* Engineering students: MacBook or iPad?
I’m starting engineering school next semester and I’m stuck deciding what setup makes the most sense.
Right now I have:
- A powerful Windows desktop at home, which I don’t believe will struggle with engineering software.
- An M4 MacBook.
I’ve seen countless engineering students say an iPad is one of the best purchases they made because handwritten notes, annotating lecture slides, and solving problems during class make studying much easier.
The problem is I can’t afford to buy an iPad outright. The only realistic way to get one is to sell my MacBook.
So my options are:
- Keep the MacBook and use it to take my notes alongside my Windows desktop.
- Sell the MacBook and buy an iPad, relying on my Windows desktop for engineering software.
For those of you who have been through an engineering degree, which setup would you choose? Did you find an iPad more valuable than having a laptop, or would you keep the laptop and skip the iPad?
I’m interested in hearing from people who have actually used these devices throughout an engineering degree. What worked well, and what would you do differently?