Tablets and College

[dtnrhi]

As opposed to lugging a computer around all day, would a tablet be a good alternative?

Also, does anyone have a certain tablet they recommend over others for terms of education?

 

[BeatingtheOdds]

We have an Ipad and, while I do like it for certain things, I always use my laptop to do any kind of typing or computer work. I can't imagine writing papers or taking notes etc etc on a tablet. I could see it being useful if you just needed to click through study slides or notes but it seems like a lightweight laptop would be a better option overall. I always threw my laptop in my backpack and walked everywhere I needed to go on campus...never had any issues. Hope that helps!

 

[Colleen27]

The only way I could see a tablet working is if you also purchased a keyboard to go along with it, but even then you might run into software issues. Just in the last year I've needed Word, Access, Excel, Notepad ++, Powerpoint, and Publisher for various classes. I'm not sure how much of that is available in mobile versions or how well those versions translate into full version finished products.

I think you'd be better off with a compact laptop.

 

[AuroraRora]

Both my younger siblings are in college and while they have tablets, they could never be without their laptops. Putting together powerpoint presentations, looking up a million essay sources at once, taking notes in lectures - you need a laptop for that stuff. I have a tablet but taking notes on it in meetings is a nightmare, I can't imagine being able to keep up in a college lecture without a laptop. Possibly if you bought the keyboard extension for it too, but then you might as well just get a laptop.

 

[Allison]

No. It would be too difficult for writing, taking notes, etc.

 

[sissy_ib]

Is this in addition to a computer they will have in their dorm room or at home? I am using a tablet for in class but have my all-in-one at home. If it is their only computer, then no. I don't take notes on it and I don't see other people taking notes on their tablets or laptops either.

 

[Aliceacc]

I just got myself a tablet, and I love it! http://www.intomobile.com/2013/07/2...nt-edition-comes-bluetooth-keyboard-and-dock/

But, as a teacher, my schoolwork will still be done on our PC.

 

[JessM]

I would invest in a lightweight laptop. I finished college 2 years ago and I still had a bulky laptop with a massive battery so it would last more than 2 hours A lightweight laptop would have been much easier! I still dragged my laptop around pretty much everyday to take notes (even in engineering and science classes) but it was heavy.

I have a tablet now but when I go to classes for my master's degree I still bring my laptop (a much smaller one now though ), its much easier to take notes on than my tablet.

 

[Bearvet]

DS chose a Samsung ultrabook, which is a touch screen laptop, so combines a tablet and a laptop. It runs everything through apps which he says makes using Windows 8 user friendly. It has all of the specs he wanted in a computer - 4 gb memory and 500 gb hard drive with a 13.3" screen. He loves the size of it and everything it can do. Just another option to consider.

 

[pryncess527]

I find that many students use their iPad in class, they simply get one of the keyboard case attachments for it so that it looks more like a laptop.

I still personally prefer handwriting in class which isn't as rare as it might seem. I find the constant clacking of keys in a classroom disturbing, and many students find it difficult to stay focused and instead you'll see them wandering online to facebook and playing candy crush during lecture. More than one professor at my current university has banned laptops from the classroom completely for those reasons.

 

[maplevale]

The Windows Surface Pro has a FULL version of Windows 8 on it. If you combined it with a keyboard it would be no different then using a full laptop (when you wanted). You may even be able to hook it up to a monitor when home to have a larger screen. It is not cheap (about $1100 in Canada so the cost of a decent laptop) - but if you can truly make it your only device I think it's worth it.

That would likely be my first choice if I wanted to avoid having a tablet and a lap/desk top. But there is no way I could function on JUST a tablet.

(I don't own one - I work at a University and was in our campus computer store looking at tablets and it was one of the options the guy showed me - he thinks the sales are starting to pick up as people realize they can't use an iPad for everything but want to portability of having access to all their documents/software wherever they go.)

 

[wiigirl]

The Windows Surface Pro has a FULL version of Windows 8 on it. If you combined it with a keyboard it would be no different then using a full laptop (when you wanted). You may even be able to hook it up to a monitor when home to have a larger screen. It is not cheap (about $1100 in Canada so the cost of a decent laptop) - but if you can truly make it your only device I think it's worth it.

That would likely be my first choice if I wanted to avoid having a tablet and a lap/desk top. But there is no way I could function on JUST a tablet.

(I don't own one - I work at a University and was in our campus computer store looking at tablets and it was one of the options the guy showed me - he thinks the sales are starting to pick up as people realize they can't use an iPad for everything but want to portability of having access to all their documents/software wherever they go.)

I was going to suggest the Surface Pro also. I think I would use it more of an extension of my computer but not be able to replace my computer.

 

[LoriNSC]

I use my laptop at home instead go lugging it to school. I use my ipad mini in class. I have this awesome app that let's me record lectures and add notes while its recording. I still take my handwritten notes but I'm a nursing student and we so through material so fast it's hard to write it all without missing something. We move from one disorder/ disease to another really quick in each lecture so I can make note on my ipad of the subject and the lecture time so,I can easily find that particular subject when I'm studying without having to waste time searching the whole recorded lecture for a certain subject. It works great for me. Of course I use my laptop at home for writing papers, etc.

 

[DisDance]

I work at our campus el Ed/ middle school so I use my iPad there but I love taking it to class when I need access to the Internet, I can pull up articles my professors put on their websites and not have to print it out. I download them as PDFs and read and book note the, much easier then lugging my laptop/ printing it out!


I couldn't live without my laptop though, to do homework / type papers

 

[dawnhaze]

A college student is going to need access to a "real" (non-tablet) computer, preferably with an operating system and software they're already comfortable with using. Doing research, formatting papers, and stuff like Powerpoint are infinitely easier on a standard computer.

A tablet can be a useful tool in addition to a computer for some people, for others it would be pretty useless. For me, since I always took notes by hand, preferred dead-tree format textbooks, and tended to get instructors who didn't want students' personal technology in the classroom, I probably wouldn't have used one in school much.

At the end of the day, it depends on the student, the school, and the subject matter they're studying how much use they'd get out of a tablet. But a computer is pretty much a necessity.

 

[Serrina89]

Tablets definately do not replace computers.

Most tablets don't have Microsoft office, or the capability to run certain software especially for memory capabilities.Tablets are not to the point where they can replace work computers. I used several (Dell, HP, Acer) and each one is a lot slower and overheat more than a laptop. I would recommend getting a laptop and a tablet.
That being said, I definately use my tablet during class!! Instead of buying books, I go to the library and check out a book and use the book scanner at my school and copy the chapter that I need to read to a usb (which can be read on my Acer a500 tablet) Offsets the cost of books and still legal!!!!!

 

[MrsPete]

I'll echo the above poster: Tablets do not replace computers.

In addition to the limitations that other posters have mentioned (lack of printing being the biggest obstacle), here's proof positive: My college daughter cannot access her school account on my iPad. This account holds information on her schedule, her financial account, her housing information, her grades. If she had only an iPad, she could not even register for classes.

My daughter says she has not found her laptop a good tool for taking notes. In fact, she says she has to sit on the first or second row in class because if she sits farther back, she is distracted by all the students who are playing games or messing around with Facebook in class. She says a laptop is essential to any college student, but it is only a distraction in the actual classroom.

Don't get me wrong: I like my iPad, but it isn't a full-fledged computer. I suspect that it won't be long 'til we have new, enhanced versions that will be capable of more applications, but it won't be while today's college student is still pondering this question.

Off-topic: Since when does a laptop, which weighs about as much as a good-sized textbook, require "lugging", especially when we're talking about a young, healthy college student?

 

[LoriNSC]

I agree that an ipad/tablet doesn't replace a laptop. But I do prefer my ipad in class. I'm not a young student and with all my nursing books, it would be "lugging" if I carried a laptop too.