Sorry to ask a question that may have been asked many times before...but my wife has recently taken over my MBP to use for her photo editing along with her 12.9” iPP. I am a senior college student (at 35 years old!) and hope to matriculate in to medical school next year. I currently use a 10.5 iPP which has proven to be very useful for school, but I still need a laptop occasionally as some of the programs at school (and presumably at medical school) are not always accessible with an iOS device. I was considering selling my 10.5 and buying a refurb 12.9 for more effective split screen multitasking or just buying a refurb 256GB Macbook non Pro. I’d be spending a bit more to get the MacBook as I’d be keeping my 10.5, but I’d also love having an all in one device and may be able to make it work with an iPad Pro for all my needs as I still technically have a MBP here to use when I absolutely need it. What say you guys?
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10.5 iPad Pro to 12.9 or add MacBook?
- Thread starter GuruZac
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i just checked my Alma Mater and several other med schools, all list computer requirements for students to own, no tablets except Windows Surface Pros. Since that roller coaster ride is a year away, I recommend getting what you want/need now, or nothing if the 10.5 works for you. Retail computer industry and costs will be different then. You will be stuck with older tech. Who knows maybe you’ll qualify for free or subsidized laptop at med school. Apple sells both 1st and 2nd generations 12.9 refurbs, 2nd gen is better. Good luck with school.
This says it all IMO. Going with a larger IPP isn't going to get you greater capability to handle the situations for which you're already needing a laptop so as the others have stated plan on getting a laptop to do what you can't with the tablet you have.
Vote for Macbook, more functionality and weighs the same considering when you add a keyboard to the iPad. That aside though, functionality wise you can get the work done rather than thinking about workarounds for basic things which you may already be a custom to.
Just wanted to let you know I’ve decided to purchase a refurb 2017 MacBook Pro nTB. I’ll order it this Friday since it’s tax free weekend in TN. I think the combo of this iPad Pro and a MacBook Pro ought to get me through several years of School/Med School. Thanks for all you guys’ advice.
Hopefully my experience can help you here. So I picked up a 12.9 second gen shortly after they came out in September last year and was using that as my portable device for the tail end of didactic graduate medical program. I had the 10.5 for a while but found split screen just slightly too small so I switched to the 12. In my particular usage the 12.9 worked really well for a few semesters, however I had an older (albeit upgraded mbp at home connected to a 24inch monitor) for anything beyond basic usage.
For your situation I would absolutely wait until right before you matriculate for two reasons. 1) prices on everything will only come down 2) you will have a better idea from whatever program you start what they will provide, require and may assist with. If you are applying now I assume you would matriculate in 2019 in which case I wouldn't buy anything now unless you absolutely need something (it doesn't seem like you do).
I liked the iPad Pro for several reasons, being able to mark up powerpoint with the pencil, radiographs, etc. The fanless operation, virtually no heat, portability, etc were nice but I recently picked up a 2017 13 Touch Bar to supplement and/or replace the iPad and my older mb. The problem with the iPad is that it functions as a tablet very well, but functions as a computer poorly at best (can't have more than one powerpoint or word doc open at a time, becomes more trouble than its worth with app switching etc.) I will likely sell my pro and either switch to a 2018 cheap iPad or whatever they replace the 10.5 with (really wish they would upgrade the mini-would be great for rounding and clinic work). I would skip the regular 12 MacBook its too expensive and seems like it will not age well compared to an equally priced MacBook Pro. The ntb or tb will serve you well, I only went with the TB due to the additional ports (can charge on both sides) dual fans, and got a cheap price on a used one. Otherwise either will work very well for any medical program.
For your situation I would absolutely wait until right before you matriculate for two reasons. 1) prices on everything will only come down 2) you will have a better idea from whatever program you start what they will provide, require and may assist with. If you are applying now I assume you would matriculate in 2019 in which case I wouldn't buy anything now unless you absolutely need something (it doesn't seem like you do).
I liked the iPad Pro for several reasons, being able to mark up powerpoint with the pencil, radiographs, etc. The fanless operation, virtually no heat, portability, etc were nice but I recently picked up a 2017 13 Touch Bar to supplement and/or replace the iPad and my older mb. The problem with the iPad is that it functions as a tablet very well, but functions as a computer poorly at best (can't have more than one powerpoint or word doc open at a time, becomes more trouble than its worth with app switching etc.) I will likely sell my pro and either switch to a 2018 cheap iPad or whatever they replace the 10.5 with (really wish they would upgrade the mini-would be great for rounding and clinic work). I would skip the regular 12 MacBook its too expensive and seems like it will not age well compared to an equally priced MacBook Pro. The ntb or tb will serve you well, I only went with the TB due to the additional ports (can charge on both sides) dual fans, and got a cheap price on a used one. Otherwise either will work very well for any medical program.
Really great advice and I appreciate your insight. I actually went ahead and pulled the trigger on a 2017 MacBook Pro nTB 256GB refurb for $1250 because it was tax free weekend so I thought it made sense. I figure that’s computer should last me at least until residency hopefully. I learned that great as the iPad Pros are, they are just not quite there for my needs and schools don’t really recognize those as computer replacements for many of the software programs used.
I got a 12.9 back when they first came out. Used it about a month, sold it and bought a 9.7. 12.5 too big and unwieldy. But my wife loves her 12.9, will probably buy the 1918 model when they come out. Think you made the right choice going with the laptop. (Although that was a long time ago now.) OS better than IOS for general applications. BTW, just bought a 2018 cheap iPad after my old 1g Pro went bad. Love it.
Just in case anyone hasn’t installed iOS 12, I just downloaded iOS 12 Public Beta 3 on my 10.5. Really liking the new gesture based operation. Seems to flow well. iOS 12 Public Beta 3 has been very stable on my 7 Plus so hopefully it remains stable on my 10.5.