A tablet or PDA with Wifi capabilities could improve your life even without a data plan, depending on your usual surroundings. A good one will support e-readers and probably the Anki mobile app (I have benefited from the ability to study anywhere), and probably other software to help organize your life. If you don’t see this kind of device being useful and you don’t come up with something else that you think will be more useful, consider arranging to buy a prize someone you know wants. The loss-aversion bias may make you reluctant to part with your prize, but you may get more utility out of money that can be used elsewhere than out of anything Best Buy sells.
consider arranging to buy a prize someone you know wants
This is a very good second-best plan. If your best purchase option doesn’t rate more than a “meh” improvement in your life, you may be better off with the cash to spend on whatever you want.
ETA: Back from travelling and re-reading the comments. What makes your more likely to “study anywhere” with the tablet vs. a laptop? Just the lower weight and ~1/3 (or even less) of the thickness? I spend most of my awake time at work, have a macbook which isn’t too bulky, but don’t take it many places. Do you find that you’re more likely to take a tablet and make some small chunk of waiting time useful when you wouldn’t have done the same thing with a laptop?
I use the Anki mobile app on my phone when I don’t have anything else to do with a few minutes. I also find that it is a good way to wake up my brain while still staying warm under the covers in the morning.
A tablet or PDA with Wifi capabilities could improve your life even without a data plan, depending on your usual surroundings. A good one will support e-readers and probably the Anki mobile app (I have benefited from the ability to study anywhere), and probably other software to help organize your life. If you don’t see this kind of device being useful and you don’t come up with something else that you think will be more useful, consider arranging to buy a prize someone you know wants. The loss-aversion bias may make you reluctant to part with your prize, but you may get more utility out of money that can be used elsewhere than out of anything Best Buy sells.
consider arranging to buy a prize someone you know wants
This is a very good second-best plan. If your best purchase option doesn’t rate more than a “meh” improvement in your life, you may be better off with the cash to spend on whatever you want.
Thanks for the suggestion.
ETA: Back from travelling and re-reading the comments. What makes your more likely to “study anywhere” with the tablet vs. a laptop? Just the lower weight and ~1/3 (or even less) of the thickness? I spend most of my awake time at work, have a macbook which isn’t too bulky, but don’t take it many places. Do you find that you’re more likely to take a tablet and make some small chunk of waiting time useful when you wouldn’t have done the same thing with a laptop?
I use the Anki mobile app on my phone when I don’t have anything else to do with a few minutes. I also find that it is a good way to wake up my brain while still staying warm under the covers in the morning.