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> For me, the main benefit of typed notes is that you can search them better. I don't imagine you can search for hand-written text among all sketches on your tablet.

You'd be surprised! OneNote's handwriting recognition is a killer feature for this.

As an example, searching for "rotation" finds all my notes about matrix transformations https://imgur.com/a/dJ4hTSZ

> Also, if I ever needed to take notes on a classroom setting, typing also brings the benefit of being able to do it without having to look down. Or at least, it's easier and faster to type blindfolded than to hand-write blindfolded. You can keep your attention to the front of the room that way.

It's true that you can keep your attention off the computer while touch typing, but my experience is that I'll just zone into typing what I hear without processing it, and end up not internalizing anything as a result. I don't think I'm alone in that:

https://www.npr.org/2016/04/17/474525392/attention-students-...

>Probably not as ergonomic, I suppose. If I ever needed to draw sketches electronically, I would prefer to do it on my convertible laptop simply because the ergonomics of a tablet are not enough to outweigh all other benefits that a laptop bring. Realistically speaking though, when I (rarely) need to sketch or hand-write, I use a paper notebook. Different people have different needs.

I use paper a lot too, but the iPad strikes a great middle ground for supporting memory better, being able to search back through things, keeping everything organized and accessible across years worth of data, and giving me more free-form input than I have with a keyboard (for diagrams, graphs, tables, etc).

You also get great apps that support things you can't realistically do with paper, like Procreate's perspective assist tools. It's like working at a full size drafting desk with a big straightedge packed into something that you can toss in a backpack.

Like computers, it has more potential for distractions than paper, but when I really want to focus on something I'll just put it on airplane mode.




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