Laptop or ipad

LeyaM2005

Im about to start my first year at uni studying speech and language therapy. I currently use my iPad for all school work including typing essays and coursework with a Bluetooth keyboard and making notes with an Apple Pencil. I was going to upgrade my iPad for uni but now I’m wondering do I need a laptop instead? Or will I be ok with the iPad?

Reply 1

567tyu

Is there any chance that you might be asked to download specialist speech and language therapy software? If so, there’s a good chance some of it might not be compatible with iPads. Laptops are also slightly bigger and more comfortable for typing, and easier for formatting documents - whatever amount of typing you’ve been doing now is probably less than you would need to do at uni. It’s also easier to multitask on a laptop, for example being on a video call and taking notes. I wouldn’t go out and get a particularly fancy laptop though, a basic one would be fine I’m sure. You could also look and see if there is a laptop borrowing scheme at the uni. Your iPad would still be useful for taking notes etc.

Reply 2

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by LeyaM2005

An iPad isn’t going to be suitable for delivering coursework, you’ll be expected to deliver your assignments to professional standard i.e. fully cited (best done using a citation software tool), correctly structured & formatted etc. Ipads are great for consuming information however (imo) they fall short of being a “main” device capability wise when it comes to building documents. I do find ipads better for working on trains/travelling but the mobile OS still has short falls.