I’ve been wanting an iPad for some time now. As a true-blue Apple user, I already have an iMac, MacBook and iPhone. All 3 devices work very well for my business. I was concerned that there would be too much overlap in function between my current iMac/MacBook/iPhone setup and what the iPad does. I didn’t want to spend $600 on a toy.
I finally broke down and bought a 32GB WiFi iPad 2 (no 3G). To make sure that I’m really committed to use it for business, I got rid of my MacBook. Now the iPad is my only mobile computing device. Here’s my experience so far:
1. My initial plan was to jailbreak both my iPhone and iPad and install the on-demand personal hotspot software from the Cydia store so that I could use my iPhone’s 3G when I am out of range of a WiFi network. The new jailbreak software is slow in coming for iOS 4.3.2 on the iPad 2, so instead I find my self running for a Starbuck’s whenever I need network access. In retrospect, I probably should have ponied up the extra $$ and gotten the 3G version.
2. I already use Apple’s iWork package (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) instead of MS Office on my iMac, so I was glad to see the same products available for the iPad. I can share files between the Mac and the iPad, but more complex documents don’t come across cleanly. So far, I find these products have limited usefullness on the iPad.
3. Working as a real estate agent, many of my records are in the form of documents. Most are PDFs. It’s handy to have access to these documents when I’m out of the office. I use two packages, one on the iPad and one on the Mac to do this. On the iPad, I use FileApp Pro. FileApp Pro mimics the hierarchical file system that my Mac has, and allows you to navigate, display and sometimes edit documents. It provides a sharing capability that can be used via USB or WiFi. On the Mac I use GoodSync. GoodSync provides a wireless file sync system that can be sync’d with FileApp Pro. So far i’m VERY happy with the way this works!
4. More than once, I found that I needed to print something from my iPad. The AirPrint capability that is standard with the iPad is cool, but there are a limited number of printers that are supported. From the App Store, I installed “Printing for iPad” from Ndili Technologies. This products work very well and has saved my bacon more than once already!
5. With my new iPad, it seems redundant to carry a notepad and pen around for quick notes, so I found a simple note taking package called EverPaint. It’s cheap, and it doesn’t do much other than allow you to take notes directly on the iPad. One feature that I like, however, is that is syncs with EverNote. So I take notes with EverPaint on the iPad and sync with EverNote on the iPad. EverNote on the iPad syncs with EverNote on my Mac and I have access to my notes everywhere!
6. Now here’s the really cool stuff! When need to go “back to my Mac” like I used to do with my MacBook, there are some REALLY GOOD apps to help out! Here is a run down…
– Remoter VNC, available from the App Store for $3.99, provides a full-function remote access system on the iPad. You don’t have to pay $10/month for GoToMyPC for this capability.
– Parallels Remote, free from the App Store, provides a really good method to control Parallels virtual machines running on a remote Mac. So when I need access to Windows 7 on my iMac, I just crank up Parallels Remote and I’m gettin’ done what I need!
– I track my listed and sold property transactions, along with the people and documents involved in a system called Real Estate Success Tools which is based upon Filemaker Pro. Probably my most expensive app purchase @ $39.99, Filemaker Go gives me complete access to my data. It’s definitely worth it.
– My general contact database on my iMac is in a system called Daylite. I works very well with the Apple tools–Address Book and iCal. There’s a free Daylite iPad app that accesses the database on my iMac so when need to access info that I haven’t chosen to sync with Address Book, I can.
Overall, I think the iPad is going to work out! It doesn’t replace my iMac, but is definitely more convenient than the MacBook that I used to carry around. I do find, however, that I’m spending a little more time in my office than I used to…
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