iPad Pro iPad Pro plus Magic Keyboard for college - nursing school

[rotlex]

Our daughter is heading to college this year and starting in a 4 year nursing\bsn program. I'm in the process of deciding between a MacBook Pro 13" or an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard for her. I know this is probably an age old question, but we are really trying to decide if an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard will truly work as a laptop replacement for college. The school doesn't really give any recommendation one way or the other, but to be frank, I haven't been a student for a LONG time.

She has used a MacBook and iPad over the past years for school in general, and I normally wouldn't consider an iPad as a replacement for a laptop. Were an all Mac family and have different devices in the house, but do not currently own an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard. They look like they can do the job, but I was looking for input from any current, or former, college students that have an opinion one way or the other. I think my biggest concern with the iPad is running into something she can't do with it, and honestly, my biggest concern, now, with the MacBook is the processor. I got burned many years ago when buying a PPC Mac a few months before the switch to Intel. Didn't last me nearly as long as I had hoped for.

Any input greatly appreciate. Thanks.

 

[0128672]

As a 100% iPad Pro+MK user, it's pretty great and I don't miss having a Mac, although I don't rule out getting one again. As good as this combo is for my needs--alas, I'm not a student--those of us going this route are still working out its sustainability. I would think for college going the sure route of a MacBook Pro would be the more solid choice. Apple has said there will be support for the Intel Macs for 4 years. Even so, if her needs and the available options are stable in, say, three years, you can always re-evaluate.

I want to say how much I admire your daughter's choice to enter nursing school during the pandemic. Nurses are amazing! I wish her much success on her new endeavor and she's fortunate to have the support of you as parents.

 

[HKDesign]

As a 100% iPad Pro+MK user, it's pretty great and I don't miss having a Mac, although I don't rule out getting one again. As good as this combo is for my needs--alas, I'm not a student--those of us going this route are still working out its sustainability. I would think for college going the sure route of a MacBook Pro would be the more solid choice. Apple has said there will be support for the Intel Macs for 4 years. Even so, if her needs and the available options are stable in, say, three years, you can always re-evaluate.

I want to say how much I admire your daughter's choice to enter nursing school during the pandemic. Nurses are amazing! I wish her much success on her new endeavor and she's fortunate to have the support of you as parents.

Agree....I don't know a lot about on campus study , but I would suggest a new MacBook Pro would easily serve its intended purpose . It might not have some of the benefits of a iPad ..with drawing or note taking etc, but will get the job done. A lot of students now have a laptop and a iPad ... if you go down this road, maybe look at a cheaper iPad option or trading in her current iPad for something more current. . Just some extra thoughts for you.

 

[scupking]

Get the MacBook Pro and iPad 7. Can usually get the iPad 7 on sale for around $250.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Get the MacBook Pro and iPad 7.

Why not the MacBook Air?

 

[ejin222]

Does your daughter like to write or type primarily? If she likes to write her notes down, then Apple has been making a lot of advancements with the Pencil. There are a handful of very powerful apps that take advantage of that.

I have no clue what nursing school would require, but I like the option of typing and writing. One app I use, Notability, allows you to record the lecture, type and/or write your notes with the Apple Pencil, and insert pictures into your document - all of which you can't do easily with a MacBook Pro. And, if she goes back to her notes and listens to the lecture recording, Notability has a function which will let you see what you were writing/typing at any spot in the lecture. Cool feature you can't ignore.

My ONLY hesitation is the programs she would be using in school. I would venture to guess that the MacBook could support most, if not every, program she encounters whereas the iPad would be a riskier guess.

Hope that helps~

 

[0128672]

@rotlex, are you sure that the nursing school doesn't have laptop requirements? I just viewed three different large nursing school undergrad programs and all list specific PC and Mac requirements. For example the Rutgers School of Nursing lists minimum requirements, and disallows use of iPads in its program.

Homepage

Rutgers–Camden School of Nursing offers world-renowned, fully accredited undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic nursing programs.

nursing.camden.rutgers.edu

And here's how the nursing school at Johns Hopkins describes its laptop requirements:

Laptop & Connectivity Requirement - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

The School of Nursing requires students to own a laptop for use at home or while in the building. If you already own a laptop that you wish to use for school work, ideally it should be no older than three years with sufficient processing power and memory to run current versions of Microsoft...

nursing.jhu.edu

 

[Thoradin]

I’m a student myself currently, although not in nursing.
Most education establishments require work handed in using Microsoft Office formatted files. The iPad has Office, but it’s nowhere near good enough for some of the features needed. I have to use a specific formatted cover sheet template, which the apps and even Word online manage to mess up. This is no problem on Mac or Windows though.
Personally I’d look at a MacBook Air and an iPad 7 with a pencil for note taking and the ability to use it as an extra screen for the laptop too if needed.
The Pro may be overkill for what she needs specs wise, and even though it’s not much lighter for the Air, the addition of an iPad plus books in a bag I know I’d be glad of any weight I could save carrying around all the time.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I’m neither a student or in the profession of nursing at all, but a Mac mini at home with a good rdp app and fast internet should ensure the best of both worlds, without needing to carry an iPad and and MacBook. I would get a cheapish Mac mini (though ‘new’ 2018 Mac mini minimum) and an iPad Pro 12.9” plus pencil.

 

[aajeevlin]

I’m neither a student or in the profession of nursing at all, but a Mac mini at home with a good rdp app and fast internet should ensure the best of both worlds, without needing to carry an iPad and and MacBook. I would get a cheapish Mac mini (though ‘new’ 2018 Mac mini minimum) and an iPad Pro 12.9” plus pencil.

I just might go with this. I have the iPad Pro 12.9 largely for note taking. But I need to code as well. What rdp app do you recommend on the ipad pro? And the mini? Thanks.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I just might go with this. I have the iPad Pro 12.9 largely for note taking. But I need to code as well. What rdp app do you recommend on the ipad pro? And the mini? Thanks.

Give Jump Desktop a try. I have been using it for yeare and have been very satisfied. Nothing compares, in my opinion.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I just might go with this. I have the iPad Pro 12.9 largely for note taking. But I need to code as well. What rdp app do you recommend on the ipad pro? And the mini? Thanks.

As the other poster said, Jump Desktop is great. I have only just recently converted to it, thanks to advice on these forums, and it’s really very good.
The Mac part of its free, and the iPad apps about £15.

Give Jump Desktop a try. I have been using it for yeare and have been very satisfied. Nothing compares, in my opinion.

 

[rotlex]

Thanks for the responses to this all. We spent a few hours at the local Apple store yesterday and she is really liking the functionality of the iPad Pro. I still lean toward the MacBook Pro, but I think we are actually going to go back today and pick up the iPad and let her do some work on it this week. I hate to be someone who returns something, but the sales staff at the store kept mentioning the two week return policy.

I get the feeling she wants the iPad Pro over the MacBook, and I hope we wind up making the right decision.

Thanks again!

 

[LeeW]

One thing I have noticed more than anything, especially in reviews is that the iPad is used often for medical-related students and they have nothing but good to say about the experience. And that only appears to be getting better in the next version of iPadOS.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks for the responses to this all. We spent a few hours at the local Apple store yesterday and she is really liking the functionality of the iPad Pro. I still lean toward the MacBook Pro, but I think we are actually going to go back today and pick up the iPad and let her do some work on it this week. I hate to be someone who returns something, but the sales staff at the store kept mentioning the two week return policy.

I get the feeling she wants the iPad Pro over the MacBook, and I hope we wind up making the right decision.

Thanks again!

I agree with staff.

While I share your sentiment about returns, a two week trail would be more than enough time for your daughter to decide if the iPad Pro will meet her needs wants. Too many parents have been well-intended by purchasing a laptop thinking Suzy or Bill would be thrilled to use it, only to find out after the fact, that Suzy or Bill would have rather had a smaller form factor.

I would also suggest your daughter contact the head of the Nursing department, as well as other students (if possible) and ask about the use and practicality of using the iPad Pro with their current anatomy programs etc. versus a 13” MacBook Pro during the two week trial.

 

[zhenya]

I would not purchase the iPad without first confirming requirements from the school. As mentioned, while the iPad runs a version of Microsoft Office, it is nowhere near the full version. I often try to use my iPad for some of my most basic work tasks - filling out an expense form, etc. and it is WAY harder on the iPad than on a full PC or Mac.

Further, none of the Office programs are really compatible with the Magic Keyboard right now. This will eventually get fixed, but Microsoft has not indicated it will be any time soon - “later this year” which could be longer given past history.

I am a huge iPad proponent - have used them daily since their initial launch - and use a Pro with Magic Keyboard as my full personal device - but I find it best suited as a companion device to a main computer for more extensive workflows - ie. it would be great for taking notes in class - but for more intense workflows it could be a real hinderance.