Does anyone use Laptop/ipad for notetaking?

[taiga]

iPad is for play, not work.

Less compatibility with files, browser often not too compatible with moodle/blackboard/lms, can't install software, need to buy lots of additional things (apps, special pen, ext keyboard) if you want to make it even on par with the functionality of a windows  tablet.

[Russ]

All an iPad can really do is let you annotate PDFs with the onscreen keyboard. If that's enough, you can save some money on the better tablets but the new Slate from Samsung is amazing and is so much better than the iPad in pretty much every way (other than the price).

I took annotated lecture notes by hand for three years, eventually got tired of that because I continually had to write them out as summary notes, which took up too much time. I'm now switching to a laptop and OneNote because I'm expecting even more material next year to have to learn.

Find out what works for you, it's not that big a deal in the first few weeks.

[mankay]

I took annotated lecture notes by hand for three years, eventually got tired of that because I continually had to write them out as summary notes, which took up too much time. I'm now switching to a laptop and OneNote because I'm expecting even more material next year to have to learn.

What kind of subjects are you using OneNote with? I'm doing science subjects and last I tried experimenting and found the following:
Annotating lecture notes - ended up with hundreds of pages which are a PITA to carry back and forth. Ended up taking only the latest notes but that can become trouble easily.
Pen + Paper - End up  missing things half the time due to fast lecturers. I imagine that even if i took shorter notes, I'd still have to review the lecture notes as well.

I'm considering trying out a laptop w/ onenote next year.

[Russ]

The MD subjects.

I've used OneNote before in high school and it was great then. I stopped using it in uni because my laptop was too heavy to take around comfortably, but I'm perfectly happy to restart with a light one. Given that you can insert images, pdf slides etc. I'm not to worried about the usability of it for my subjects.

When I annotated my notes, I took only the current notes to uni and never had any trouble with that, not sure what you mean.
I took pen and paper notes briefly and found that yeah, too hard to catch everything.

[mikee65]

Ive only ever used mechanical pencil + notebooks. When I saw students attempting to use technology to their advantage it seemed to caused more trouble for them than good.

[ninwa]

OneNote is the BEST THING EVER. If you're going to use a laptop, use OneNote, you can type all over your lecture powerpoints and highlight things and draw stuff on them (maybe invest in a mouse if you need to draw stuff like chemistry molecules or something)

[acrimony]

Holly cow, that's as much as a laptop! Haha but it looks awesome, I think I'm jelly.

That's because it is a laptop too essentially. Runs windows 7, has an i5 processor, 4GB RAM, all that jazz. It just has the added benefit of having a touchscreen. If anything, apart from lectures, I don't really use the touchscreen, and just use it as a laptop. So if you compare it to a laptop price wise, it ain't actually that bad.

Come to think of it, the price is pretty fair, considering that you can use it as a tablet/laptop. When do you reckon they'll be available in Australia?

[jasrulz63]

Come to think of it, the price is pretty fair, considering that you can use it as a tablet/laptop. When do you reckon they'll be available in Australia?

They were selling them in Dick Smith a while ago, they've stopped since though.

Agree with the love of OneNote too, works brilliantly with my tablet, lets me scribble all over lecture notes, though I've since invested in PDF Annotator which I find is better for my use. The other awesome thing to use if using a laptop for notes is Dropbox, allows you to keep your lectures notes/assignments on cloud storage, meaning you can access the files from any other computer, smartphone etc.

I had to use pen+paper while my tablet was in for repair, but I found myself losing lecture notes and stuff, not being very organised.

[dc302]

What laptop did you get Russ?

[SDPHD]

if you jailbreak ipad it can become just as useable as etc. etc. i would think

Tablets, whether iOS (jailbroken or un-jailbroken) or Android can only do so much. In my opinion, they're more entertainment oriented rather than productivity oriented.

[Raahem]

Have a laptop because you can have trouble getting a computer at the libraries

[Russ]

What laptop did you get Russ?

Still deciding, either the UX-31 or the MBA. Might consider the ACER ultrabook if I need to save some cash

[dc302]

How is the battery life for ultrabooks? I wanted one but it was too expensive and I remember reading some reviews where the battery life wasn't so good. I ended up getting the U36SD.

[Russ]

Really? Battery life is a pretty big selling point. The MBA/MBP will get at least 5 or 6 hours and the UX should match that easily. They claim 8 hours on the UX but I think 6+ is more realistic if you're using wifi etc.

[luken93]

How is the battery life for ultrabooks? I wanted one but it was too expensive and I remember reading some reviews where the battery life wasn't so good. I ended up getting the U36SD.

Yah I got the same, annoyed that it doesn't have a backlit keyboard though ...probably should've probably read the specs in detail, considering changing to a Dell XPS 14Z. Thoughts?