iPad vs Laptop for Medical Students (The Best Tech for Medical School)

Summary

In this video, Siobhan, a third-year medical student at King's College London, compares the usefulness of an iPad versus a laptop for medical school. She discusses the pros and cons of each, highlighting the laptop's versatility and processing power, and the iPad's portability and note-taking capabilities. Siobhan concludes that while an iPad offers unique benefits, a laptop is more essential for medical students. She advises that if your laptop is in good condition, an iPad could be a valuable addition, but it's not a necessity.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Siobhan, a third-year medical student at King's College London, discusses the usefulness of iPads and laptops for medical school.
• 💼 Laptops are considered essential for their versatility, processing power, and ability to handle multiple tasks like internet browsing, document creation, and video editing.
• 📱 iPads offer portability and convenience, making them easier to carry around campus, the library, or hospital.
• ✍️ iPads enable tactile note-taking and annotation, which is beneficial for subjects like anatomy where visual aids are crucial.
• 🔍 Both devices are useful, but laptops are more versatile and essential for medical students, while iPads provide additional functionality.
• 💡 A laptop with sufficient storage, processing power, and speed is a priority for medical students, followed by an iPad if budget allows.
• 📚 iPads can be particularly helpful for interactive learning apps, such as 'Complete Anatomy,' which offers 3D visualization and dissection for studying.
• 🚫 Despite the benefits of iPads, they are not a necessity for medical school success, and students can still perform well without one.
• 📈 Siobhan suggests a hierarchy of technology investment: first, a well-functioning laptop; second, an iPad; and third, upgrading an old laptop.
• 🌟 The video encourages viewers to subscribe to Siobhan's YouTube channel for more content on medical school and university life.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is determining whether an iPad or a laptop is more useful for medical students.

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker in the video is Siobhan, a third-year medical student at King's College London.

What are the basic functions of a laptop mentioned in the video?

The basic functions of a laptop mentioned in the video include using the internet, looking up information, watching videos, writing documents, creating presentations, and editing videos.

What is the advantage of a laptop over an iPad according to the video?

The advantage of a laptop over an iPad is its greater processing power, more storage, and the ability to execute more functions simultaneously, making it a more efficient device.

How does the video suggest overcoming the typing disadvantage of the iPad?

The video suggests that the typing disadvantage of the iPad can be overcome by getting a keyboard for it.

What is the expected lifespan of a good laptop according to the video?

A good laptop should last at least five years, although this can depend on the specific laptop model and its quality.

What are some of the benefits of using an iPad in medical school as mentioned in the video?

Some benefits of using an iPad in medical school include better portability, the ability to take tactile notes, annotating diagrams and content, and using interactive apps like Complete Anatomy.

What are the recommended apps for note-taking and making diagrams on an iPad?

The recommended apps for note-taking and making diagrams on an iPad are GoodNotes and Notability.

What is the conclusion of the video regarding the necessity of a laptop versus an iPad for medical students?

The conclusion of the video is that a laptop is significantly more important than an iPad in medical school, as it is essential for various tasks, while the iPad, although useful, is not essential.

What advice does the video give for students who already have a laptop?

For students who already have a functioning laptop with good storage and processing power, the video suggests considering the benefits of an iPad if they can afford it, but it is not a priority over a well-functioning laptop.

What is the hierarchy of technology investment suggested in the video for medical students?

The hierarchy of technology investment suggested in the video for medical students is: first, a well-functioning laptop; second, an iPad or tablet; and third, a new laptop with advanced features if the current one is old and slow.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Laptop vs. 📱 iPad: Medical School Tools

Siobhan, a third-year medical student at King's College London, introduces a video discussing the usefulness of iPads versus laptops for medical students. She outlines her intention to compare the two devices, highlighting their pros and cons, and ultimately advise on which is more essential for medical school. She encourages viewers to subscribe to her YouTube channel for more content related to medical school and university life.

05:03

💻 The Laptop: A Versatile and Powerful Tool

Siobhan discusses the benefits of laptops in medical school, emphasizing their versatility and power. She lists common uses such as internet browsing, document creation, and video editing, noting that these tasks are more efficiently performed on a laptop due to its keyboard and multitasking capabilities. She acknowledges that the iPad's portability can be a disadvantage compared to a laptop but suggests that this can be mitigated by using an iPad with a keyboard attachment.

10:06

📚 The iPad: Portable and Interactive Learning

Siobhan highlights the iPad's advantages, particularly its portability and convenience, which make it easier to carry around campus and hospital. She points out the iPad's ability to take tactile notes and annotate diagrams, which is beneficial for subjects like anatomy. Siobhan also mentions the value of interactive apps for medical studies, such as 'Complete Anatomy,' and the overall convenience of the iPad for travel and entertainment. She concludes by reiterating that while the iPad offers unique benefits, a laptop remains a more critical tool for medical school.

🏥 Conclusion: Laptop Essential, iPad Enhancing

In conclusion, Siobhan asserts that a laptop is more crucial for medical school than an iPad, despite the latter's appealing features. She advises that if a student's laptop is in good condition with sufficient storage and processing power, they can consider investing in an iPad for additional benefits. However, she stresses that an iPad is not essential and students can succeed without one. She wraps up the video by encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video, and to leave comments for further discussion.

Keywords

💡Medical School

Medical School refers to an institution that provides education and training in the field of medicine. In the context of the video, it is the primary environment where the tools being discussed are used. The video discusses the utility of an iPad versus a laptop for students in medical school, emphasizing the need for efficient and effective study tools in this academic setting.

💡iPad

An iPad is a tablet computer designed and marketed by Apple Inc. In the video, the iPad is presented as a potential tool for medical students, highlighting its portability, convenience for note-taking, and the ability to use interactive apps. The script discusses the iPad's benefits such as its lightweight design and the capacity for tactile note-taking, which are particularly relevant for medical students who may need to carry their devices around frequently.

💡Laptop

A laptop is a portable personal computer with a clamshell form factor, suitable for mobile use. The video script compares the laptop to the iPad, discussing its versatility, processing power, and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks. Laptops are considered essential for medical students due to their ability to run complex software and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, as mentioned in the script.

💡Portability

Portability refers to the ease with which a device can be carried and used in different locations. In the video, portability is a key advantage of the iPad over the laptop, as it is lighter and more convenient to carry around, which is beneficial for medical students who may need to move between classrooms, libraries, and hospital wards.

💡Note-taking

Note-taking is the act of recording information during lectures or while studying. The video emphasizes the iPad's potential for tactile note-taking, which can be advantageous for students who find it helpful to physically write or draw their notes. The script also mentions the use of note-taking apps on the iPad, suggesting that these can enhance the learning process for medical students.

💡Anatomy

Anatomy is the study of the structure of living organisms. The video script mentions that medical students often have to deal with a large amount of anatomical content, and the iPad's ability to annotate diagrams and 3D models can be particularly useful in this context. This highlights the iPad's utility for visual and interactive learning in the field of anatomy.

💡Apps

Apps, short for applications, are software programs designed to perform specific functions. The video discusses various apps that can be used on the iPad to enhance the medical student's learning experience, such as 'Complete Anatomy' for interactive dissection and 3D visualization. These apps are highlighted as a key advantage of the iPad, providing a more engaging and practical approach to learning.

💡Versatility

Versatility refers to the ability of a device to perform a wide range of functions. The video script points out that laptops have great versatility due to their processing power and ability to run multiple applications simultaneously. This is crucial for medical students who may need to use various software tools for research, documentation, and presentation.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency is the ability to perform tasks with minimal waste of time and resources. The video compares the efficiency of using a laptop versus an iPad, with the laptop being deemed more efficient for tasks like writing documents and creating presentations due to the physical keyboard and ability to multitask. However, the iPad is noted for its efficiency in portability and certain interactive learning scenarios.

💡Interactive Learning

Interactive learning involves engaging with educational content in a dynamic and participatory way. The video script highlights the iPad's potential for interactive learning through apps that allow for the manipulation of 3D models and other visual aids. This form of learning can be particularly effective for medical students who need to understand complex structures and systems.

💡Essentiality

Essentiality refers to the state of being absolutely necessary or indispensable. In the video, the term is used to describe the importance of having a laptop for medical students, as it is considered more essential than an iPad due to its broader range of capabilities and the nature of tasks that medical students typically need to perform.

Highlights

Siobhan, a third-year medical student at King's College London, discusses the usefulness of iPads and laptops for medical school.

Both iPads and laptops are considered essential tools for medical students, but investing in both might not be possible for everyone.

Laptops are versatile and powerful, with more processing power and storage compared to tablets.

Laptops are efficient for internet browsing, document creation, and multitasking with multiple tabs.

The iPad's portability makes it convenient for carrying around the library or hospital.

iPads allow for tactile note-taking, which can be beneficial for learning and revision.

Annotating and saving content is easier on an iPad, especially for subjects like anatomy.

Interactive apps on the iPad, such as Complete Anatomy, provide a 3D view for studying complex subjects.

GoodNotes and Notability are recommended apps for note-taking and making diagrams on the iPad.

The iPad is also useful for non-medical purposes like travel, entertainment, and convenience on the go.

Siobhan concludes that a laptop is more important than an iPad for medical school, but an iPad can enhance the learning process.

If a student's laptop is functioning well, they may prioritize getting an iPad for additional benefits.

A well-functioning laptop should be the priority, followed by an iPad, and then potentially upgrading the laptop.

An iPad is not essential for medical school, but it can be a valuable tool if one can afford it.

Siobhan suggests that students can still succeed in medical school without an iPad, but it might take some time to find an alternative method.

Transcripts

hey guys welcome back to another video

my name is Siobhan and I'm a third year

medical student now going into my fourth

year of medical school at King's College

London and in today's video we're going

to be talking about

what the more useful tool is for medical

school is it the iPad

or is it your laptop

so both are inarguably tools that uh

make your life easier at Medical School

in a way you can even call them an

essentiality and sometimes it's not

possible to invest in both of them so as

someone who's used both I'm going to go

through both of them and I'm gonna talk

a bit about the pros and cons of each

one and do a little bit of an analysis

and tell you which one is the better

tool to use for medical school which one

you should invest in and which one you

can you know hold off on but before I do

that I want you to go check out my

YouTube channel because over there I

make videos about medical school and

University so that includes blogs and

AML live videos videos about how to get

into medical school and University and

similarly videos about how to survive

medical school and University so go

check that out and if you enjoy my

videos if you like my content then smash

that subscribe button on and join me for

a lot more so without holding off any

further let's get into this battle of

the iPad versus the laptop so I'm gonna

begin just by talking about a few uh

benefits with the laptop and then I'm

gonna move on to discussing the iPad uh

I mean in discussing the cons of each

one I'm kind of discussing the pro with

the other one so

you know you you'll get it let's let's

just get into it and uh yeah not waste

any more time so laptop I think

everybody knows what a laptop is used

for everybody's really used one at least

at some point in their life and a laptop

is one of the most basic and essential

forms of technology that you can use and

it will definitely definitely be useful

at medical school because uh yeah what

are the basic functions of your laptop I

mean using the internet or looking stuff

up uh you know using different websites

watching videos on YouTube

um uh writing documents creating

presentations

um for me editing videos or there's I

mean there's no end to the use of a

laptop and it has great versatility as

well a laptop is also a very powerful

device when you compare it with the

tablet it'll have much more processing

power usually asthma storage as well as

capable of executing more functions at

the same time

which which is good because that just

means it's an efficient device in

general all the sort of uh different

things I mentioned looking up stuff

using websites writing documents

creating presentations I find that all

of these are easier to do on the laptop

because of the use of the keyboard and

the ability to type really quickly on a

laptop and uh just you know having

multiple tabs open and switching between

them it all just feels easier on a

laptop but uh that's a I mean that's a

cone of the iPad that you can really be

overcome quite easily all you have to do

is just get a keyboard for your iPad now

I personally have not done that so I

can't really comment on how well that

works as a solution but it's exactly the

same as using a laptop I I don't think

it is but it's definitely a great and

decent all a good laptop should also

last you a really long time so it'll

last you at least five years I think but

that also really depends on the laptop

you choose the better the laptop is that

usually the longer it loss so for

example I've been using Apple laptops

for the past like I don't know seven

eight years and I saw that my MacBook

Air lasted about four years after which

I started seeing serious Decline and

function and my MacBook Pro has been

about three and a half years and it's

working pretty well not sure so I think

that's all the basic stuff surrounding a

laptop and it's used in medical school

or the way you use a laptop in medical

school is no different from the way you

use it for any other degree any other

purpose uh it's essentially just all of

the same things now let's talk about the

iPad what are the added positives of an

iPad that a laptop doesn't have well the

a few of them

and although they're not that many the

few that are there are quite important

so firstly the iPad has a better

portability and it's more portable and

uh it's more convenient as well so

although these look like they're pretty

similar size you know uh this is

significantly heavier than this one and

it's so easy for me to just you know

close my iPad case and it's like such a

light thing to get no matter where I go

if I'm walking around the library I can

honestly even carry it in the hospital

it's uh it's it's a super convenient

device although I mean although my

laptop is pretty decent for a laptop

like in terms of weight size all of that

it's still not asking me new a lot of

times when I'm starting for let's say

Oscars in the library and stuff like

that and I don't have to take heavy

notes right out documents I just need to

be using some like apps or are some

simple things and I need to be taking

simple notes and stuff like that I just

use my iPad the iPad also allows you to

take tactile notes which is a big plus

because for a lot of people taking the

actual 100 notes really helps them and

the iPad allows you to do this in a more

efficient way uh because you don't need

to carry a big bag stationary uh

hundreds of notebooks or a big file or

anything like that oh it's much more

condensed simple uh form of doing it and

uh the many other functions of taking

data and notes on an iPad there's some I

mean

some benefits that just can't be

contested like for example being able to

draw diagrams and I think very

importantly the ability to annotate in

medical school a lot of times subjects

like anatomy and stuff like that you get

such a large amount of content that it

just doesn't make sense to repeat

everything in your notes like right

everything again so it's sometimes

really useful to just save stuff and

annotated uh and the iPad allows you to

do lately efficiently the iPad also

allows you to use interactive apps and

one I mentioned very often that I myself

didn't use at the time but I would find

it useful and I may get it now as well

in my fourth year of medical school

because uh you know it's always helpful

to revise anatomy and so the app is

called complete anatomy and it's just it

gives you the ability to dissect a body

literally on your iPad spin it around or

have a 3D view of it cut through layers

stop like that it's amazing there are

also a few other apps so for the doctor

and note taking and making diagrams and

stuff like that I suggest using good

notes on notability I'm sure you've

heard of them the amazing apps I use

good notes personally because that was

my preference and uh then yeah there are

many other small things you can do on

the iPad

um with that function another

non-medical school related thing uh I

think the iPad is an amazing device in

terms of convenience and travel and

stuff like that because if you're

traveling it's just so convenient for me

to download movies and like you can even

download games and stuff like that and

you get the nice big screen compared to

your phone and you can watch stuff and

then you can actually go and you can

start your notes on your iPad you can

take 100 notes while they're on a plane

while they're in the train in a car

probably you know in the car but

whatever you get what I'm seeing it's a

convenient device to use on the move so

did I that's uh that's a lot of stuff

about laptops and iPads so let's come to

a conclusion now so

John Glory

my decision or my conclusion personally

is that a laptop is significantly more

important than an iPad in medical school

the iPad gives a lot of cool Medical

School themed functions that make it

seem super important

um I'm not saying that it's not useful

it definitely is but a laptop is

essential now this is a bit confusing

because most people already have some

sort of laptop uh when coming into

medical school that they've probably

been using for school or whatever so uh

in that case what I would say is that if

your laptop is functioning well or if it

has a good amount of storage if it has

uh drama let's say over 8GB and if it

has good processing wow it works quickly

it's not old it's not slow I mean don't

quote me on all the technical things

because I'm not okay with technology uh

I mean I'm not the best with it uh so

but just personally as someone who uh

uses both of them I always use laptops

in medical school and in school and

stuff like that I'm just saying don't

use an old and slow laptop uh because

that's just going to make your life so

much harder but if your laptop is

functioning fine if it's okay if it's

working if it's doing all the basic

stuff well and quickly

then you can consider the benefits of

the iPad more useful than the benefits

of getting a new laptop a good

well-functioning laptop is priority

number one then uh getting an iPad or

actually any sort of a tablet the iPad I

see is probably the best one but getting

any sort of tablet is number priority

number two and then uh getting the best

laptop with all the other code functions

and stuff like that or getting a new

laptop that started number three just

follow that hierarchy and you probably

won't go wrong if you agree with most of

the stuff I said in this video an iPad

is an amazing Tool uh it enhances your

uh you know your starting process in

medical school a lot but again like I've

said repeatedly it's not essential if

you can invest in an iPad do that you'll

enjoy it you make use of it it'll

benefit you but if you you gone don't

worry you can still get through just

fine you will you know you've figured

out a way that's just as efficient works

just as badly for you although it may

take you some time but uh you don't need

an iPad although you could use it

if you get what I'm saying anyway uh

that wraps up this video I hope you

found it useful I hope this gave you

some insight into which tool is better

to use at Medical School a laptop or an

iPad

but with that I am gonna sign off and uh

thank you for watching the video if you

liked it drop a like down below smash

that subscribe button leave any comments

asking me any questions you have or

anything like that and I'll do my best

to respond to them and uh share the

video with your friends in medical

school thinking about technology any of

those things and I will see you in the

next one

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