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msduncan

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 27, 2010
498
0
Let's have a discussion that I hope will be helpful for iPad owners or people considering buying an iPad for either home or work.

"How" do you use your iPad? Give us a rundown of what might be a day in the life of your iPad. Work or home.

For instance:

I wake up, grab the iPad off the side table next to my bed and immediately use the Twitter app to check news feeds. Obviously checking my email and calendar comes next.

At work, I use Penultimate to take notes during meetings. During lunch I read Sports Illustrated or mess around with Angry Birds, Back to the Future, etc. I am considering using a presentation app with the HDMI connector to run presentations at work from my iPad, but haven't yet crossed down that road.

During the evening, I watch Netflix or use AirVideo to stream movies from my computer.

My guess is that I am under utilizing my iPad and could learn a great deal from some of the creative users on this forum in how to think about it and use it differently.

So let's hear it - HOW are you using your iPad through a typical day or week?
 
I take it to school instead of my MacBook Pro and it saves so much weight of being carried around. This is much easier and sometimes I don't need a backpack because of my Scottevest and just taking some paper for notes. At work and home I use it for Internet browsing and simple tasks. My sister uses my old iPad because she is disabled and it couldn't be better for her. Lots of other things and I can use LogMeIn to get back to my computer just in case I need to.
 
Nice

Nice thread, been lookin' for this type of discussion.

For me, I use my iPad mostly for web browsing, and since i have small store, i'm using quickoffice for documents, sales report, etc.

For personal use: write a diary, track my personal expenses, twitter, FB (more comfortable with iPhone i guess)

I'm not doing todo activity on my ipad, i think iPhone is more portable device for this activity.
 
I'm not even sure I can list EVERYTHING, but here are my common current uses:

I use Amplitube by iRig for guitar practice; several different music tablature and sheet music apps for reading music; Kindle app for reading books; Overdrive for electronic library books; Netflix for streaming videos; Evernote and Note Taker HD for notes; Flipboard for Twitter feeds, because I like the way it formats them. I also use it often for Web browsing (Safari) and for email, when I'm away from my desktop.
 
I work from home so most of the day I am on my Mac Pro with my iPad propped up in landscape with my e-mail open so I can keep tabs on what I need to do (as I went from 2 monitors to 1 27" Cinema Display). So using it that way is awesome because I don't have to switch tasks to check my e-mail.

Whenever I am out running errands I am in a business where everything seems to be time sensitive so if I am out and need to do some work I will open up the mobile hotspot on my phone and do whatever I need to do on the iPad and go back to running errands. This device has SAVED my ass so much since the day it was released its paid for itself 10 fold.

The apps I HAVE to have for work are the following (yes it wasn't asked in this thread but it might help some folks down the road.)

GoodReader -- So nice to be able to save/e-mail PDF's on the iPad 2
iDisk -- All my files for work are stored here
My Mac -- Remote back to my mac if need be
IM+ -- IM Client
Air Sharing -- Don't use that often but it is nice
Dropbox -- similar to iDisk but use it for places for clients to get files
Live Nation -- buy tickets...can you guess what business I am in?
Roboform -- So much better than 1Passwd in my opinion but they need to get their OSX app going...the beta sucks
RDP -- Access Windows machines
RDesktop -- Access windows machines

Not sure which one I like better RDP or RDesktop....
 
-News apps. Reading the news gets a big chunk of my usage
-Some net surfing--but usually grab the laptop as I'm a forum junky and need the keyboard
-Simple games
-Occasional video--would rather watch on the big screen most of the time
-Calendar--synced with my google calendar
-Notes in work meetings--type them in the Notes app, send them to Evernote to organize and synch with my pcs
-Reading PDFs for work in Goodreader
 
Mostly I use mine for:
Reading the local news in Safari
Checking Twitter using Twitteriffic
Drudge Report in Safari
A couple of news apps
Email (two accounts)
AIM (app)
Netflix
Video (native app)
Surf items of interest via Safari
Pay bills using Safari

I have Kindle on there, but prefer to use my iPhone for that.

I want to use it for more. Love to keep my bills and tracking of finance. Not sure of a good app for that. Would like it to be synced between two iPads and an iPhone 3Gs.

Love this thread!

Mostly Landscape. Hardly only go portrait if the app demands it! LOL
 
I mostly use the iPad for surfing, email, and reading. I few light games from time to time, but I cannot consider myself anywhere near the definition of a gamer. More of a diversion when waiting for something, like when my truck is at the dealership getting services.

I tend to use my iPad in the portrait position, not sure why but that seems most comfortable for me.
 
With my fingers, usually.

"Usually" ... I don't want to know what else you may use.


As for what I use my iPad for.

Netflix, emails, games, music, browsing. This happens all throughout the day. I really have to set time which I use my iPad. Whenever I need it, I grab it.
 
Does that work with MobileMe's Back to My Mac?

Not to my knowledge, what I do is enable screen sharing in system preferences and then click computer settings and enable VNC connection. So really any VNC client would work...but I would love to find one that works with the Me's Back To My Mac.
 
Naked on the toilet. Also, I netflix during kid's gym classes. Read email and surf web in any room of house. Actually watched tv on it in the living room since I hated what the kids were watching but wanted to be with the baby.
 
Wake up, check email, check youtube for new videos, browse some net. When im cooking i use it in the kitchen speaker system for music, i love taking walks in the park and then sit on a bench and browse the internet or read a book. Sometimes i watch anime on it in the middle of the night if i cant sleep. Compose some demos in Garageband when the idea strikes.

Its allround a great grab & use/take anywhere device.

Edit: On the toilet almost always:)
 
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iApples said:
With my fingers, usually.

"Usually" ... I don't want to know what else you may use.


As for what I use my iPad for.

Netflix, emails, games, music, browsing. This happens all throughout the day. I really have to set time which I use my iPad. Whenever I need it, I grab it.

;)

Okay, genuine question for the responders of this thread. For most of your iPad uses, especially the mobile ones, do you find that those tasks are not possible with the iPhone, or is it just that they're much easier/more pleasant with the extra screen real estate?
 
Not to my knowledge, what I do is enable screen sharing in system preferences and then click computer settings and enable VNC connection. So really any VNC client would work...but I would love to find one that works with the Me's Back To My Mac.

Oh ya I see what your doing. The way you worded your post seemed like it did work with it and I was surprised. As of now I don't know of an app that works with Back to My Mac, I use LogMeIn to get back to my MacBook Pro and don't have complaints but I'd rather just use Apple's service since I already am paying for it.
 
Wake up, grab iPad, check twitter and/or forums, check todo list and calendar, check weather, email, etc, until I decide I need coffee.

Waddle over to the kitchen and make coffee, take the opportunity to sit at computer (which is in the kitchen), do backups and other computer maintenance stuff. Sync my iDevices.

Shower, get dressed, take bus or subway to work. Depending on the mood, read ebooks or saved articles in Instapaper on the iPad, or do some light document editing in Pages.

At work, go around grilling people on questionable points in their papers, iPad in hand to show them said points. When people ask me why a job isn't finished yet, show them the ToDo list on my iPad, quickly demonstrating why their favorite project is only #5 on my priority list.

Drag out my MacBook Air to finalize documents.

Play some Angry Birds on the iPad for a quick break.

Edit some more papers on the iPad.

Beat up a few more co-workers with the iPad.

Take bus or subway back home. More twitter, forums, Zite, and other relaxing reading on the iPad.

Dinner.

TV.

More relaxing reading and games on the iPad in bed until I fall asleep.

Wake up, grab iPad...
 
I don't bring it to work.

When I'm away from my iMac, sometimes I use Safari or Zite while eating/front of television.

My main reason for getting the iPad, I watch Videos when doing Cardio (treadmill, elliptical) at LA Fitness. I bought incase's Field Bag so it stays with me while Lifting.

I also use it in my Coupe, especially if I'm stuck in traffic or in for a long drive. I love Velcro, I can watch my Videos.
 
1. wake up and check weather
2. read news/forums/check facebook while having breakfast
3. commute to work - read a book, watch a movie or just play games
4. work - would like to start using Penultimate, but need styles for this.
5. lunch time - read, movies. As soon as it getting warmer I will go to park for lunch and then I will use my IPAD2 to read or watch movies.
6. On the way home see #3
7. At home after work - internet, my daughter or/and husband play games.
 
I don't bring it to work.

When I'm away from my iMac, sometimes I use Safari or Zite while eating/front of television.

My main reason for getting the iPad, I watch Videos when doing Cardio (treadmill, elliptical) at LA Fitness. I bought incase's Field Bag so it stays with me while Lifting.

I also use it in my Coupe, especially if I'm stuck in traffic or in for a long drive. I love Velcro, I can watch my Videos.

You drive and watch videos on your iPad?
 
Media consumption and reading. Although I like my Kindle better for reading books, iPad 2 being a little lighter helps. (hate carrying two devices - one just for reading).
 
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