Tablets (ex. Ipad) and Law Schools Forum

[zanzbar]

Full disclosure I will be getting a laptop for law school as my primary note taking device, and I have never used Onenote before, but I will be investing a decent amount of time this summer to get it down. Anyways I have been using the Asus Transformer Prime in my UG classes (note taking, and reading e textbooks whenever I can.) I have the dock so it locks together, and it looks just like a real 11 inch netbook with a small keyboard, mouse tracking pad, it has a lot of extras the ipad doesn't (HDMI out, Micro SD card slot, and SD card, and with the dock it has a combined 16 hour battery life. All for about 650 bucks. The older Transformer and dock can be had for about 485 off amazon (it's only 10 months old.) Overall, It seems to work alright for my needs currently, but I doubt it would be great for a primary note taking device in LS. I think Android has some form of a Onenote app now so I think it may be able to sync up so you can read off of it, and if so I will do that, and if I am able to get ebooks of any supplements I may need I will put them on there as well. I thought about trying to put my textbooks on their to lighten my load on class day, but TLS has me seriously reconsider that because of some great points about what happens on test day.

[Clearly]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

[Artistry]

Ipad = super sized itouch.

I've never understood the novelty of tablet PCs. Unless they can "convert" into a true laptop, then there doesn't appear to be much of a point to them.

Being able to type stuff is important.

If you get a tablet just so you can "write" on it, I have a suitable alternative: it's called a notebook and pencil/pen.

[Ded Precedent]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

Jesus Christ Robo Lawyer bring it down a notch.

[Clearly]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

Jesus Christ Robo Lawyer bring it down a notch.

Lol, it really is a great tool for education, at the end of each class I get the holy grail of notes, and its all real time, no tidying up my review sheets later, plus I can study them on the go, on my computer at home, etc. battery life is amazing too, I see kids lugging around power supplies for their laptops everywhere, what a pain

Your post actually actually made me lol!

[thelong]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

This is actually pretty impressive. I'd like to think that I'd actually make use of this level of quality notes, but time will tell.

I've really been interested in picking up one of the Asus Transformer (pad or prime), but I have a hard time rationalizing springing for a new notebook/tablet/netbook while my MacBook is still running strong.

[kalvano]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

Most professors specifically prohibit you from recording lectures.

[Clearly]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

Most professors specifically prohibit you from recording lectures.

I always ask if it's okay with them in undergrad, and they've never once said no yet. Regardless, even without the audio feature, I would STILL prefer my iPad when taking notes to a laptop

[Bildungsroman]

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

Most professors specifically prohibit you from recording lectures.

I always ask if it's okay with them in undergrad, and they've never once said no yet. Regardless, even without the audio feature, I would STILL prefer my iPad when taking notes to a laptop

Yeah, if you still find it superior without the recording then whatever makes you happy brah, but do not assume you'll be able to use the recording feature. My law school has a blanket ban on recording classes, and from what I've heard it's rare for professors at other law schools to allow recording.

[sequins]

.

[Clearly]

Do you mind me asking which app you're using? I'm trying to find the 'best app' to use for taking notes on my ipad, - currently using evernote but your app sounds really good too.

The iPad bashing is a little much. I use it heavily in undergrad note taking, it's more about finding the app with the features you need.

I bluetooth sync my ipad to a keyboard, open my app and start taking notes, as I take notes the ipad records the entire lecture's audio, and correlates it to the words I'm typing. When reviewing, if my typed notes are vague, I tap on the word, and it instantly plays the audio of what the teacher was saying as I typed it. When extensive board diagrams are used, I pick the thing up, hit one button and snap a pic of the board, which is automatically imported into my notes. When I'm done, I have perfectly formatted notes, including audio of every lecture, links to relevant web pages, snapshots of the board, and links to any videos shown in class. All done in real time, with no editing or assembling of this data after class. Every night the thing auto connects to my wifi at home and uploads all of the files including the master file that has everything formatted to it's respective folder on my computer. It has a pretty awesome auto-eq system that cuts the general classroom noise out, and gives you very clear audio of the lectures

Oh, and it weighs like an ounce, fits in a small draw string bag, and stays charged for 15 hours. I also have all of my text books as E books to reference on it.

Notability

[TTRansfer]

With iCloud, etc. I think that an iPad makes a lot of sense. Open your Pages notes on the iPad and type the notes. Keep the laptop at home (or a desktop) and open up the notes when you get back to re-organize/go over them.

Could also scan in pages of the textbooks that you need (if needed at all).

I've been relatively anti-iPad because I think that they were pointless toys for a while. Now, though, there seems to be some use for them. If I can save lugging around a 15" laptop and simply take my notes via iPad, it'd be fantastic. Most seem to say don't get an iPad because you can't take an exam on one. But if you already have a laptop and merely want to slim your carrying load down a bit, the iPad seems to make a lot of sense.

Just my two cents on this. I'll probably be buying one to at least try it out before the return policy runs out.

BTW, sorry to bring up an old thread but it's better than starting yet another iPad thread.

[PennBull]

My law school has a blanket ban on recording classes, and from what I've heard it's rare for professors at other law schools to allow recording.

I've never heard of this. We can record any class we want, and a lot of professors record their own classes (with video sometimes) for us anyways.

Penn is awesome, reason # 120712

[Campagnolo]

I think most supplements are available in the Kindle store. Lugging around an iPad would be way better than 5 supplements. Most case books are not available, unfortunately.

[twenty]

The bluetooth keyboard for the iPad is pretty sweet. It's expensive (like, $70), but worth it.

[094320]

..

[tstyler98]

0L here. I'm not really envisioning the tablet as a replacement for a laptop for note taking, but I do wonder how useful one would be to do much of the reading. And here, I'm wondering about class assignments of various kinds (textbooks, cases, articles etc.) as well reading for other activities e.g. reviewing class notes, perusing law reviews, relevant law blogs and possibly reviewing submissions as an editor for a student journal.

Anyone have thoughts on tablets as a tool to read rather than create content?

Secondly, I wonder if the Kindle Fire or other Apple competitors do the job just as well as the IPad, given the much more reasonable price...

As someone mentioned previously, not too many casebooks (which are what most professors use for the majority of their course reading) are available in ebook format. So, you'd either still have to carry the book around or scan the pages you need. Other activities, such as reviewing class notes and outlines, perusing law reviews and relevant law blogs should be feasible. Many of the supplements (such as E&E's) are available in ebook format, but you'll have to pay full price for them. I usually try to buy mine used so that I get them cheaper. Also, your library should have them to use for free at school (but likely not at home). However, I'm not sure how useful it would be for editing a law review article. I'm an Executive Editor and, while I can't speak from firsthand experience, I'm not sure it would be easy to do all the editing on an iPad (but I could be wrong).

I know there are people at my law school that have iPads, but I think they still use a laptop in class and use the iPad outside of class when they want to check something quickly without pulling out their laptop. I've never seen anyone actually use an iPad in class.

[3|ink]

There was a guy in my section who used his iPad. He regretted it.

[Redamon1]

What do you guys think of Google's Nexus 7? Looks promising to me. Cheap(er) and likely sufficient for law school stuff.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/techn ... nted=print

[vanwinkle]

an amazing toy to play with but it's a bitch to type on. A keyboard and mouse/trackpad make note-taking much easier. Plus, if your school lets you type exam answers they may require PC/Mac-only exam software.

These things are fun toys but not good for things like note-taking.

[TheGreatWhiteHorse]

You cant use examsoft on tablets, which means you would need to buy a laptop anyway. So save the money.

Seriously, come on. Tablets? I bought a 10 pack of legal pads for 7.99 and a freaking box of BIC pens for 4 bucks. Law school solved.

[ood]

The bluetooth keyboard for the iPad is pretty sweet. It's expensive (like, $70), but worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HC ... 03_s00_i00 , works great for me. It's under $15 too!

[Redamon1]

1L. I recently got an iPad, not to take notes (I use my laptop for that), but to read and annotate scanned textbooks and other reading assignments.

I've found GoodReader to be a good app so far because annotations are relatively easy and the synch with Dropbox works well, but I wonder if others have found better apps or have general tips to improve productivity on iPad / tablet.

[ood]

1L. I recently got an iPad, not to take notes (I use my laptop for that), but to read and annotate scanned textbooks and other reading assignments.

I've found GoodReader to be a good app so far because annotations are relatively easy and the synch with Dropbox works well, but I wonder if others have found better apps or have general tips to improve productivity on iPad / tablet.

Check out iannotate pdf, it used to be my go to app before notability

[Br3v]

Using a tablet for anything academic sounds horrible.