Getting Started with Digital Note-Taking
Howdy y’all! This is a step-by-step guide all about digital note-taking! Please note that some of the links are affiliate, meaning I get a small commission at no cost to you (helps me run this website)
This video right here sums up everything in a concise matter
Step 1: Is Digital Note-Taking for You?
A few things to consider before buying an iPad:
you won’t need stationery again
it saves ALOT of paper
it’s super convenient and portable to use
do you have a lot of powerpoint slides & textbooks
iPad eye strain is real! Do you want to be looking at a screen all day
Do you want to spend $400 - $1000 on a device?
Step 2: Which iPad Model to Get?
In this next section, I’ll be going through which iPad model would be best for you!
iPad Mini
Specs
Cost: $499
Size: 8.3”
Pros: Small size, super portable
Cons: Small size may restrict note-taking, no attachable keyboard case
Overall Thoughts: cute iPad, but might be a bit small for using on a daily basis. But for $100, I would definitely upgrade to the iPad Air as it has a much larger screen
iPad (9th Generation)
Specs
Cost: $329
Size: 10.2”
Pros: Good iPad size, affordable
Cons: Still comes with the iPad home button and the processor is a bit slower, still uses the Apple Pencil 1st generation
Overall Thoughts: The best budget iPad! Affordable and still has a good screen size.
iPad Air (4th Generation)
Specs
Cost: $599
Size: 10.9”
Pros: Good iPad size, and has the new iPad design (without the home button). Also comes in very pretty colors
Cons: Nothing really, except the price might be a bit less affordable
Overall Thoughts: The most ideal iPad as it has good writing area and isn’t the most expensive
iPad Pro 11”/12.9” (5th Generation)
Specs
Cost: 12.9”/$1099 & 11”/$799
Size: 12.9” & 11”
Pros: Both have great screen sizes. I have the 12.9” as I wanted plenty of writing room
Cons: More expensive. I wouldn’t get the 11” unless you really want the M1 chip. I would recommend the iPad Air as it’s much cheaper.
Overall Thoughts: I would only buy this iPad if you wanted the 12.9” or you are running lots of different software on this iPad
Step 3: iPad Accessories to get
Next, you might need some iPad Accessories to jazz up your setup. I have a few recommendations, although, mostly all of them are optional. If you want to see a video about this, check out my YouTube video about the best iPad accessories!
Although, if you want a more in-depth analysis about the specific accessories I use, this page here talks about it.
An Apple Pencil so you can write! If you have the 9th generation iPad, it uses the 1st generation Apple Pencil, whereas the rest use the 2nd generation Apple Pencil
Step 4: First Things You Need to Do
Next is a list of things you should probably do once you get your iPad.
Download Apps
Note-Taking apps
I recommend GoodNotes
Productivity Apps
Learn gestures
Configure settings
Step 5: Note-Taking & Planner Tips
Next, since you’re new to note-taking and planning on the iPad, my introductory videos are perfect for you! They describe everything you need to know about note-taking and planning!
And if you’re still wondering about note-taking on the iPad and wanting to learn more, then my SkillShare class about digital note-taking is perfect! It covers all the basics and principles of digital note-taking, plus there are tons of freebies included to help you get stsarted on your digital note-taking journey!
