World Surgery Forum: eBook Readers

Here is some offbeat stuff which is getting relevant for medical education today. These days we are seeing a changing trend where most of the medical students are dumping paper textbooks and switching to eBook reader devices. Many of the exam preparation resources are also available online along with MCQ question banks and Online Mock tests, both in form of websites and Apps. So having a good tablet with handwriting function is becoming a necessity.

But when you decide to buy one, choosing the best one becomes a tough task. In this post I will be guiding you on eBook readers which are best for reading Medical textbooks. I currently own a iPad 7th generation Wifi with 32GB and have been satisfied accept for the eBook portability issues difficulty in downloading free ebook (quite a few work arounds are there to tackle these issues). Reviewing the best ones here:

iPad series

The latest models include following:

Latest Apple Tablets
Apple iPad (2019) Wi-Fi + Cellular	Link (Click here)
Apple iPad (2019) Wi-Fi	Link (Click here)
Apple iPad mini (2019) Wi-Fi + Cellular	Link (Click here)
Apple iPad mini (2019) Wi-Fi	Link (Click here)
Apple iPad Pro (11-inch) 2018 Wi-Fi + Cellular	Link (Click here)
Apple iPad Pro (11-inch) 2018 Wi-Fi	Link (Click here)

Pros:

Versatility to do much more than just reading books
Can be used for many medical apps
Excellent screen resolution and no eye fatigue even after reading for long hours. This is single best quality of ipads which makes it a best device for reading medical textbooks
Can display diagrams, surgical images, graphs and schematics in full color
Don't hang
Kindle books can be accessed by installing Kindle app

Cons:

Costly
Compatibility issues if you want to move a book from your ipad to other device or vice e versa. It is possible but requires effort.
Distractions in reading by other features like social media apps

Below are some good value for money ipad models and comparison between them (Wifi models are better value for money than 3G/4G models, as you can use your phone to create a hotspot):

Models	Apple iPad 10.2-inch (Latest Model)	Apple iPad Air (3rd Generation)	Apple iPad mini (Latest Model)
Ratings	4.2 out of 5 stars (68)	4.6 out of 5 stars (874)	4.6 out of 5 stars (292)
Display	10.2‑inch Retina display	10.5‑inch Retina display with True Tone	7.9‑inch Retina display with True Tone
Secure authentication	Touch ID	Touch ID	Touch ID
Chip	A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture, Embedded M10 coprocessor	A12 Bionic chip with 64‑bit architecture, Neural Engine, Embedded M12 coprocessor	A12 Bionic chip with 64‑bit architecture, Neural Engine, Embedded M12 coprocessor
Camera	8MP camera with HDR and 1080p HD video	8MP camera with HDR and 1080p HD video	8MP camera with HDR and 1080p HD video
Video	1080p HD video recording	1080p HD video recording	1080p HD video recording
Apple Pencil Compatibility	Apple Pencil	Apple Pencil	Apple Pencil
Smart Keyboard Compatibility	Compatible with Bluetooth keyboards	Compatible with Smart Keyboard and Bluetooth keyboards	Compatible with Bluetooth keyboards
Connector	Lightning connector	Lightning connector	Lightning connector

Android based tablets

Pros:

Versatility to do much more than just reading books
No compatibility issues while transferring downloaded pdf documents and books
Cheaper than iPads
Can be used for medical apps in android market
Can display diagrams, surgical images, graphs and schematics in full color
Kindle books can be accessed by installing Kindle app

Cons:

Some of them take some time to respond to load large books
Screen quality not as good as ipads
Distractions in reading by other features like social media apps

Below are some good android based tabs for Medical textbook reading:

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 10 Tablet (10 inch, 16GB, Wi-Fi Only)

Samsung Galaxy Tab E SM-T561 Tablet (9.6 inch,8GB,Wi-Fi+3G+Voice Calling)

Kindle series

Pros:

Basic eInk Kindle good for light reading but not good for seeing image loaded content like Anatomy atlas or Surgical textbooks
Good for bedtime reading
Lesser strain on eyes
Cheap
Kindle doesn’t offer easy access to Facebook or Twitter avoiding distractions

Cons: