Looking for advice regarding a Mac setup for my work. In an effort to narrow down on the best setup I've included below the attributes I want in the system and some of the tasks I'll need it to perform. Any advice is appreciated.
1. The system needs to be a mobile/desktop hybrid. I start my day at a desk where I review charts to observe the events from the night before, lab results, interoffice communications, etc. Following completion of these activities, I need to be able to take my system with me in order to round throughout the hospital where I will be manipulating charts, placing orders, and referring to lab results.
2. I need multiple displays. I often work with several programs at once that I need to see the entirety of such as x-rays or cat scan images, electronic patient records, literature searches, etc. Flipping back and forth through tabs is time consuming and difficult given my work flow.
3. I need a physical keyboard. I work for the hospital IT department as a consultant and have beta tested the iPad for rounding work and unfortunately while it is a great output device when it comes to hardcore data input it falters and placing a keyboard case on an iPad just makes it an underpowered Air.
4. I need to be able to sync data automatically between mobile and desktop workspaces upon my return from rounding. I do not want to have to physically move documents, bookmarks for articles, etc. back and forth between devices as this takes of time and for me time is a precious commodity.
5. I would like the desktop setup to still function without the mobile component and vice versa. Thus if for some reason I slip into the office without overnight or unexpectedly I can still perform some operations without the mobile component. i.e.. simple docking station for a laptop is out.
6. Absolute speed or computing power is not necessary. As noted the majority of the work will be in text and document editing/review. I won't be editing graphics, movies, or large files as all files are stored on the hospital server.
Here's my thoughts so far on the system, but I'm not sure how to make it work together.
1. A pair of 27" displays and a mac mini vs. 27" iMac and 27" display
2. 13" macbook air
3. Some sort of docking station
4. Magic mouse and wired keyboard
1. The system needs to be a mobile/desktop hybrid. I start my day at a desk where I review charts to observe the events from the night before, lab results, interoffice communications, etc. Following completion of these activities, I need to be able to take my system with me in order to round throughout the hospital where I will be manipulating charts, placing orders, and referring to lab results.
2. I need multiple displays. I often work with several programs at once that I need to see the entirety of such as x-rays or cat scan images, electronic patient records, literature searches, etc. Flipping back and forth through tabs is time consuming and difficult given my work flow.
3. I need a physical keyboard. I work for the hospital IT department as a consultant and have beta tested the iPad for rounding work and unfortunately while it is a great output device when it comes to hardcore data input it falters and placing a keyboard case on an iPad just makes it an underpowered Air.
4. I need to be able to sync data automatically between mobile and desktop workspaces upon my return from rounding. I do not want to have to physically move documents, bookmarks for articles, etc. back and forth between devices as this takes of time and for me time is a precious commodity.
5. I would like the desktop setup to still function without the mobile component and vice versa. Thus if for some reason I slip into the office without overnight or unexpectedly I can still perform some operations without the mobile component. i.e.. simple docking station for a laptop is out.
6. Absolute speed or computing power is not necessary. As noted the majority of the work will be in text and document editing/review. I won't be editing graphics, movies, or large files as all files are stored on the hospital server.
Here's my thoughts so far on the system, but I'm not sure how to make it work together.
1. A pair of 27" displays and a mac mini vs. 27" iMac and 27" display
2. 13" macbook air
3. Some sort of docking station
4. Magic mouse and wired keyboard