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I am a math student. I'd like to find out if tablets (iPads, Galaxy Note 10.1) are worth the cost. How good are tablets for the purposes of reading textbooks as PDF and writing mathematics with a stylus?

For writing math in TeX, it looked like the Android app store was in need of a TeX editor, so I had all the fun writing one which renders the TeX as on math.stackexchange, and can also export to PDF.

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    Please do not close. Upvotes on the response and on the question clearly show it is of interest to the community.2012-09-09
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    I have a Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 (about 1.5 years old) and echo everything @Qiaochu says: Great for reading, but not for writing. However, if you aren't set on getting an iPad, consider the new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, which is specifically designed for note taking. One of the major demographics Samsung is aiming at with this product is students, and the CNN and CNET reviews are positive, so it could be worth your time to pop into an electronics store and try it out for yourself.2012-09-09
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    Also, about it being worth the cost: My tablet has paid for itself a few times over in the amount saved in purchasing textbooks and printing out my lecturers notes. I carry around a ridiculous library filled with heaps great books in almost every field of mathematics and I love browsing through them all. I should probably take Qiaochu's advice and force myself to work through the essential ones by deleting the others.2012-09-09
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    @RagibZaman after trying the new iPad with a decent stylus, I can concur with others that iPad's not so great for writing. So I will probably try the Note 10.1. The reviews seem good. http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-10-1-32GB/dp/B007M506WS2012-09-16
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    I have found iAnnotate PDF ($10) very useful for reading math papers, and especially for annotating drafts of my own papers. But I don't know how useful it would be for reading textbooks.2012-09-29
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    While I can't speak for iPads, I have a Samsung Galaxy SIII and I regularly read mathematics on it using the built-in pdf reader. I can download files at will and just read them on the train. Writing mathematics on the other hand is still strictly reserved for pen and paper for me.2012-09-29
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    I have to say that I wouldn't consider using an iPad to write mathematics. I just feel that the screen is too small. I have issues writing small as well. However, I'd say that it's a true pleasure to use it for reading textbooks. I have my entire collection of books in iBooks.2012-10-01
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    @TomChurch the problem with iAnnotate is that it misses the search over all contents in documents, I hence like PDF Expert much more. I can download 1000 documents and search a single word over them with PDF Expert -app -- and it does it!2012-10-22
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    @Limitless that is right unless good app and good stylus. Google Jot -stylus and UPad, they are amazing for bezier-zoom-tiny writing. Jot also works in Android tablets although much nicer in iPad with better display and no lag.2012-10-22
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    @T.Webster I wish u tried Jot, it is the closest you can get to pen on touch-screen, passively. It is far better in precision to usual styluses, it works in any capacitive touch-screen. See my updated answer.2012-10-22
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    @RagibZaman my brother's Samsung galaxy had extra lag and poor screen, only 5 months old. He just changed to iPad after my writing below -- iPad quality is apparently awesome although so many bugs. As for Samsung, you need to jailbreak it to make it faster. Even then I would use iPad. Anyway, get a pen-like stylus with screen-protector to make ur writing much more precise.2012-10-22
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    "As a math student"? No. Reading .pdf's is nice on an iPad. That's the extent of good things one can say. There are other nice things, some of which have been detailed below, but none are worth the price of admission. If you want an iPad, get one, but know that an iPad runs neither emacs nor vim, and is thus a toy.2012-10-25
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    @GunnarMagnusson Vim is in App-store but cannot find ESC in it. iPad misses the traditional fs but you can use iSSH to use Vim. have you tested the Vim -app? I have but haven't understood it yet.2012-10-27
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    **[Update]** Use this thread [here](http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/221991/android-devices-for-reading-textbooks-and-writing-math-by-hand) for Android to keep things focused.2012-10-27
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    @RagibZaman I intend to buy [Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1](http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-10-1-32GB/dp/B007M506WS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356251528&sr=8-1&keywords=samsung+galaxy+note+10.1) and would like to know if you still stick to your earlier opinion you have mentioned in the comments. If so, I would order it right away. Also, is it self contained i.e. does it come with stylus, the software needed etc? Thanks!2012-12-23
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    @Marvis My earlier opinion was about my own Galaxy Tab 10.1, I have not used a Note 10.1. I would expect that the Note is at least as good as the Tab in the aspects I mentioned above (the Note should also be great for reading textbooks, notes, browsing the web is also good) but I have no idea about the writing aspect.2012-12-23
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    @Marvis If possible, I strongly recommend testing out a unit from a store or a friend before ordering it. The Note is self contained, it comes with stylus and software for note taking etc, though some 3rd parties may have produced better software for download in the Android market (usually free, sometimes not). For example, I prefer "EBookDroid" as my reader since it reads book djvu and pdf formats, as opposed to the standard Adobe reader which only reads pdfs.2012-12-23
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    @RagibZaman Thanks for your immediate response. I am mainly looking for a good device to take notes. As you have suggested, I will try at a store before making a final decision.2012-12-23
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    OP's question has been edited to make it cover all tablets.2014-03-16

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