i used an iPad for uni for a week...and hated it (family iPad)
i went back to using my macbook pro and paper
it depends on the subject. anything with numbers its easier to just use good ol fashion pen and paper
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iPad mini iPad Mini for college note taking?
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i used an iPad for uni for a week...and hated it (family iPad)
i went back to using my macbook pro and paper
it depends on the subject. anything with numbers its easier to just use good ol fashion pen and paper
I've learned how to use my iPad for hand written notes for class quickly, and I get pretty good results and can keep up pretty well for speed. It's definitely not as fast as pen and paper, but the slight loss in speed for me is worth not having to carry multiple notebooks around and having to worry about paper ripping out (something that has always plagued me).
I use a combination of a Jot Pro (with extra aluminum foil in between the ball/tip for extra conductivity) and Notability/Notes Plus. Those two apps are really good for everything I've needed for note taking. My math classes don't seem to be a problem for me, and being in Econ pretty much all my classes are math based lol.
As for the multitouch gestures getting in the way, with my iPad 3 I had to turn them off since my hand was causing the apps to switch all the time, but with the mini it seems to treat accidental touches better, and I have not had the need to change the setting yet.
I use a combination of a Jot Pro (with extra aluminum foil in between the ball/tip for extra conductivity) and Notability/Notes Plus. Those two apps are really good for everything I've needed for note taking. My math classes don't seem to be a problem for me, and being in Econ pretty much all my classes are math based lol.
As for the multitouch gestures getting in the way, with my iPad 3 I had to turn them off since my hand was causing the apps to switch all the time, but with the mini it seems to treat accidental touches better, and I have not had the need to change the setting yet.
Highly advise against relying on an iPad for note taking. The keyboard just isn't up to snuff in keeping up. You'll get tons of typos and missed presses when taking notes fast and the auto correct, as many know, is quite unreliable.
I've used my ipad in class and its an exercise in extreme frustration. You're better off with a pen and pad if its specifically for note taking. It's great for graphs and books and reading though. Don't have to carry around all those physical books. But note taking? You've been warned.
I've used my ipad in class and its an exercise in extreme frustration. You're better off with a pen and pad if its specifically for note taking. It's great for graphs and books and reading though. Don't have to carry around all those physical books. But note taking? You've been warned.
Highly advise against relying on an iPad for note taking. The keyboard just isn't up to snuff in keeping up. You'll get tons of typos and missed presses when taking notes fast and the auto correct, as many know, is quite unreliable.
I've used my ipad in class and its an exercise in extreme frustration. You're better off with a pen and pad if its specifically for note taking. It's great for graphs and books and reading though. Don't have to carry around all those physical books. But note taking? You've been warned.
Holy crap!!! We've been warned!!!!!
You might try reading the thread and not just the subject line next time.
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I've used an iPad 3 all term (semester) for my med school note taking. I then switched to iPad mini when they were released.
Most of our lectures are provided in PowerPoint format, so I convert them to PDF using Adobe ConvertPDF on the iPad, then import them into Notability. I then annotate over the slides and record the lecture.
Our written questions are also provided online in .doc format, so again I convert those and import them to annotate over.
This is so much better than my previous method of writing over printed notes and scanning them when I get home. It's also really cool to have my entire collection of notes with me wherever I am - even if my iPad is at home!
Notability is amazing because my recording and annotated notes get synced back to my Mac at home over WebDAV so if my iPad ever got stolen all my notes are safe.
Most of our lectures are provided in PowerPoint format, so I convert them to PDF using Adobe ConvertPDF on the iPad, then import them into Notability. I then annotate over the slides and record the lecture.
Our written questions are also provided online in .doc format, so again I convert those and import them to annotate over.
This is so much better than my previous method of writing over printed notes and scanning them when I get home. It's also really cool to have my entire collection of notes with me wherever I am - even if my iPad is at home!
Notability is amazing because my recording and annotated notes get synced back to my Mac at home over WebDAV so if my iPad ever got stolen all my notes are safe.
I bought the IPad mini 16GB put on the Ghost Armor screen protector and love it compact, light, and works great for college...I use NotePlus awesome app love how you can go back and forth through notes also the split screen between note taking and the browser...I also use the Targus stylus for note taking. But the iPad mini is awesome highly recommend especially if your professors use PowerPoint and PDFs
I have an iPad Mini, and also attend an engineering school. Its definitely awesome for books, pdfs, powerpoints, etc. Here's my experience on what is best in terms of note-taking.
Heavy duty Technical classes, use Pen/Paper. You need the speed and precision of it to keep up with the class. If you want to stay digitized, snap/scan it and paste it into Evernote/Dropbox. Sure you waste paper, but you can remove the sheet of paper from your binder once digitized, view it later on your iPad or laptop.
Lots of textual note-taking, use a MacBook Air or a laptop. You can record a large amount of notes, much faster than you would through typing or handwriting. Stick it in Evernote, so you can go over your notes on your iPad. However, I find this method distracting, so I usually end up using Pen/Paper.
Slower paced humanities classes, use an iPad with Penultimate. You'll often be doing more listening in these classes, and periodically jot down notes. Penultimate with a Jot is great for this, especially with further Evernote integration.
I haven't tried using a bluetooth keyboard with an iPad but I'm guessing it'll enable the iPad to act more like a laptop in terms of notetaking. You can forget about using the onscreen keyboard, its just awkward, slow, and not suitable for heavy duty notetaking.
Hope this helps.
Heavy duty Technical classes, use Pen/Paper. You need the speed and precision of it to keep up with the class. If you want to stay digitized, snap/scan it and paste it into Evernote/Dropbox. Sure you waste paper, but you can remove the sheet of paper from your binder once digitized, view it later on your iPad or laptop.
Lots of textual note-taking, use a MacBook Air or a laptop. You can record a large amount of notes, much faster than you would through typing or handwriting. Stick it in Evernote, so you can go over your notes on your iPad. However, I find this method distracting, so I usually end up using Pen/Paper.
Slower paced humanities classes, use an iPad with Penultimate. You'll often be doing more listening in these classes, and periodically jot down notes. Penultimate with a Jot is great for this, especially with further Evernote integration.
I haven't tried using a bluetooth keyboard with an iPad but I'm guessing it'll enable the iPad to act more like a laptop in terms of notetaking. You can forget about using the onscreen keyboard, its just awkward, slow, and not suitable for heavy duty notetaking.
Hope this helps.
I've already posted this a couple times, but screw it- here it is again. Just as an aside maybe you could do a little more searching before bringing this repeated thread up. Anyway, I've included some biochem, anatomy, and physics notes that I took a little while back. Calculations, equations, chemical structures- all easy once you get used to it. On to my opinion...
I LOVE my iPad mini. I have all my college textbooks on it (purchased via Aamzon or scanned), take all my notes on it, and game and surf on it when I'm bored. Ok, so the screen isn't Retina, but it's still a great screen. I mirror what a bunch of people have already said: readability of textbooks is fine, I don't have to "constantly zoom in and out" like other "users" do. I posit that these "users" probably don't have minis, are hard of seeing (not being rude), or are whiners (being slightly rude). I user PDF Expert to keep all my books and school material (syllabi, ppts which I've converted to PDF, etc.) on my mini with PDF Expert's excellent Dropbox syncing (other PDF software also has Dropbox syncing). I use the new Jot Pro by Adonit (with sound dampening tip purchased from Amazon) to take ALL my class notes. I don't use paper at all anymore, and by following Lifehacker's posts on keeping your computer linked to Dropbox, whenever I'm on my Retina Macbook Pro, all my files are synced in the background.
iPad mini + the Jot Pro + Lifehacker's Dropbox info + PDF Expert = Awesome.
BTW, I have the 16GB mini wifi, as I use my iPhone's wifi hotspot when I'm not at home or school, which both have wifi. Also, I can even fit the iPad mini in the front pocket of my jeans! I wear Express Kingston classic straight leg jeans- so they're not skinny jeans, nor are they baggy jeans.
Personally, I've used the iPad 4 and I just think it's WAY too bulky and heavy. The mini is the iPad Apple should've released from the beginning.
From someone who uses his mini for at least 5 hours a day- many times 7-10 hours a day, I am super happy I bought it! Hope this help dude. You can PM me if you have any other questions.
16GB iPad Mini Wifi = Awesome
I LOVE my iPad mini. I have all my college textbooks on it (purchased via Aamzon or scanned), take all my notes on it, and game and surf on it when I'm bored. Ok, so the screen isn't Retina, but it's still a great screen. I mirror what a bunch of people have already said: readability of textbooks is fine, I don't have to "constantly zoom in and out" like other "users" do. I posit that these "users" probably don't have minis, are hard of seeing (not being rude), or are whiners (being slightly rude). I user PDF Expert to keep all my books and school material (syllabi, ppts which I've converted to PDF, etc.) on my mini with PDF Expert's excellent Dropbox syncing (other PDF software also has Dropbox syncing). I use the new Jot Pro by Adonit (with sound dampening tip purchased from Amazon) to take ALL my class notes. I don't use paper at all anymore, and by following Lifehacker's posts on keeping your computer linked to Dropbox, whenever I'm on my Retina Macbook Pro, all my files are synced in the background.
iPad mini + the Jot Pro + Lifehacker's Dropbox info + PDF Expert = Awesome.
BTW, I have the 16GB mini wifi, as I use my iPhone's wifi hotspot when I'm not at home or school, which both have wifi. Also, I can even fit the iPad mini in the front pocket of my jeans! I wear Express Kingston classic straight leg jeans- so they're not skinny jeans, nor are they baggy jeans.
Personally, I've used the iPad 4 and I just think it's WAY too bulky and heavy. The mini is the iPad Apple should've released from the beginning.
From someone who uses his mini for at least 5 hours a day- many times 7-10 hours a day, I am super happy I bought it! Hope this help dude. You can PM me if you have any other questions.
16GB iPad Mini Wifi = Awesome
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It said ipad mini 2 will release on March, but I it's better to release later than iphone 5S or iPhone 6 we call.
And the ipad mini 2 said display Retina, is it right?
My ipad mini is for school work but it has a mate which is iPad Mini Leather Bluetooth Keyboard Case, which works great for me.
And the ipad mini 2 said display Retina, is it right?
My ipad mini is for school work but it has a mate which is iPad Mini Leather Bluetooth Keyboard Case, which works great for me.
Logitech is coming out with an ultrathin bluetooth keyboard that will make note taking a breeze!
Seems awesome and makes me seriously consider getting an iPad mini as my main computer. Not a laptop per say, but a genuine device that takes care of all web browsing / email / youtube / gaming / word processing / note taking.
I love my Ipad mini for everything but note taking.
I'm a huge note taker and kinda OCD about neatness, color, form.. And I can't seem to find an app that allows me to easily do all of those tasks as quickly as I could with a notebook and paper (and trust me I've tried many)
My boyfriend on the other hand is a really light note taker and he loves his iPad for notes. So I guess it depends on you
I'm a huge note taker and kinda OCD about neatness, color, form.. And I can't seem to find an app that allows me to easily do all of those tasks as quickly as I could with a notebook and paper (and trust me I've tried many)
My boyfriend on the other hand is a really light note taker and he loves his iPad for notes. So I guess it depends on you
No, its not a good device for note taking. If you really need note taking abilities your best bet is the galaxy note 10.1 and the upcoming note 8.0. The surface pro or any of the other windows tablets/pcs with full digitizers is also a great option. You need a tablet with a true digitizer such as wacom. If you use a capacitive tablet handwriting and drawings come out much less accurate and have no pressure sensitivity.
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Suppose I never noticed that since I have a thing for finger gloves basically all the time. The gloves probably blocked any pickups.
As for note taking, depending on the classes you might want to look into an app that lets you record audio of the lectures while taking notes (and time stamping them so they sync up with the audio). Could be handy in lecture heavy classes where the teacher loves to word vomit the whole period.
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Sounds like you're trying to shove your personal views on folks like they are facts. Thy aren't.
To the OP:
Sometimes the best answer is to just try it. Apple has a two week return period so just get the iPad and try it out. Might be best to give it that first whirl out of a lecture setting like taking notes on reading material. If that feels okay after a day or two then try it in class. Especially if there is one where you have a buddy that will let you copy notes if yours are a wreck.
I have a question for the people saying it doesn't work.
Have you tried the zoomed in box writing many apps offer? (Like Goodnotes).
I've seen too many "reviews" where the author apparently doesn't realize it exists, and struggles to write tiny on the screen, or scribbles something over multiple spaces.
Quick, detailed, and clean notes are very do-able on iPads.
Have you tried the zoomed in box writing many apps offer? (Like Goodnotes).
I've seen too many "reviews" where the author apparently doesn't realize it exists, and struggles to write tiny on the screen, or scribbles something over multiple spaces.
Quick, detailed, and clean notes are very do-able on iPads.
If its like the bigger one then...
Its big, bulky, and heavy.
I'd prefer something line the Microsoft Surface keyboard.
I originally used by 3rd generation iPad at college for note taking. I then purchased an iPad Mini, all I can say is WOW!
I use it daily for all of my notes, both typed and handwritten. I use an app called Goodnotes. It's absoultely brilliant and I would reccommend it to everyone!
The screen of the iPad mini is the perfect size, not to small or not too large.
I've seen a few posts in this thread saying that the iPad keyboard isn't up to scratch. I completely DISAGREE.
Yes, you make typos every now and then, but that happens on standard keyboards aswell. I find the iPad keyboard much better than a physical keyboard.
So yes, the iPad mini is great for college note taking
I use it daily for all of my notes, both typed and handwritten. I use an app called Goodnotes. It's absoultely brilliant and I would reccommend it to everyone!
The screen of the iPad mini is the perfect size, not to small or not too large.
I've seen a few posts in this thread saying that the iPad keyboard isn't up to scratch. I completely DISAGREE.
Yes, you make typos every now and then, but that happens on standard keyboards aswell. I find the iPad keyboard much better than a physical keyboard.
So yes, the iPad mini is great for college note taking
For my purposes (work/ research), pen and paper have a number of disadvantages:
1. They're not backed up.
2. They only exist in one device - on the paper. I work from home, from my office at the university, sometimes from abroad/ another city when I travel, and sometimes from a coffee shop or a library. When all my notes are digitalised in e.g. Evernote, I never need to think about what to bring where, and I never experience the situation of 'damn, I wish I hadn't left that notebook in the office'.
3. They take space when you travel. I can go on research stays abroad and carry hundreds of pages of research notes and 2000 articles on my iPad, no overweight charges induced.
iPad as a notebook rocks
For my purposes (work/ research), pen and paper have a number of disadvantages:
1. They're not backed up.
2. They only exist in one device - on the paper. I work from home, from my office at the university, sometimes from abroad/ another city when I travel, and sometimes from a coffee shop or a library. When all my notes are digitalised in e.g. Evernote, I never need to think about what to bring where, and I never experience the situation of 'damn, I wish I hadn't left that notebook in the office'.
3. They take space when you travel. I can go on research stays abroad and carry hundreds of pages of research notes and 2000 articles on my iPad, no overweight charges induced.
iPad as a notebook rocks
True. This is how I work as well. But, if someone wants to use pen / paper, just get an app like scannerpro, photograph the notes at the end of every day, and throw them into Evernote.
Better yet, get the Moleskine notebook, take note in it, and send it to Evernote for better image processing + automatic tagging.
Buy a wireless keyboard and you'll be set. I love taking notes on the mini for class. It beats me writing my crappy handwriting on paper.
This looks like a better solution than the thicker Surface ceyboard cover because it lets you securely use the iPad on your lap. The Surface covers rely on the kickstand to do that and all reviews say it doesn't work well.
I use mine everyday in lectures and seminars. It's the perfect weight to carry around (much lighter than a MBP) and can take more of a beating if I get knocked or put my back down rather hard haha.
In terms of software and usage. I use Evernote for general note taking and goodreader to follow PowerPoints and make notes on them. I don't use an external keyboard as I've become really quite fast and accurate with the integrated one now (after a few weeks it becomes natural). But might invest in one if I'm away from my iMac and need to write an essay.
In terms of software and usage. I use Evernote for general note taking and goodreader to follow PowerPoints and make notes on them. I don't use an external keyboard as I've become really quite fast and accurate with the integrated one now (after a few weeks it becomes natural). But might invest in one if I'm away from my iMac and need to write an essay.
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In this day and age, pen and paper is just simply too slow and not anywhere near as efficient.
As a student, I use Evernote on a frequent basis. It's *much* (and I mean by saving up to hours) faster using technology to write, store, organize, find, search, and review notes than by doing it the old-fashioned way of manually writing everything, and then having to store and organize it. Even worse, editing handwritten work is a pain.
Hi everyone, just wanted to let you know I'm starting an "experiment" with an iPad. I want to see if I can replace pen and paper in all my classes (I'm an industrial engineering student).
This is the blog where I'm writing my experience. Hope you like it!
http://ipadvspp.wordpress.com
This is the blog where I'm writing my experience. Hope you like it!
http://ipadvspp.wordpress.com