Ipad for an engineering major?

aroberts394 wrote:

I'm an engineering major and I have a Macbook Pro 13' and I have alot of e-textbooks. I was thinking of getting an Ipad to carry around instead of carrying the much bulkier MBP. But is my question is, is it worth the price. Is there any other benefits of getting one because I have an ipod touch as well and the ipad just seems like a glorified version of it. Your thoughts?

They say hindsight is 20/20 but as my college engineering days are 40 years ago my opinion might not mean a whole lot to a current student but I'll give you my opinion anyway.😀

As a preface let me say I used a slide rule for my first two years in engineering school (E&CE) and was estatic when HP introduced their series of scientific calculators in the early '70s. HP calculators, particularly the programmable ones, were so good at solving engineering problems that many of my profs outlawed them while still allowing slide rules. I was so impressed with the HP line that I eventually went to work in their calculator division as a Manufacturing engineer. Later I went through other disciplines, i.e. (in no particular order) Production engineer, Network engineer, Software engineer, IT engineer. In working at HP I was essentially forced to use Microsoft products so until I retired from HP I didn't have the time to properly investigate the Apple line. During my time at HP I owned several Windows computers both desktop and laptop--usually from Dell or home built. Things have radically changed since I retired. I no longer own a Windows computer. I've switched entirely to the Apple lineup.

I own two MacBook Airs, a MacBook Pro--all three 13", two iMacs (24" and 27"). I've owned all models of iPad (except the mini which I, personally, think is a step backwards in technology) and I currently have two iPad '3's which I will be giving to family members as a Christmas gift when my already ordered iPad '4's with LTE arrive. The decision to use the iPad '3's as a gift caused the order for the '4'. I was entirely satisfied with the '3's.

In looking back at my days in college and my days as an engineer, I can say that the one device I could have made the absolute most use of would be the 2012 MacBook Air. It would have handled every single task I've ever had to perform on a computer with ease. I cannot say the same for any other device on the market today. Yes, their are a few programs that mandate Windows, but so far I haven't come across any that don't work well in a Parallels VM on my MBA.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my iPads and iMacs, but if I were limited to only one device it would be my 2012 MacBook Air. The decision wouldn't even be close. Reasoning? The iMacs are not portable, the iPads are primarly consumption devices not creative devices. If size is an issue take a close look at the 11" MBA. It isn't a lot bigger than an iPad 2, '3', or '4' and is primarily a creative device but still has a lot of consumption characteristics.

As always YMMV.

True. Ones that were bought from the bookstore because they were unavailable online, I had to transfer the digital version PDF to the iPad.

I guess the question is, what other things would you use it for?

Buy them again...9.99$ each. It automatically updates any changes through icloud to both devices. Computer change to iPad etc...

30$ is worth it(*****, but iOS is diff). Comparing to 60$ on the Mac or 100$ for Microsoft office.

So get an OS X device and run Windows on it 😝

stevejobsfan0123 wrote:

So get an OS X device and run Windows on it 😝

That just seems ... wrong 😮 .

Yeah, good point.

Well summed up! Totally agreed.

Glad to hear you are enjoying it :)

Well there is no doubt that an iPad is lighter, smaller, and less bulky than a MBP. So it sounds like you've made up your mind. I would not do it because when I was an Engineering student I did not have the time to worry about managing my papers, notes, assignments, books, on multiple devices, let alone worrying that layout and format of my papers were preserved going between devices, submitting to professors, and sharing between study group members.

I have read the discussion, and only have one thing to add: No iPad is as powerful and useful as a "proper" computer. Choose any Apple computer. and you can run any Apple OR Windows software. Or Linux. Any current Apple computer can run (OK, you might have to spend a little) any software.

The decision is NOT which device to buy, but WHAT DEVICE WILL RUN THE SOFTEWARE I NEED.