.e. seperating lectures and diagrams drawn).

Since everybody else seems to be missing the point of this thread, the apps I would recommend would be dropbox and noted for class notes. Enjoy the purchase!
 
You can always use a physical notebook and transfer you hand drawings onto the iPad. Taking photos and either leaving them under a separate photo folder, or turning into a PDF.

I am not taking math classes, but am trying the stylus and writing approach.

That said, I have dysgraphia and am finding writing with the big alupen stylus much more comfortable. But them I am using notes plus, which gives you a large writing area which it shrinks down and scrolls across the page.

I am going to experiment with the handwriting to text recognition apps next, but probably not until the end of the semester.

For math intensive, I would suggest pen and paper, and just making electronic copies for review and travel on an iPad.
 
Last semester was my first semester of college. I used my MBP. Overall it was a pain to drag around, even though it only weighs 3 pounds, added to the weight of 5-7 different textbooks, overall not fun.

Got my iPad 2 and have yet to really use my MBP for anything school related. Type all my papers under Pages on my iPad. Have a couple of note taking applications for writing notes with a stylus and a couple applications for some of my textbooks. Makes life that much easier, especially being at school 10+ hours each day, the iPad battery is perfect for me. I've been getting through the entire day of school with 45%+ battery left over. My laptop barely made it 5 hours.

IMO the iPad is a better tool for college if you already have a main computer at home. I hardly seen any laptops besides Airs at my campus, mostly tablets and I'm at a Community College.
 
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