With the new semester coming up and all the recent pharmacy school acceptances
(congrats you smart and awesome people!) I wanted to talk about the use of technology in pharmacy schooI! It's the 21st century so we've not only got the traditional laptops but now there's touchscreen laptops, 2-in-1's, detachable devices and tablets!
In undergrad, this topic wasn't too important for me as I didn't use technology in class that often, mostly for homework and writing papers. I typically left my laptop at home and would use the numerous computer labs we had on campus throughout the day to print documents, and work on projects such as my reaction charts in OCHEM or making my study guides! As I mentioned in my digital note taking video, pharmacy school moves on a much faster pace than undergraduate studies and I definitely would've fallen behind without the use of my iPad and MacBook simultaneously! Being able to airdrop the uploaded lectures to my iPad to annotate then back to my MacBook to print has been one of the most glorious experiences ever -- but not everyone is a Mac lover (I was not one before pharmacy school!).
With that being said, I wanted to share what other students in my cohort and other students that I've connected with on Instagram are using to maximize their productivity in pharmacy school (and one pre-med) as well!
Let's get started!
Specs:
Integrated Touch ID Sensor
Dimensions: 8.36 x 11.97 x (0.16-0.61)
Weight: 2.75 pounds
Processor: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, with 4MB L3 cache
Storage: 128GB (configurable to 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD), 256 GB (Configurable to 512GB or 1TB SSD)
Memory: 8GB (Configurable to 16GB of memory)
Battery and Power: Up to 12 hours wireless web, Up to 13 hours Apple TV app video playback, Up to 30 days of standby time, Built-in 49.9‑watt‑hour lithium‑polymer battery, 30W USB-C Power Adapter; USB-C power port
Charging and Expansion: Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s), USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)
Pros:
Touch ID
Good size: thin and light laptop
Nice keyboard
Good battery life
Cheaper in comparison to the mac book pro.
Cons:
Not enough ports because the headphone jack was removed, and there is no USB port or HDMI port. It makes it a little harder to save directly from the laptop to a USB, but a USB adapter can be attached.
Anything else you’d like to share?
At first I wanted a Mac book Pro, which was about $1300, but I ended up getting the Air instead to save money and I love this laptop. I do not regret getting it. I use it all day, every day for school and it is very durable and does everything I need. I would definitely recommend!
-Jessica
Specs:
Dimensions: 8.36 x 11.97 x 0.59
Processor: 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, with 64MB of eDRAM
Memory: 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Storage: 128GB PCIe-based onboard SSD1
Charging and Expansion: Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:
Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
Power and Battery: Up to 10 hours wireless web2, Up to 10 hours iTunes movie playback2, Up to 30 days of standby time2, Built-in 54.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
61W USB-C Power Adapter
Weight: 3.02 pounds (1.37 kg)3
Pros:
Great size! Not too small and not too large. The 13" MacBook Pro fits well in my backpack without weighing it down! Easy to carry with me anywhere and everywhere. Fits on every size desk without taking up too much space.
Apple connectivity: I have an iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Being able to airdrop my annotated lectures from my iPad to my Mac, answering iMessages on my Mac or just having everything on iCloud is great!
Cons:
USB-C: Because everything is not USB-C compatible, It may benecessary to purchase a USB-C "hub" or adapter based on your desired connectivity (USB-C to HDMI, etc.)
Keyboard can get noisy and can be annoying when you're typing for a long time. My boyfriend purchased me a keyboard cover for Christmas which really helps with the noise and is also just super cute!
Click here for blog post on how I scored my MacBook Pro on the low!
-Yours truly, Rudi
Specs:
TouchBar
Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities
Dimensions: 17.7 x 11.5 x 3.7
Processor: 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7
Storage: 256GB
Memory: 16GB
Weight: 4.02 lbs
Pros:
The screen: large and clear!
In my opinion, the 15-inch MacBook display is hard to beat! The size and quality of the display makes the expense worthwhile—especially for those who have a less than perfect vision.
Compatibility: I’m an Apple guy
Most of the technology I own is Apple brand (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, MacBook). Because of this, I can easily share documents, photos, and other files through Apple-specific features like ‘AirDrop’.
Many college students own Apple products as well, so mass-sharing files/documents through AirDrop comes in handy!
Mirror image through Apple TV and Apple Sidecar
Many times, especially on nights before an exam, I will pair my MacBook to a TV and will “lecture” an empty room on exam topics while displaying lecture slide decks
**Apple Sidecar is NEW in 2019!! With this feature, I can use my iPad as a secondary display! I can easily ‘hold-and-pull’ documents and slide decks from my MacBook to my iPad. Often times I will have my own notes displayed on one screen and a slide deck pulled up on another screen. I love this feature because I can have several items displayed all at once.
The keyboard: comfortable and enhanced!
The 2017 MacBook (and new models) can be purchased with a Touch Bar feature (like a touchscreen for your keyboard)
Can be useful when creating documents or when several tabs are in use on Safari/Google Chrome
The keys on the keyboard just feel right!
Cons:
Cost: Pharmacy students are BROKE! $2,499 can be a huge deficit in a broke college student’s bank account
Size: A 15-inch computer is huge! While I love the size of my Mac, at times (when taking exams in a lecture hall with hall-like seating and small platforms for writing/laptop resting) the size can be less than ideal
Anything else you’d like to share?
In 2019, Apple announced the discontinuation of their 15-inch MacBook Pro. However, it has been replaced with an even bigger, 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple offers student discounts as well as 12-month, interest-free financing options!
- Grayson
Specs:
Dimensions: 11.5” x 7.9” x 0.33”
Storage:128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Battery Life: Up to 13.5 hours of local video playback
Memory: 8GB or 16GB RAM
Processor: Surface Pro 6 i5-8250U i7-8650U
Connections: 1 x full-size USB 3.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, 1 x Surface Connect port, Surface Type Cover port, MicroSDXC card reader and Compatible with Surface Dial.
Weight (not including Type Cover): i5: 1.70 lbs i7: 1.73 lbs (784 g)
Pros:
Lightweight.
Acts as a PC rather than a tablet – allows you to download software necessary for classes.
OneNote makes it easy for note-taking and keeping everything together and organized; Inserting and annotating PDFs of lectures.
Fits on tiny desks in lecture halls.
Cons:
Feels more “flimsy” than actual laptop.
Screen size is smaller than average laptop screen size.
Writing with the pen in OneNote takes some getting used to.
Difficult to watch lectures and take notes on OneNote at the same time.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Overall, I love the Surface. It’s perfect for what I need it for in pharmacy school and doesn’t weigh my bookbag down like previous laptops I’ve owned. Recently, I’ve been considering getting a tablet in addition to my surface so that I can take notes while also searching the internet or watching lectures on the Surface.
-Brandi
Specs:
Dimensions 12.13” x 8.79” x .57” (308.1 mm x 223.27 mm x 14.48 mm)
Memory 8GB or 16GB RAM
Processor Intel® Core™ 8th Gen i5 or i7
Battery life Up to 14.5 hours of local video playback1
Graphics Intel® UHD Graphics 620 (i5) Intel® UHD Graphics 620 (i7)
Storage: Solid-state drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Connections 1 x full-size USB, 3.0 3.5 mm headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, 1 x Surface Connect port ,Compatible with Surface Dial off-screen interaction
Exterior Casing Colors: Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt Blue, Black
Weight i5: 2.76 lbs (1,252 grams) i7: 2.83 lbs (1,283 grams)
Pros:
Very lightweight.
Touch screen.
Beautiful Alcantara fabric (a soft, suede-like microfiber) covering rather than metal.
Cons:
Poor repair-ability because of the Alcantara fabric. The machine is essentially sealed so there’s no way to responsibly open it up and repair anything.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I love it! The ease of the touchscreen, the light weight, the comfort of the Alcantara vs the usual cold metal or plastic is just super nice and great for college students I think!!
-Allie
Basically, it’s a laptop and a tablet all in one! I purchased my Spectre during the 2018 4th of July sales on HP.com. It was reduced from the original price of $1,009.99 to around $800, but after customizing it to include different features that I felt were important for me, like 16 GB of onboard memory, for example, the total came out to be $1,144.89.
Product specifications
Specs:
Dimensions (W X D X H): 12.16 x 8.58 x 0.57 in
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-8265U, Intel® Core™ i7-8565U,
Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
External I/O Ports: 1 headphone/microphone combo; 2 USB 3.1 Type-C™ Gen 2 Thunderbolt™ 3; 1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 (HP Sleep and Charge)
Weight: 2.92 lb
Pros:
I personally find the HP Spectre x360 to be an aesthetically pleasing device!
It is a compact size and weight measuring 13 inches and weighing 2.88 lb. Being able to have 3 different screens is also really convenient when trying to type notes, look at a PowerPoint, and find different sources all at once!
The keyboard backlight is pretty cool when trying to type assignments in a darker environment.
Being able to draw on my assignments and course PowerPoints makes the retention aspect much easier for me.
Cons:
Unfortunately, due to its small compact size, the HP Spectre x360 does not have a DVD/CD optical drive. Seeing as though I am an avid “Simmer” during my school breaks, this was definitely a con for me. I was able to, however, find a Verbatim brand external optical drive from Office Depot for about $35. At any rate, there hasn’t been much time for playing Sims since beginning pharmacy school…or undergrad, for that matter. -_-
Although I realized it was an investment, the price was definitely a tough blow!
Anything else you’d like to share:
With my laptop, I purposely didn’t purchase the Microsoft Office software or the McAfee Security software when customizing the laptop. Because I am a student, I knew I’d be provided with the Microsoft Office software for free, so long as I am in school. And with
the security software, I knew that Office Depot sells 1-year McAfee subscriptions for $5, during the holidays. So I purchased about 3, at a time, to have on hold. Overall, I am in love with my laptop!
-Kelsey
Specs:
Touchscreen display
360-degree hinge flips the screen all the way around for use as a laptop, stand, tent, or tablet
Dimensions: 21 x 9 x 3
Processor: 1.6 GHz Core i5 8400
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Flash Memory: 256 GB
Average Battery: 9 hours
Weight: 3.52 lbs
Pros:
Laptop and tablet all in one device.
Microsoft apps- word, office, one note, etc.
Long battery life.
Compatible with test taking software (our school uses examplify).
Cheaper than Apple products.
Cons:
Bigger/heavier than an iPad.
Touch screen is not as good at detecting pen vs hand for writing (although there are Bluetooth styluses you can buy).
Anything else you’d like to share?
I love using OneNote for notes! You can pull up any document, PowerPoint or notes and send it right to your onenote notebooks. This enables you to write over the notes during class. I use a super cheap stylus I bought online and it works great! No need to spend thousands on the latest iPad and pen. This is a laptop and tablet all in one!:
- Rachel
Specs:
Fingerprint security enabled
Dimensions: 0.29 x 6.6 x 9.4
Battery Life: 10 hours
Processor: A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture, Embedded M10 coprocessor
Weight: 1.03 lbs
Pros:
Cons:
Size: While it's a perfect size for me personally, it may be too small for others. If so, i'd suggest the 10.2" iPad (2019), the 10.5" iPad Pro (2017), the 11" iPad Pro (2018), or the 12.9" iPad Pro (2018).
Anything else you’d like to share?
If you're interested in an iPad, I would recommend going somewhere like Target, Best Buy or even the Apple Store (if it's not insanely crowded as usual) and actually put your hands on the different sizes and models to compare! Before purchasing mine, I stopped by apple to test writing on the iPads as well as seeing what I can comfortably hold/carry in a backpack alongside other school supplies.
- Yours truly, Rudi
Specs:
Capacity: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Dimensions: 0.23 x 8.46 x11.04
Weight: 1.4lbs
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Pros:
Note-taking: goodbye paper and pencil - Hello iPad and Apple Pencil!!
Taking notes on my iPad has allowed for less paper use and more organization (all of my notes are filed separately in their respective folders).
I’m a visual learner who uses different colored pens.
Using apps like Notability, the options are endless (different colored pens, highlighters, markers, textures, etc.)
Applications: Download them all!!!
Notability: I use Notability to take notes and to practice POP calculation problems.
Quizlet: While many may choose to use Quizlet via Safari/Google Chrome, I prefer the application (downloadable from the App Store) due to its interface and ease of use!
PowerPoint and Word: Free Apps to edit documents (must have a Microsoft account).
Canvas App: Can view assignments, grades, and anything that is normally displayed on your Canvas page accessed online.
Micromedex and Lexicomp: Both have applications available for download on the App Store. Both can be used during IPPE/APPE rotations for easy access to medication information!
iStudiez Pro: A digital agenda that provides notifications and reminders for upcoming assignments/exams
Accessories: keyboard and Apple Pencil
While sold separately, buying an Apple Pencil allows for incomparable notetaking and drawing
Buying a Bluetooth keyboard allows you to convert your iPad to a laptop!
Cons: I have very little to say in this category!
Cost: again, Pharmacy school students are BROKE! The Apple Pencil and other accessories sold separately.
Some applications (Lexicomp) can cost extra!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Apple offers student discounts as well as 12-month, interest-free financing options!
- Grayson
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