# The iPad mini has genuinely changed my life [no hyperbole]

TL;DR

This might sound OTT, but I cannot overstate how awesome this product is. Being able to read and note-take by hand on one, small, mobile, light device has radically increased my ability & willingness to learn.

Background

I’m somebody who likes to read & learn a lot. I prefer to read/watch/listen and take notes, keep questions, thoughts, and visualisations to help me understand and remember.

Problem with using a laptop

A laptop, along with typed notes, is a decent solution when I’m at home, and want to sit at a desk.

Sometimes I don’t want to sit at a desk, if I’ve been sat at a desk working all day.

It’s not the most portable solution, especially on trains.

Typed notes are restrictive. I can’t easily diagram for instance, or jot informally.

Problem with notes on paper

Paper is great tech. No battery life!

It’s annoying to hold what I’m reading plus the note-pad though. Especially when not at a table.

What happens to the paper? Do I have to file it away somewhere?

Enter the iPad Mini

The iPad Mini solves all of these problems.

I can split screen, with Goodnotes on one side and the thing I’m reading/watching on the other. I can take notes seamlessly.

I’m holding just one thing. I don’t need a desk to lean on.

I can do it from anywhere. The sofa. The train. The back of a taxi.

The notes are filed digitally and synced to other devices.

For me, this has been a revolution in how I work and learn. Because it’s portable, I’ve tripled my reading and learning time.

I wish I had bought the f*#king thing sooner!