I think I asked this a long time ago in the earlier iteration of this community, but I never saved what people said and I never took anyone's advice, so.....I find myself printing out a lot of sheets of paper for my lecture notes for class. Even though I use paper meant for recycling and I print on both sides of the paper, it ends up being a lot of paper. If people use lecture notes for class, do any of you use an e-reader/laptop/etc. instead of physical paper? What do you recommend? I'd like something where the screen is closer to a regular sheet of paper and where I could still annotate the document, ideally. And even if you don't use an e-reader, can you recommend something? I have a laptop, but that seems cumbersome to bring to class every day. And my Kindle is smaller than I'd like, as is my smartphone.
I sat next to a guy on a plane (obviously, two years ago or more) who had an awesome, very-thin reader that he used to annotate text, read, etc.
I think it was in the Mac world, and I live in PC-land, so I didn't take note of the exact maker or model, but that might be a place to start.
M.
When I'm teaching online or recording lectures I use my iPad for my notes rather than wasting paper. I've also started using it for sheet music while rehearsing.
Yes, I was thinking that an iPad would be an option. I could one for about $400 or so, since I don't care about a fancy camera and I wouldn't need cell service.
I last researched this years ago, but at the time I came to the conclusion that the only decent way to mark up the PDFs--and have enough storage, too--is on a tablet of one kind or another.
iPad with iAnnotate (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iannotate-4-pdfs-more/id1093924230)is my tool of chouice. Electronic stylus helps a lot.
I also grade student work with this. Joyfully.
After a year of working on a $70 Kindle Fire (with apps that let me mark up PDFs), I splurged on an iPad with keyboard and the Apple Pen. The Apple Pen is fantastic (if pricey -- CAN$159, I think). The keyboard is also really nice.
Thanks for the recommendations/anecdotes. Maybe an ipad will be Xmas gift to myself.
Are there Android tablets that are as good as iPads for annotating PDFs? Pesonally speaking, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy an Apple product.
Quote from: downer on October 03, 2021, 03:13:24 PM
Are there Android tablets that are as good as iPads for annotating PDFs? Pesonally speaking, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy an Apple product.
I don't know anything about Android tablets. (Is the Microsoft Surface considered Android? I don't know anything about those either, but I see them around campus.)
Quote from: downer on October 03, 2021, 03:13:24 PM
Are there Android tablets that are as good as iPads for annotating PDFs? Pesonally speaking, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy an Apple product.
I use a generic 10-inch Android tablet (~$100) and a generic fine-tip stylus and have found PDF annotation a little clunky. I mostly use an app called Xodo. It underlines and highlights PDFs quite well, but I cannot write out more than one or two words clearly, so while it is great for highlighting passages in articles, it is not great for grading papers or annotating my own writing (though I can connect to a keyboard and type directly into Word documents). I don't know if this is because I have a budget tablet, a budget stylus, or because of larger system differences. I've never used an iPad, so I can't compare the two.
AR.
I use a reMarkable 2, which is an extremely thin eink based ebook reader with hand annotation capabilities, and a stylus with a paperlike feel when writing.
https://remarkable.com/
Everyone that I know uses a stylus-capable tablet (e.g., Microsoft Surface). A regular, non-stylus manufactured tablet is just not going to work well for anything better than finger swiping.
I wasn't familiar with the reMarkable. Interesting option!
Quote from: mleok on October 05, 2021, 09:42:06 AM
I use a reMarkable 2, which is an extremely thin eink based ebook reader with hand annotation capabilities, and a stylus with a paperlike feel when writing.
https://remarkable.com/
I was sorely tempted when the first version came out, but it was advertised to me via FB (ugh) and it was still in development, so I thought I'd let them iron out the kinks.
What are the remaining kinks?
I think the reMarkable is the ereader I saw in the vendor area at a conference when it first came out. They were giving one away as a door prize. I have never so badly wanted to win a door prize! It looked really nice.
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 05, 2021, 06:09:32 PM
Quote from: mleok on October 05, 2021, 09:42:06 AM
I use a reMarkable 2, which is an extremely thin eink based ebook reader with hand annotation capabilities, and a stylus with a paperlike feel when writing.
https://remarkable.com/
I was sorely tempted when the first version came out, but it was advertised to me via FB (ugh) and it was still in development, so I thought I'd let them iron out the kinks.
What are the remaining kinks?
Same here. I've had my eye on it since but haven't heard any talk of how well it works.
Having looked at reMarkable's website, the device looks interesting. I think that I would like something that allows for colored highlighting, which reMarkable doesn't do. Also, and I could have missed that on the site, you can only write - which is the point, I'm sure - and not type on or with it. I haven't quite figured out if I want something that I could produce my notes for class on, if I wanted, so I would need/want keyboard capabilities. Or if I just want something that I would be reading notes (that I created on a computer) from. But I totally see how the reMarkable is good for taking on-the-spot notes during a meeting, for example.
It's sometimes--for some items--possible to get small, fold-up keyboards that fold in half to the size of a large wallet, that plug into your device with a USB connector or other type of port (C, maybe).
A friend had one from Logitech awhile back, used it with a small, Blackberry-like purse device, and it think started using it with her tablet after that: her hands didn't like the tiny screen keyboards, but the portable keyboard was very close to full-sized, and worked fine, especially on buses, etc., where she didn't want to haul the laptop out of its bag for a short trip across town.
Not sure what you can get now, but it might do some of what you want.
Also, aren't there separate stylii that do color as accessories? Thought I saw those somewhere...
M.
I don't know, but I assumed that the typing aspect was a product of reMarkable's device? I don't know. Also, I assumed that reMarkable only allows you to use their stylus? And/or that the ability to highlight in color doesn't have anything to do with the stylus or doesn't just have to do with the stylus, but with the device. In the videos I watched, I don't see any highlighting in color function.
I've printed out 100 pages of notes for one class this semester. I definitely need to get an iPad or something for next semester.
Quote from: paddington_bear on October 06, 2021, 02:37:35 PM
I don't know, but I assumed that the typing aspect was a product of reMarkable's device? I don't know. Also, I assumed that reMarkable only allows you to use their stylus? And/or that the ability to highlight in color doesn't have anything to do with the stylus or doesn't just have to do with the stylus, but with the device. In the videos I watched, I don't see any highlighting in color function.
The reMarkable is a greyscale eink device, and the highlighting feature is just a software feature. You will have to use their stylus though, I'm not sure it's compatible with anything else. While there are color eink displays available, the colors appear a bit washed out, and they are substantially more expensive.
Paddington U is starting some sort of new printing "initiative" this spring - I think it's a shared printer per department - so it makes my desire for an ipad so that I can read my notes instead of printing them out even more of a good idea. I'm not even sure how a shared printer in a department would work.
Quote from: paddington_bear on December 07, 2021, 06:52:30 PM
Paddington U is starting some sort of new printing "initiative" this spring - I think it's a shared printer per department - so it makes my desire for an ipad so that I can read my notes instead of printing them out even more of a good idea. I'm not even sure how a shared printer in a department would work.
Wait, you guys still have individual printers? 0_o
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 09:18:01 AM
Quote from: paddington_bear on December 07, 2021, 06:52:30 PM
Paddington U is starting some sort of new printing "initiative" this spring - I think it's a shared printer per department - so it makes my desire for an ipad so that I can read my notes instead of printing them out even more of a good idea. I'm not even sure how a shared printer in a department would work.
Wait, you guys still have individual printers? 0_o
Yes. But maybe not for much longer! So how do department or networked printers work?
Quote from: paddington_bear on December 08, 2021, 09:33:44 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 09:18:01 AM
Quote from: paddington_bear on December 07, 2021, 06:52:30 PM
Paddington U is starting some sort of new printing "initiative" this spring - I think it's a shared printer per department - so it makes my desire for an ipad so that I can read my notes instead of printing them out even more of a good idea. I'm not even sure how a shared printer in a department would work.
Wait, you guys still have individual printers? 0_o
Yes. But maybe not for much longer! So how do department or networked printers work?
Wow!
There's just a big office printer/scanner in a room and you send your jobs to it and then go pick them up. Depending on the arrangement you might have to swipe your ID, put in a code, etc to unlock the job.
It works fine, but there can be logjams at certain points in the day/year, so try to do your printing at unusual times.
Aaannnnddd the same people who are always "in a hurry to get to class" leave the thing without any paper, or put the paper in funny and don't change it back or leave the thing jammed so it doesn't start when you push "print" and go away to do something else and then come back and it's not even started printing because it's jammed...and....
Think toilet paper, toothpaste tubes, and dishes in the sink.
All the inconsiderate things that can happen will happen, at the worst possible times.
Like when you've got ten minutes before the final to print out the exam because the thing was down the whole day before for maintenance.
Because, like, why wouldn't IT schedule regular printer maintenance without looking at the academic calendar when they could set it up for 10 days later and no-one would care.
Most folks I knew had their own private printer, and kept several reams of their own printer paper, each, in their own offices for just those reasons.
M.
Oh, P.S., they run best when the room is slightly colder, the metal parts don't jam as often. (That from a printer repair person of long and reputable duration).
Exactly. I feel like a communal printer is going to work as well as our communal copier. I can't imagine that a shared copier is better than everyone having their own, all things considered.
Yes, communal printers create many problems, such as having to dash to the printer after printing sensitive stuff like tenure reviews, etc., so a cheap personal printer for such things and emergencies is a good idea.
I love my iPad and Apple Pencil, yet they are pricey.
Quote from: paddington_bear on December 08, 2021, 01:00:31 PM
Exactly. I feel like a communal printer is going to work as well as our communal copier. I can't imagine that a shared copier is better than everyone having their own, all things considered.
A cheap duplexing laser printer can be had for under $100. I use it for the sensitive documents, and use the departmental printer for high-volume things like research papers.
We have networked printer-copier-scanners and I think it's a better solution than individual printers, or at least more cost-effective. Several important details make our setup work fairly well:
1. The networked printers can do some fancy stuff that individual printers probably wouldn't do: sheet-feed scanning, print in color, print double-sided, staple copies if desired, print different paper sizes, etc.
2. We send the print job and then type a personal access code at the machine to start printing it, so printed copies don't sit unattended. After I send a job, the printer keeps it in memory for the rest of the day and I can start printing any time.
3. Our offices are spread over two floors and there's a printer on each one so I don't have to walk too far to get to it. That also means there's a backup printer in case the one on my floor is out of commission.
Downsides: If I need to print a job right before class, there's a risk that someone else will be in the middle of a job. There are occasional printer jams. Sometimes people put colored paper in the printer and forget to remove it... None of those are big problems. I do keep a ream or two of emergency paper in my office at all times so I don't have to walk to where the paper is stored.
We do our own printing for exams in large-enrollment classes and that sort of thing. I guess if you have minions to take care of that kind of stuff, a personal printer might be sufficient for your needs.
There's been no confirmation that we're going to communal printers. What would everyone do with the printers they have? And I wonder, if they're going to take people's printers away - or at least not replace them if they break - will people be able to connect their own printers to their office computers. I have a printer at home anyway.
Official word came that we can't order toner cartridges after this month and we have to turn in printers by the end of the semester! I need to buy my ipad soon!
And order a toner cartridge! Sorry you are having to deal with an unwelcome change.
My printer has essentially been out of toner since about late October or November. The department secretary included a new toner in her order for office supplies, but it still hasn't arrived yet. Last semester I had to remember to print my notes at home or from a computer lab in my building. Hopefully it's still on its way and I can have a printer until the end of the year.
Order two toner cartridges while you may...or even three.
Tablets aside...did you find out if you can purchase your local printer through any grant monies you might have? (Can't scroll back right this minute to look...)
You might be able to do so, and thus keep continuity with hook-ups, printer-formatting differentia, etc. (a 0.01 in. difference in margins requirements can push one word over to the next page, all by itself, and mess up pagination on a page-limited grant proposal: ask me how I know, and how many minutes we had before the drop-dead submission time to find and fix the issue...)
Hope it gets worked out!
M.
Quote from: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 10:32:57 AM
Order two toner cartridges while you may...or even three.
Tablets aside...did you find out if you can purchase your local printer through any grant monies you might have? (Can't scroll back right this minute to look...)
You might be able to do so, and thus keep continuity with hook-ups, printer-formatting differentia, etc. (a 0.01 in. difference in margins requirements can push one word over to the next page, all by itself, and mess up pagination on a page-limited grant proposal: ask me how I know, and how many minutes we had before the drop-dead submission time to find and fix the issue...)
Hope it gets worked out!
M.
I don't have any grant money, so that's not an option. And I wouldn't want to purchase more than 1 cartridge because you have to turn in your printer at the end of the semester or when your cartridge runs dry, whichever comes first. I probably couldn't use up a cartridge in one semester anyway. And if I could, it'd be because I using a lot of paper. Which was the whole point of switching to an ipad. The department secretary thinks my cartridge came in, but she couldn't remember who they were for. :/
Oh, no, so...she gave it to someone else???
Not good.
I've had bosses in such settings who'd have had my head for a lollipop if I'd done something like that...
M.
Quote from: mamselle on January 05, 2022, 11:09:47 AM
Oh, no, so...she gave it to someone else???
Not good.
I've had bosses in such settings who'd have had my head for a lollipop if I'd done something like that...
M.
I don't think she gave them to someone else. I think that they've just been sitting on her desk since they came in since she didn't remember who to give them to. (I'm not sure why she didn't email the department to ask.) She has to check to see if one of them actually does match my printer.
Toner cartridges that the secretary have don't fit my printer. The secretary was waiting for more orders and never ordered mine, it looks like. But some faculty in my department have a printer that was bought with department money, not university money, so now there's a question of whether we have to surrender those as well. But it's not clear whether my printer is one of those. Regardless, I need to buy an ipad.
I bought a remarkable2 a couple of weeks ago--I like it! I'm still learning my way around, but for class notes and annotating pdfs, it's pretty great.
Quote from: wellfleet on January 06, 2022, 02:03:14 PM
I bought a remarkable2 a couple of weeks ago--I like it! I'm still learning my way around, but for class notes and annotating pdfs, it's pretty great.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll look into it!
So far, I like having everything synched to my phone for quick reference and being able to enlarge the pdf text so that I can write a lot in the margins if I want to. I'm auditing a class this quarter and will use it throughout as a test.
It's also potentially a great way for me to quickly mark up text/comment for students (once I save their paper to pdf and upload) for when typing/monitor light gets to be too much. I'm not sure how well I can connect it to my very finicky campus network, but so far, uploading pdfs from home has been a snap.
The surface is cooler than I'd like, but so far, I much prefer it to using a stylus on an iPad. Plus, no backlight! I'm a Kindle Paperwhite fan of many years' standing, so I already like e-ink a ton.