I'm a highschool junior that is seeking to buy a new laptop or an iPad to use throughout the remaining highschool days and university. I am not going to be doing something that requires computer-only features, as I won't be doing coding, image editing, video producing, etc. I do think I am going to spend some time typing on my device as I plan to take pre med in university. I am still deciding between 2019 macbook pro or iPad pro with keyboard and pencil. Which would be a good choice to use for a good 4 to 5 years?
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iPad pro or MacBook Pro
- Thread starter leesj9934
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Have you considered a Macbook Air? A MBP seems to me to be somewhat overpowered for your user profile.
I feel that an iPad Pro as a stand alone device (still) isn't a full alternative to a real computer, so I would advise against that option. Any software your university is likely to require will probably have a Mac version, or you can bootcamp Windows, but you'll be stuck if you get an iPad.
I did consider MBA, but I was concerned about longevity of that device due to its lackluster cpu and problematic keyboard. 2019 MBP seemed more suitable for long term use due to its improved keyboards and better cpu.
It may be difficult to predict your needs over 4 to 5 years. The MBP will give you much more flexibility to accommodate the unknown. The flexibility of local file storage and sharing files between apps is far superior in macOS, with or without cloud connectivity. The laptop being a single unit will be more convenient in that it just needs to be pulled out, flipped open, and ready to go without having to connect a keyboard. Depending on the size laptop you choose, it is just as portable as the iPad. Overall, an iPad will be more of a compromise due to it's OS and physical limitations.
I had the 12" iPad Pro, just didn't work for me as a laptop replacement.... I highly recommend the 2019 MBP....I just found on the iPad I couldn't do the basic task you can do on a computer and doing the whole touch thing took more time and caused more interruptions. I work in medicine, and trust me you'll be writing papers, reviewing images, labs, etc... you'll need to power of a notebook...
You'll definitely benefit from having a real laptop in university. Even if you're not doing more than reading and writing, the true keyboard and OS flexibility from the laptop will save you from major headaches. An iPad is a fine secondary device for students, but not an adequate primary device.
I'm in medical school (in Europe so it's a 6-year degree) and it's not really an option to choose between owning a laptop or an iPad. You need both. I highly recommend getting a decent MacBook Pro (preferably with at least 512GB disk space) that you can afford and an iPad 6th gen or iPad Air with pencil (if you can't afford an iPad Pro after getting the MacBook).
In school, you need the iPad to take notes and carry those "massive textbooks" without carrying actual paperbacks. It will save you a lot of paper and backache (I carry around 3,000 PDF and epub books in my iPad 6th gen including Harrison, Robbins, Kaplan USMLE and Netter, also notes, lecture slides, recordings etc). You can use the iPad to practice on MCAT/USMLE exercises if you can get your hands on the PDF versions, as you can annotate the multiple choice questions and when you are done, you can delete the PDF and redo it all over again. If you are getting an iPad, try to get at least a 128gb version for more leeway.
I still use my laptop as some websites are better when accessed via MacOS. The laptop also has a bigger screen, so if I have to read something without having to be on the move, i still use my MacBook (especially to watch lecture videos, read histology images and anatomy atlases etc). I also have massive amount of files, so using the MacOS finder is more efficient to organise files than using iOS Files app. Normally I organise all my notes, videos using my MacBook. If I have to retype my notes, I also use my MacBook (due to the bigger screen). I also do many things on my MacBook that I can't do on my iPad, one of them is my other job which is coding.
I only carry my iPad to school because the MacBook is too heavy for me, also I like to read before class so iPad is more convenient for that. If I get a 12.9 iPad Pro, it will defeat the purpose of portability and weight (size and weight wise if you add a keyboard would most likely be pretty close to a MacBook, so might as well get a MacBook).
Usage wise, it's 50% iPad 50% MacBook during school term, and about 95% MacBook 5% iPad during school break.
I'm starting clinicals next semester this year (my 3rd year). I haven't decided whether I should get an iPad mini or stick with an iPhone. I'm also not sure how much exposure I would have to human body fluid as a medical student shadowing real doctors (one of my concerns would be how to get rid of blood spatter from an iPad mini, is there even such a thing? Would I even get blood splattered all over me? Am I worrying too much?
).
Also just because you are not doing "computer-only features such as coding etc." now, it doesn't mean that you won't be doing those in the future. Your interest may eventually vary and you might be interested in something that require you to use a computer. A few friends from my medical school end up learning programming, taking AI and bioinformatics courses during the summer break via edX, Udemy, Coursera (to have an overview on how AI may impact medicine in the future etc). My other friends deejay in clubs to unwind and earn extra cash (using MacBook Pro). I code to relax. Medical school is really tough and burnout is inevitable. You need some outside interests to balance it out and you should not be limited by your tools (which you would be if you only have an iPad).
In school, you need the iPad to take notes and carry those "massive textbooks" without carrying actual paperbacks. It will save you a lot of paper and backache (I carry around 3,000 PDF and epub books in my iPad 6th gen including Harrison, Robbins, Kaplan USMLE and Netter, also notes, lecture slides, recordings etc). You can use the iPad to practice on MCAT/USMLE exercises if you can get your hands on the PDF versions, as you can annotate the multiple choice questions and when you are done, you can delete the PDF and redo it all over again. If you are getting an iPad, try to get at least a 128gb version for more leeway.
I still use my laptop as some websites are better when accessed via MacOS. The laptop also has a bigger screen, so if I have to read something without having to be on the move, i still use my MacBook (especially to watch lecture videos, read histology images and anatomy atlases etc). I also have massive amount of files, so using the MacOS finder is more efficient to organise files than using iOS Files app. Normally I organise all my notes, videos using my MacBook. If I have to retype my notes, I also use my MacBook (due to the bigger screen). I also do many things on my MacBook that I can't do on my iPad, one of them is my other job which is coding.
I only carry my iPad to school because the MacBook is too heavy for me, also I like to read before class so iPad is more convenient for that. If I get a 12.9 iPad Pro, it will defeat the purpose of portability and weight (size and weight wise if you add a keyboard would most likely be pretty close to a MacBook, so might as well get a MacBook).
Usage wise, it's 50% iPad 50% MacBook during school term, and about 95% MacBook 5% iPad during school break.
I'm starting clinicals next semester this year (my 3rd year). I haven't decided whether I should get an iPad mini or stick with an iPhone. I'm also not sure how much exposure I would have to human body fluid as a medical student shadowing real doctors (one of my concerns would be how to get rid of blood spatter from an iPad mini, is there even such a thing? Would I even get blood splattered all over me? Am I worrying too much?
).Also just because you are not doing "computer-only features such as coding etc." now, it doesn't mean that you won't be doing those in the future. Your interest may eventually vary and you might be interested in something that require you to use a computer. A few friends from my medical school end up learning programming, taking AI and bioinformatics courses during the summer break via edX, Udemy, Coursera (to have an overview on how AI may impact medicine in the future etc). My other friends deejay in clubs to unwind and earn extra cash (using MacBook Pro). I code to relax. Medical school is really tough and burnout is inevitable. You need some outside interests to balance it out and you should not be limited by your tools (which you would be if you only have an iPad).
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I also vote both and agree with @rosyapple, a 2019 MBP and a 6th gen (2018 iPad), or the 2019 iPad Air would be great.
All are on sale frequently. If you’re in the States, Best Buy will sometimes honor student discounts AND price match (they offered to do this for me last December).
While I was talking online University classes, I used my iMac for writing and the iPad for PDF markup and reading. I found having a second display with reading materials was very helpful.
I wish you the best of luck, OP.
All are on sale frequently. If you’re in the States, Best Buy will sometimes honor student discounts AND price match (they offered to do this for me last December).
While I was talking online University classes, I used my iMac for writing and the iPad for PDF markup and reading. I found having a second display with reading materials was very helpful.
I wish you the best of luck, OP.