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Why This Medical Student Likes Windows Live Mesh So Much

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Windows Live Mesh is one of those products whose reach will be felt for a long time to come, especially as Microsoft begins to roll out sync features that tie in their applications (think OneNote, etc).

DaveTN, a respiratory therapist about to enter graduate school, has penned a great article on why he likes Live Mesh so much and the value that seamless sync and access to the files via web brings him as a student constantly on the move.

As a student in the process of finishing my undergrad in healthcare and planning to enter graduate school next fall (Physician Assistant) and working full time during the process, I look for any technological means to give me a (legal/legitimate) edge. Add to the fact that I love technology — which is evident by the fact that I own three tablets, a UMPC, and a desktop as well as a home server — I try to use them in any way possible to make my life and education easier.

But, keeping my information up to date on all of them was a bit of a daunting process.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Kip

    11/19/2008 at 10:28 am

    Definitely interview material for a future podcast; very interesting.

  2. GoodThings2Life

    11/20/2008 at 2:18 am

    I'm using Live Mesh to sync files between my server and laptop in one mesh folder set, and between my laptop and Touch Pro on another folder set. It's working really great, since I've been able to pretty much replace ActiveSync for files, and I just use my Exchange server for email/contacts/tasks/calendar.

  3. Student's T Test

    11/20/2008 at 8:05 am

    Well..where to start?

    First of all Rob…he's not even a medical student. He's a physician's assistant wannabe, which means that his advanced education is for two years and does not have to complete a residency program. These schools are easy to get into and are career tracks for students who opt to not move into the professional level doctoral degree's such as PhDs or MDs.

    Second…he's not even in PA school yet? Its easy to play around with three/four/five different implements and items when you're sitting in an undergraduate level class with the *hope* of matriculating into a 2 year program like a PA degree. Scientific and allopathic doctoral degree programs are demanding curriculums that require intensive original research or massive amounts of memorization and technical training, its a different game in which you have to carefully balance the perceptions of the people who are going to continue your funding (for a PhD) or get you into a residency (for an MD). I know that I'd be shown the door if I was seen to be playing around with 4 different computers and spending my nights 'synching' data between the machines. Even the impression of a lack of commitment or the ability to prone towards distraction is seen as a lack of commitment and makes you liable for problems.

    In fact, the very possession of a tablet PC is a seen as a novelty and a distraction by my peers and professors. I do it anyway.

    Rather than posting false credentials, why don't you just tell use that you're writing a story about a kid in an undergraduate program that has the time to play around with three different toys?

    Student at a Top 3 Medical School.

  4. DaveTN

    11/21/2008 at 12:10 pm

    Well, I thought long and hard about responding to your feeble attempt at a flame but you have failed as a future diagnostician. You say you are in one of the top 3 medical schools yet you failed to obtain any information before you made your diagnosis.
    I am 42 years old, therefore I am not a kid. I have a BS in Biology as well as my A.S. in respiratory therapy. Most PA schools will only consider you if you if your sciences are within the last 10 years. Since I got my first degree in 1988, those sciences do not apply. I took advantage of my university’s program for me to “upgrade” my A.S. in Respiratory Therapy to a BS degree in Respiratory Therapy and re-take many of the sciences I have already completed – must be why I have a perfect 4.0.
    Yes, I could have gone to medical school and almost did but for many reasons, decided not to. I could very well go to a “top 3” medical school. PA school is very challenging; in fact I will be learning in two years what it will take you four years to learn. I’ll just add that to my 22 years of clinical experience.

  5. DaveTN

    11/21/2008 at 12:11 pm

    As a doctor, you will rely on the assistance of a PA heavily, in fact, if you ever own your own practice, you will find that while two PA’s are half the cost of a partner, they can do four times the work. You may also rely on my skills in surgery when you are in a bind, or I may cover you in the ER while you are doing your rounds. Inexperienced, I am not.

  6. DaveTN

    11/21/2008 at 12:11 pm

    As a tablet advocate – which was hardly the gist of the discussion, I have found that I chart much more quickly and accurately. In fact, the physician practice that I managed and set up on an EMR system relies heavily on their “novelty” tablets – they feel the pain when a tablet is out of service and they have to use a laptop. Again, al little more experience than you.
    So, since you are smart enough to make it into a top three medical school, do your research and practice your diagnostic abilities-or lack of, embrace technology, and become a good doctor. And remember, you may be working with me one day. Its also my toys that give me the edge over you. And remember one last important thing my friend, It doesn’t matter which school you go to…you still have to pass the same boards that everyone else does. So, lose the ego, it’ll help you make friends in the long run.
    Respectfully,
    David

  7. DaveTN

    11/21/2008 at 12:15 pm

    Oh, and by the way, the synchronization is seemless. I don't have to do any playing around. I just pick up whichever device suits me and go out the door…which is why I like using Mesh so much – which my blog was intended to convey. Its not a distraction at all to me.
    David

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