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My daughter is a Junior in college and we're looking at getting her a notebook computer or possibly an Ipad that she can take to class with her. She already has a fairly new, full sized laptop that she uses. Any suggestions on which would be the better purchase?
Oh I should have mentioned, her laptap is a full sized HP that weighs about 8 lbs or so, so not exactly one you can throw in a backpack and whip out in class. We were just talking about how her teachers are using on line lessons and emails with attachments instead of actual handouts. A lot of her fellow students seem to using these devises, which can be used for note taking as well. She may not need both, but was asking in this forum to see if folks had advice on what may or may not have worked well for them.
I'd get the iPad since it's cheaper and she already has a laptop. I found the iPad mini to be especially good for textbooks in college using the iBooks app. A lot of professors don't seem to mind students using these devices either.
DD already had an iPad when she went to college and the Dell laptop we bought her came with a tablet. So, after two years, the verdict is, she doesn't use either very much for school work. Most work seems to require either the full capability of the laptop or doesn't require an electronic device at all. This includes note taking, in class usage. The college is fully connected and has wireless everywhere so that's not an issue. Just that the work for her major doesn't fit the iPad/tablet tool. Of course that is for her major, so your mileage may vary in a different field.
Every College has computer labs and at least one library filled with computers. If anything, get her a lighter laptop (such as a Macbook Air) that can easily be transported to and from class.
I am an accounting major, so the majority of the programs I require are either provided through the school for HW assessment, or comes preloaded (Excel) on most computers.
The Macbook Air weighs next to nothing, and the new MacBooks and Macbook Pros are also light. IPads are nice, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to use one for taking notes in class, unless you carry around an separate keyboard.
A lot of professors don't seem to mind students using these devices either.
I'd check on this, before making any purchases. Schools and individual instructors vary wildly on what they allow in class. I have several classes this semester (at the graduate level), where whipping out electronics in class can result in up to an entire grade lowering. It will depend on what her discipline is, and the individual policies of the school, program, and/or instructors.
Thanks for the replies. I just ordered a Nextbook 10.1 from Walmart on sale for $99. It has a detachable keyboard, Windows 10 and is preloaded with Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote. Can hardly buy the software for that price, so I'm taking a chance on it.
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