Student Help

When I was in college just over a year ago, I used my old hp laptop. I've just got a 14" iBook to go back with in September. Here in the UK, no-one uses laptops in class, which is so annoying, as I find it so much easier to type than to write things down. I'm asking the college if it is possible to use my iBook in class.

I'm going to be using word if I can use the laptop in class, as it has a notepad feature, which looks like it might be good for note taking.

 

I on the other hand would rather write notes than type them, but I suppose it depends on what class you're taking. The only time I used my laptop in class was in my programming classes, where I could type code that teachers were writing. You probably know this, but if you want a quick dictionary, there's one in Sherlock. As well as a translator, but my experiences haven't been great with it, and it doesn't speak for you.

 

im in the UK well not right now but i was 2 weeks ago, and will be back in september and i use my laptop in class all the time; in fact there are about 15 ppl in our law course that use them religiously for notes and stuff. i take a 17 pbook

 

When I'm writing or typing notes I always put them down in hierarchical order (when points within points etc), and I've found that the best program for that is OmniOutliner (which came preinstalled on my 12" Powerbook, though I don't remember it on my iBook). You can have unlimited levels of sub-points, which is excellent for me.

As for the French translator - I'd steer clear. In my experience (I'm going into third year @ university doing Italian & Spanish - though I have quite a bit of experience with French too) I find that those automated translation things are rubbish. They never understand the context in which you're writing, and come up with something which means absolutely nothing. If at all possible, try studying French and doing any necessary translation yourself.

I find that www.wordreference.com is good for dictionary features. It do English to Spanish, Italian, French, and various others, and vice-versa, and it always seems to give a large number of definitions, like you'd find in a real dictionary - unlike some other online dictionaries I've used in the past.

Good luck!

 

I use a 17" PB to take notes...easy multitasking with the large screen and i use M$ word...lol...got it for $5 so i can't argue

 

hm when i take notes during my courses (in the university here) i usally print out the "powerpoint sheets/pdf of the day" and write comments/notes on them msot of the time there is plenty space
in math we have a preprinted 'scriptum' where the left side is always text and the right side is always empty for notes... most students here use notebooks between lectures etc. to code,play games, or do something else
taking notes with laptops is not common and would perhaps get too loud....