this is relevant to my interests.
I wonder just WHY Apple doesn't have a Windows Explorer* function
* whatever it's called in OSX
It is called Finder.
But you will hear it griped about as a lack of an accessible file system.
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Explain your success using iPad as a professional device
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It is called Finder.
But you will hear it griped about as a lack of an accessible file system.
I do not have my 3G iPad yet but am convinced that this device is going to revolutionize the way people do business. More specifically, I believe this device is the final nail in the coffin for paper. Newspaper, books, research papers. There's just no more need for us to cut down trees and pollute rivers just to make paper. Obviously this will take years but I think the iPad is going to accelerate this process.
As a business tool - particularly in sales - how is this not a revolution? You can put your presentations and information all on one handy device. You can access the internet and do other things. My wife is in sales and I'm hoping this iPad will eliminate the need for her to lug around bags of paper presentations and such.
I agree with others that there needs to be an easier way to get files OFF the iPad. Shoot, I spent 10min yesterday trying to get a damn photo off my iPhone without having to connect it to my computer and run it through iTunes or iPhoto.
It seems people need to be cognizant of what the iPad is and what it's meant to do. If Apple could make a MBP with all the bells and whistles it has in the size and form of an iPad you can bet they would have done that already. But there's a trade-off in terms of adding features and keeping the price point/complexity at a reasonable level. That's the controversy with this device - do we need a device between a smartphone and laptop? I believe it works.
I have all my music and such on my iPhone, which fits in my pocket.
I will use the iPad for basic browsing and carrying around all the paper I used to carry around, whether it's books, presentations, reports, etc.
I will continue to use my MBP for heavier work like spreadsheets, creating presentations, using Adobe Creative Suite, etc.
So in my view, there is space for three devices and I think the iPad will be great for business use.
As a business tool - particularly in sales - how is this not a revolution? You can put your presentations and information all on one handy device. You can access the internet and do other things. My wife is in sales and I'm hoping this iPad will eliminate the need for her to lug around bags of paper presentations and such.
I agree with others that there needs to be an easier way to get files OFF the iPad. Shoot, I spent 10min yesterday trying to get a damn photo off my iPhone without having to connect it to my computer and run it through iTunes or iPhoto.
It seems people need to be cognizant of what the iPad is and what it's meant to do. If Apple could make a MBP with all the bells and whistles it has in the size and form of an iPad you can bet they would have done that already. But there's a trade-off in terms of adding features and keeping the price point/complexity at a reasonable level. That's the controversy with this device - do we need a device between a smartphone and laptop? I believe it works.
I have all my music and such on my iPhone, which fits in my pocket.
I will use the iPad for basic browsing and carrying around all the paper I used to carry around, whether it's books, presentations, reports, etc.
I will continue to use my MBP for heavier work like spreadsheets, creating presentations, using Adobe Creative Suite, etc.
So in my view, there is space for three devices and I think the iPad will be great for business use.
I agree with you. That business use is exactly what I am aiming at.
Give me a file system... Please
I've had mine for 4 days now and have been travelling with it on business. Think I have got most of the functionality I need now...ish. Hope this might be useful to others:
iWork suite
Airsharing HD
Docs to Go
Things
Sketchnotes
Email
Bento
iTeleport
Airsharing HD - or another app with the same functionality - is essential as it allows me to choose which programme I wish to open a file with. So I can load up my files on the iPad via a wifi connection, leave the laptop at home, and then rename, save, move files etc as needed on the move. I can download attachments as I need to to into whichever programme is best. And you can view most types of file in this programme.
The iWork suite is beautiful to use (despite the limited functionality in places) but the biggest problem I find is that if I start a new doc, I can't rename it and all my email attachments end up with a generic name, or 'blank'. I also can't transfer FROM iWork to Airsharing for storage. So you have to email it to yourself and download into Airsharing - OK, but a bit clunky and irritating when you want to do some work on the train and the reception on the mifi keeps disappearing!
The biggest problem I have is Excel - you can't export a numbers doc as .xls, has to be pdf or numbers which is useless for me from a business point of view where I have to send spreadsheets back and forth to Windows users. And I don't have iWork 09 for my Mac - I can't justify the £70 as it doesn't have quite the amount of functionality I need for my job to replace Office. I hope that when Docs to Go launch their iPad version (or if a proper Office suite appears - fingers crossed!), it will appear in Airsharing's list of possible applications to open documents with which would solve many of these problems - this may mean I use iWork a lot less in the future.
Only limitation I have found with Airsharing is that I can't seem to get my Exchange account to mount as a server - .mac worked fine and all the attachments I get sent get automatically downloaded into a folder. Wish I had this for my work Exchange account.
Things and Bento sync really well with my laptop and iPhone (although it seems that with Bento, you can only have either the iPad or the iPhone syncing - annoying). I do wish they synced via a cloud system though so I could be sure that these important lists - especially Things - were always up to date.
Sketchnotes works well, but to be honest have been using the Notes app that comes with it more as it syncs to my iTunes account each time I connect up. Don't need the drawing feature much.
And iTeleport has worked brilliantly so far for accessing the files I forgot to bring with me!
Sorry for the long post but hope that might be useful info for others.
iWork suite
Airsharing HD
Docs to Go
Things
Sketchnotes
Bento
iTeleport
Airsharing HD - or another app with the same functionality - is essential as it allows me to choose which programme I wish to open a file with. So I can load up my files on the iPad via a wifi connection, leave the laptop at home, and then rename, save, move files etc as needed on the move. I can download attachments as I need to to into whichever programme is best. And you can view most types of file in this programme.
The iWork suite is beautiful to use (despite the limited functionality in places) but the biggest problem I find is that if I start a new doc, I can't rename it and all my email attachments end up with a generic name, or 'blank'. I also can't transfer FROM iWork to Airsharing for storage. So you have to email it to yourself and download into Airsharing - OK, but a bit clunky and irritating when you want to do some work on the train and the reception on the mifi keeps disappearing!
The biggest problem I have is Excel - you can't export a numbers doc as .xls, has to be pdf or numbers which is useless for me from a business point of view where I have to send spreadsheets back and forth to Windows users. And I don't have iWork 09 for my Mac - I can't justify the £70 as it doesn't have quite the amount of functionality I need for my job to replace Office. I hope that when Docs to Go launch their iPad version (or if a proper Office suite appears - fingers crossed!), it will appear in Airsharing's list of possible applications to open documents with which would solve many of these problems - this may mean I use iWork a lot less in the future.
Only limitation I have found with Airsharing is that I can't seem to get my Exchange account to mount as a server - .mac worked fine and all the attachments I get sent get automatically downloaded into a folder. Wish I had this for my work Exchange account.
Things and Bento sync really well with my laptop and iPhone (although it seems that with Bento, you can only have either the iPad or the iPhone syncing - annoying). I do wish they synced via a cloud system though so I could be sure that these important lists - especially Things - were always up to date.
Sketchnotes works well, but to be honest have been using the Notes app that comes with it more as it syncs to my iTunes account each time I connect up. Don't need the drawing feature much.
And iTeleport has worked brilliantly so far for accessing the files I forgot to bring with me!
Sorry for the long post but hope that might be useful info for others.
I am an orthopedic surgeon and I presently use the iPad mostly for taking all of my pdf files with me. Before, I usually read all my journals using either my imac at home or my pre-unibody mbp which is a bit heavy to lug around everyday. If I decided to go light, I'd usually print out a copy and bring it with me. With the iPad, I can just reaad all the filets anywhere, and it's friendlier on the environment since I basically stopped printing copies. If I need to store x-rays of patients for review later on, I load them up to the iPad. I also bring the iPad to the OR so that I can access information quickly with regards to the cases of my patients or to do a quick review on a procedure I am doing. It serves as a good entertainment device too while I rest between cases.
I'm a part time instrument tech. Keeping up & transporting printed service manuals is a major headache.
Was at a grout plant & needed a schematic. When I pulled the iPad out my bag the guys in the plant started looking at me funny. Then when I pulled up the schematic I needed almost instantly by keyword there was plenty of "oohs & ahhs" to go around.
They needed to upgrade some equipment. Hopped on to the plant wifi and downloaded a spec sheet of the product they needed to buy. They could look at the equipment and zoom in on critical parts right on the iPad as a group.
All this happening right on the production floor.
I had a tough time getting my iPad back.
Was at a grout plant & needed a schematic. When I pulled the iPad out my bag the guys in the plant started looking at me funny. Then when I pulled up the schematic I needed almost instantly by keyword there was plenty of "oohs & ahhs" to go around.
They needed to upgrade some equipment. Hopped on to the plant wifi and downloaded a spec sheet of the product they needed to buy. They could look at the equipment and zoom in on critical parts right on the iPad as a group.
All this happening right on the production floor.
I had a tough time getting my iPad back.
I am a Network Systems Administrator for a large telecommunications company.
I have not turned on my laptop at home since getting the iPad. I am lucky that my environment is conducive to the iPad with Citrix.
With the built-in Cisco VPN client and the Citrix Receiver app, I can manage all of my servers, windows, solaris and linux. I have used it to troubleshoot several applications already and I can even close out my Remedy tickets from the iPad.
I don't have the same file access requirements that many here do. Although I am curious about how people are giving presentations from the iPad. Are you using a projector of some kind? Just emailing it out?
I have not turned on my laptop at home since getting the iPad. I am lucky that my environment is conducive to the iPad with Citrix.
With the built-in Cisco VPN client and the Citrix Receiver app, I can manage all of my servers, windows, solaris and linux. I have used it to troubleshoot several applications already and I can even close out my Remedy tickets from the iPad.
I don't have the same file access requirements that many here do. Although I am curious about how people are giving presentations from the iPad. Are you using a projector of some kind? Just emailing it out?
Remote Desktop
I've already used my iPad to login to a Windows server for some remote maintenance.
My dentist plans on using a Remote Desktop app on his iPad to access his work PC to view patient x-rays.
I wouldn't be surprised if many businesses mandate and buy iPads for this specific use case. HIPPA and financial data security compliance is a lot easier if there's zero actual data on anyone's iPad outside the office (RDP is just a pixel viewer), because it's all on locked down PCs at work or VMs in the server closet.
I've already used my iPad to login to a Windows server for some remote maintenance.
My dentist plans on using a Remote Desktop app on his iPad to access his work PC to view patient x-rays.
I wouldn't be surprised if many businesses mandate and buy iPads for this specific use case. HIPPA and financial data security compliance is a lot easier if there's zero actual data on anyone's iPad outside the office (RDP is just a pixel viewer), because it's all on locked down PCs at work or VMs in the server closet.
His article is a poor example of someone who 'thinks' the iPad is working for him ... read his article ... it's NOT working for him ... he writes about all the sacrifices he has to make, typing at less than have his normal speed compared to a laptop ... smaller screen etc ...
HE is a candidate for a MacBook Air or some other ultra-portable notebook.
People who have heavier 15/17" notebooks seem to love the iPad ... others owning Air's, maybe 13" MBP's or ultra-portables not so much and not so excited.
Sure, at times I'd rather have an iPad with me instead of a 15" MBP ... but my MacBook Air is just as easy to carry as the iPad and does EVERYTHING ... faster ...
iPad is a long long way from being suited for business or anything that requires input, imo. The fad will wear off, it will be become a "why did I buy that" coffee table computer ... just my opinion, I hope I'm wrong and I wish I liked by iPad more .... what it did was make me love my MB Air more ...
His article is a poor example of someone who 'thinks' the iPad is working for him ... read his article ... it's NOT working for him ... he writes about all the sacrifices he has to make, typing at less than have his normal speed compared to a laptop ... smaller screen etc ...
HE is a candidate for a MacBook Air or some other ultra-portable notebook.
People who have heavier 15/17" notebooks seem to love the iPad ... others owning Air's, maybe 13" MBP's or ultra-portables not so much and not so excited.
Sure, at times I'd rather have an iPad with me instead of a 15" MBP ... but my MacBook Air is just as easy to carry as the iPad and does EVERYTHING ... faster ...
iPad is a long long way from being suited for business or anything that requires input, imo. The fad will wear off, it will be become a "why did I buy that" coffee table computer ... just my opinion, I hope I'm wrong and I wish I liked by iPad more .... what it did was make me love my MB Air more ...
I think you make a good point here.
My husband got his iPad last weekend (while I hold out for the 3G). He plans to use it mostly as a tool in his recording studio, but of course, we've been playing with it the last few days.
I am also an Air owner.
I wouldn't expect an iPad to replace my Air (which I love). When I need to take a full laptop with me, I will. But the iPad will be great for all the times I'm sitting in the car waiting for my teenage daughter, or going to a photography club, or taking notes at a conference or meeting. It'll be great to have out on nature trails or at parks or when I'm exploring an area for photography. It'll be great when I travel to my Aunt's who lives in the middle of nowhere and who doesn't even have broadband, let-alone wifi. And I expect it'll do at least one thing my MacBook Air can't do.... a portable, but digital sketchbook. I can't take my cintiq with me, but sure can take my iPad.
I think it's a matter of what you're expectations are. For my needs it'll work for the job at hand. But I wouldn't expect to sit with it and do a bunch of HTML coding or layout and design work. But to give a presentation to the client, absolutely.
Be careful there. Search this forum. There was a thread about the problems with VGA port. As I remember, the port works, but iPad only shows the picture via the projector but not on the iPad itself. I suspect the touch interface might be difficult to use in this mode
Well that's one way of interpreting what he wrote:
"I wasn't blown away at the iPad reveal in January (or was it February?), but I pre-ordered one anyway for one reason --the hope that I could leave my laptop at home when on the road. I got the device last Saturday, and spent three days in DC, Monday through Wednesday. The conclusion? I can use the iPad for about 90% of what I do on my laptop. As a travel machine, it was a huge success."
Then there's that "bottom line" bit that he wrote:
"Bottom line
My iPad scored big as my new travel machine. I needed it for basic word processing, downloading and viewing business documents (like the PPT presentation), web, and email. It did those tasks perfectly. The lack of third-party multi-tasking was at most a mild-annoyance, as I had no problem switching between Tweetdeck and whatever other task I was working on at the time. On my laptop, I can switch between apps near instantaneously. On the iPad, it might take 4-5 seconds, and that mild annoyance will be gone with the new OS upgrade this fall..."
And what did he say about it "filling his needs?"
"For me, all I care is whether a device makes my life easier. I could give a **** about whether the hackers love or hate it, or how much hype something has. The iPad filled my needs seamlessly, with only minor hassles. It was better than a laptop, allowing me to travel more efficiently..."
And then there's the question of how he "really" felt.
"But for me, this thing rocked."
Hope that helps clarify one professional's opinion about how his ipad works for him.
It really has worked very well for me. I am able to do mobile invoicing with numbers right on the iPad, I use goodreader to archive all of my PDF invoices and other technical documents right on the iPad, and I am able to use either pages or the default notes app to take notes and outlines of meetings. I am very happy with it for my business needs however it has seemed to decrease the productivity of my meetings and client interactions simply because I am always giving demos of the device.
It really has worked very well for me. I am able to do mobile invoicing with numbers right on the iPad, I use goodreader to archive all of my PDF invoices and other technical documents right on the iPad, and I am able to use either pages or the default notes app to take notes and outlines of meetings. I am very happy with it for my business needs however it has seemed to decrease the productivity of my meetings and client interactions simply because I am always giving demos of the device.
Are your PDFs stored locally or are you able to upload to the cloud?
In other words, once archived how do you access from another device, email?
Boy, you must think the $489 Kindle DX is an utter travesty then, right?
Sometimes I go a little out of my way to play devil's advocate.
Still, this thread is about doing real work and when you can get a netbook for $200 or a full blown laptop for $400, the artificial "blockages" to doing real work on the iPad tend to add time to the most mundane of tasks and can be hard to swallow.
One of the biggest things Apple is selling is time. Their well designed user interfaces mean you spend less time figuring out the computer and more time using it. File management on the iPad is a sharp departure from the simple, streamlined, time-saving way of getting things done and runs counter to what I have come to expect from Apple.
The amount of work you can actually do in the iPad will all depend on the apps that will be available in the future. Currently, the iPad is not a productive device at all. I use it solely for consuming content only because it feels like getting things done always require a workaround. If you are spending the time and effort on workarounds then you're not being very productive. For producing I go back to my MBP.
As some of you know I decided immediately after (really during!) the keynote to make an iPad my primary computer, retiring my MBP and leaving my household iMac in place as the central hub for media storage/syncing - and for those things the iPad simply cannot do yet.
I'm holding out for the 3G model but I've had a fair amount of time using iPads at Apple stores, BestBuys, and mostly a local family member's. I've also followed with interest all the workflow issues, and apps meant to help in this regard (e.g. goodreader and airsharing).
r0k said it best - the primary remaining issues are getting documents off the iPad, and perhaps more importantly, getting them from productivity apps back into file storage apps. The email-to-self workaround seems the only practical option for now.
I'm an optimist, so I simply choose to believe that either Apple or a 3rd party dev will solve this issue directly. Same with printing.
I'm also lucky in that as a film producer 9x% of my work involves consuming media and documents rather than creating them, so the limitations don't impact me *that* much.
All that said, I'm super grateful to all the wifi owners for working through these issues while I wait for the 3G
I'm holding out for the 3G model but I've had a fair amount of time using iPads at Apple stores, BestBuys, and mostly a local family member's. I've also followed with interest all the workflow issues, and apps meant to help in this regard (e.g. goodreader and airsharing).
r0k said it best - the primary remaining issues are getting documents off the iPad, and perhaps more importantly, getting them from productivity apps back into file storage apps. The email-to-self workaround seems the only practical option for now.
I'm an optimist, so I simply choose to believe that either Apple or a 3rd party dev will solve this issue directly. Same with printing.
I'm also lucky in that as a film producer 9x% of my work involves consuming media and documents rather than creating them, so the limitations don't impact me *that* much.
All that said, I'm super grateful to all the wifi owners for working through these issues while I wait for the 3G
Do you or anyone here on the boards know if the SDK prohibits access to the actual file system for the purposes in which we all agree are needed? As you all know, they have just announced that in 4.0 they will allow access to iCal, which IMO has been WAY overdue. They allow something like the app Groups, drag and drop to access (full) to the contacts database, and not allow anyone access to the Calendar data- what a shortfall.
Anyway, back to point: do we know if a dev can even solve our needs, or has blocked access to the Filesystem?
If the later is the case, JB is going to be the only route for at least a year, or Gen 2 whichever comes first- It will be the next "Magic" OHH AHHH- and Late!!!
It depends on what your "real work" is. Not everybody has a requirement to create legal text documents and copy them to an FTP site regularly. For my purposes, the iPad is significantly quicker than a netbook or even full blown laptop from a work perspective. Not to mention the portability gives me 24/7 access to critical systems and applications.