<p>Well for me, the desktop is decided. My current problem is deciding between an Ipad 2 and a Netbook. Not sure on which I should pick so I am looking for advice from fellow experienced college students.<br>
Is taking notes on the ipad with a keyboard easy?
Is it good to use a stylus?
I know a netbook is cheaper, but I am willing to spend a little extra cash. I love the feel of the ipad, and with a desktop I can still do lengthy papers in my dorm. My only real problem is if note taking is too difficult. Also, I will be an engineering major, so I imagine that I will still do quite a bit of handwriting for math either way.</p>
<p>Any help is appreciated.</p>
<p>Killian Wade
Future Engineering Major at UC Boulder</p>
<p>I have both (I’m trying to sell my netbook) and I prefer the iPad in a lot of ways compared to my netbook. The battery is much better on my iPad compared to my netbook and even though the screen size is somewhat comparable, I feel like the iPad is so much bigger in terms of screen real estate. </p>
<p>As far as typing, I’ve never tried to take notes on it, although I want to. I can IM pretty fast and well on it though (with some hilarious auto correct incidents however). I’m typing this on it haha. Personally, I handwrite my notes anyway, I wanted to iPad for the web browsing mostly.</p>
<p>Netbook. Since it’ll essentially just be another pc (albeit a much less powerful one) you’d be much less likely to run into issues when you need a program on the go.</p>
<p>I own a iPad and as much as I’d like to use it to take notes with, its just not incredibly useful without the bluetooth keyboard. I love my iPad, but for productivity like note taking and other tasks that just work well on the normal “PC” format (which is why you’d probably want to buy a netbook in the first place), the iPad isn’t the right tool. Don’t get me wrong. For the overall experience it provides, I don’t think the iPad can be beat, but for your needs i would save a bit of cash and just go with a netbook.</p>
<p>So if I paid for the bluetooth keyboard would it be worth it? The ipad sounds like a great thing to have IMO, so I would prefer the Ipad as long as I could type basic notes I think. Also, if I did, are there any cheaper nice bluetooth keyboards out there?</p>
<p>I’ve found some nice BT keyboards on sale for around 50 bucks, usually they stay at the $70-80 range. The keyboards work well and i’ve never had any issues with connection or typing lag. You can type basic notes no problem. My issue was the ipad without it. The on screen keyboard works well but it is really not meant for speed typing. If you buy the BT keyboard, i’d say go with the iPad. The netbook, however, would be maybe half the price ($300 compared to ~$600 for ipad w/ keyboard) and would be basically all you’d need. If you want the iPad for more than just notes, Get it.</p>
<p>Thanks Big Cat, been on my mind for a few days and now I think I can go with the Ipad. More money, but I would rather have basic notes and a Desktop with the fun of the Ipad than a cheap netbook.</p>
<p>check out the asus transformer its a lot cheaper than an ipad with good specs and the major is difference is it runs android… and if you still have the extra cash then you can buy the keyboard accessory.
personally i’d say buy a netbook with a good keyboard…it will be much cheaper and it will be a lot more comfortable to write notes with
lenovo’s netbook has one of the best netbook keyboards</p>
<p>I just happened to watch Leo Laporte’s interview on the notetaking app Notetaker HD written by Dan Brinklin who I guess is a geek genius. It’s $5 and incredibly versatile - if I were taking notes on an Ipad, I would use that. I also have some other cheaper and more basic notetaking apps on mine, but none that I would recommend for power notetaking. This one looks GREAT!</p>