MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Using my PRS-505 in a math class

recycledelectron · 01-15-2008, 11:58 AM

I'm using my PRS-505 in a graduate math class, and thought that I'd post my experiences.

1. I carry my PRS-505 in a case (see pic) that has the reader, extra memory cards, a cable, a pad of paper, and a pen. The pen and paper let me take notes.

2. I divide up my data on memory cards, so I can find things on a reader that lacks directory browsing. One is labeled (via a Brother P-Touch PT-PC) with
"Property of Andy...
(214)...
Math 5300
Notes, Books, etc."

This way, I don't have to scroll through 1500 JPEGs of book by the late Maj. Julian S. Hatcher (ret.) to get to my Math 5300 notes. (For those who are curious, Maj. Hatcher was something like a myth buster in the 1920's, working for the Us Army Ordinance Dept. He got strange stories of things blowing up, and tested them to see what was safe, what was iffy, and what would definitely get you killed.)

3. To find my files on the reader, I first know what file type each file it.

Recorded lectures are under audio (.MP3). I also take notes, which I scan and store as images (.JPEG) flip through as a recorded lecture is running. I'm going to try taking photos of the notes on the chalk board instead of writing all the time.

I save my notes / board photos / anything else I scan under names that put them in a logical order. they are "Math5300-SequenceNumber-Date-Description.jpg." for example, the Fourth page of notes I ever took was "Math5300-0004-Jan14-Notes.jpg" "Math5300" groups everything I scan together. "0004" puts them in the right order. "Jan14" gives me the date, so I can find last Wednesday's quiz. "Notes" tells me that this is notes, as opposed to a syllabus, a quiz, or a homework assignment.

I scanned the syllabus, but didn't OCR it. I had too many hand-written notes on it to try OCring it.

There are many .m source code files for MatLab that come with the book. for example, in the "Chp06" directory there is a file named "f3.m". the PRS-505 doesn't let me browse through directories to find what I need, so I rename th file to "Math5300-Chp06-f3.txt". All my source code is grouped together beginning with "Math5300-Chp" and then the chapter number. I can see the file name, and the .txt extension convinces the PRS-505 to not only show the file, but even to open it.

I'm going to be ripping my text book in the near future, and probably the solutions manual too, so I'll keep everyone updated on how that goes.

4. The cable lets me plug in to any PC to charge, or to get access to my source code files.

Andy

01-15-2008, 11:58 AM	#1
recycledelectron Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 854 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Lifebook T5010	Using my PRS-505 in a math class I'm using my PRS-505 in a graduate math class, and thought that I'd post my experiences. 1. I carry my PRS-505 in a case (see pic) that has the reader, extra memory cards, a cable, a pad of paper, and a pen. The pen and paper let me take notes. 2. I divide up my data on memory cards, so I can find things on a reader that lacks directory browsing. One is labeled (via a Brother P-Touch PT-PC) with "Property of Andy... (214)... Math 5300 Notes, Books, etc." This way, I don't have to scroll through 1500 JPEGs of book by the late Maj. Julian S. Hatcher (ret.) to get to my Math 5300 notes. (For those who are curious, Maj. Hatcher was something like a myth buster in the 1920's, working for the Us Army Ordinance Dept. He got strange stories of things blowing up, and tested them to see what was safe, what was iffy, and what would definitely get you killed.) 3. To find my files on the reader, I first know what file type each file it. Recorded lectures are under audio (.MP3). I also take notes, which I scan and store as images (.JPEG) flip through as a recorded lecture is running. I'm going to try taking photos of the notes on the chalk board instead of writing all the time. I save my notes / board photos / anything else I scan under names that put them in a logical order. they are "Math5300-SequenceNumber-Date-Description.jpg." for example, the Fourth page of notes I ever took was "Math5300-0004-Jan14-Notes.jpg" "Math5300" groups everything I scan together. "0004" puts them in the right order. "Jan14" gives me the date, so I can find last Wednesday's quiz. "Notes" tells me that this is notes, as opposed to a syllabus, a quiz, or a homework assignment. I scanned the syllabus, but didn't OCR it. I had too many hand-written notes on it to try OCring it. There are many .m source code files for MatLab that come with the book. for example, in the "Chp06" directory there is a file named "f3.m". the PRS-505 doesn't let me browse through directories to find what I need, so I rename th file to "Math5300-Chp06-f3.txt". All my source code is grouped together beginning with "Math5300-Chp" and then the chapter number. I can see the file name, and the .txt extension convinces the PRS-505 to not only show the file, but even to open it. I'm going to be ripping my text book in the near future, and probably the solutions manual too, so I'll keep everyone updated on how that goes. 4. The cable lets me plug in to any PC to charge, or to get access to my source code files. Andy Attached Thumbnails