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Is ipad 2 practical?

jennicasmith said:
If you can afford it why not, ipad 2 is more on entertainment purpose well it is much lighter to use than the MBP 13. But of course this gadget have its limitations, yes yo can use it to take down notes but you can't use it for editing some paper works.
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the ipad has its limitations, but editing is not one of them. i edit things all of the time in pages. i recommend pairing a keyboard so that you can enjoy the keyboard shortcuts. there are enough of these that i don't even miss a mouse.
 
I'm an academic and use my iPad extensively for work, even when I'm sitting next to a stationary computer. The main pros with it IMO are
- the possibility to annotate documents and take notes with a stylus
- portability
- long battery life
- internet access secured through 3G if I go away to seminars at other unis

The lack of a file management system hasn't bothered me so far. I have several hundred pdf-s in PDF Expert and iAnnotate, and just sync them with dropbox on a regular basis. If I've been working on taking notes in a single document, I tend to just email it to myself. I have a LogiTech keyboard which I sometimes bring and sometimes not, depending on the needs of the day. It's very light and also functions like a case for the iPad.

I do sometimes miss access to Microsoft Office.
 
Buy it from Sams Club and you have 3 months to return it if you feel it is of no use to you.
Don't waste time getting opinions here. Only you know what you want. :D
 
Well my signature should say everything about how I feel about these types of questions! I've gotten quite proficient typing, especially with the new, wider space bar, so for me using it for just about everything is pretty much a no brainer.
 
bri1212 said:
Although, I understand the points this user is making, I have to disagree on several points.

First, a file management system is in place, just not the way it used to be in older model computers. I have no problems typing up or receiving documents and finding them later to add to, or to use in emails and presentations.

Second, although many might say that it is not a replacement for a computer, I disagree. I use my Ipad2 everyday for work, not just for emails, but manipulating spreadsheets, documents, pdf's and the like. I also use my ipad2 for logging into my company ERP software system, entering orders, creating pick slips and shipping tickets, running reports, and producing presentations for my customers. For my business the only thing I can not do on my ipad, to my satisfaction, is edit pictures.

Third, Although I might agree that big business is about the money and not about the consumer, Apple has one of the best customer service organizations in the world.

All the above being said, the ipad is a great device for business and personal use, however, it does have limitations. When communicating with other computer systems, for example, in the pages app, it can be hard to add footnotes in a format that is usable, when the product is opened in office, on a regular computer. There may be other issues too.

I would suggest that you look for students at your school, who are using the Ipad, and ask them what limitations they have found since using the Ipad for school, and whether they would recommend for the major you are in. Get real world answers rather then relying on people that may be trolling, or people who may be blinded by the "Kool-aid".

All the above being said, I would not mind if Apple added a usb port for all kinds of stuff rather then just the camera connection kit. Personally I have found the Ipad very useful in a business environment, and I know several students who have used it successfully for college. This however, might depend on the major, and most certainly depend on what apps you have installed
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Trying going to a job application website and you will soon realize the upload button is grayed out, now if file system is available then you SHOULD be able to select the documents and upload.

I think better to do research on the limitations/shortcomings of an iPad.
 
The iPad is practical. Like many others, I had major doubts. FOr one thing, it was just a little too cool, and therefore I thought for sure it was just a fad.

Then I started to use it. Go figure?

It grows on you, and it's definitely here to stay.
 
I think about this often. Is it worth it for me to carry around an iPad all the time? I always come up with a huge YES. It's now become my most used device in general. Every piece of media I use is on my iPad or available for download. All the documents that I'm currently using are on it. My coffee tables are devoid of all paper magazines, books, and newspapers. All on my iPad. My PS3 and Xbox 360 are being used a fraction of the time that they used to get. I have note taking apps and Pages for work. I have iMovie for my slideshow projects. I have GarageBand and Symphony Pro for sketching out music projects or creating tracks.

This is all in one very slim compartment in my backpack. Now, is it good for students? I'm probably a little out of touch with that, but if you're being given PDFs for all your reading or if your text books are available online, I would think that would definitely beat lugging those huge hardbacks all over campus.

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greythorne said:
Trying going to a job application website and you will soon realize the upload button is grayed out, now if file system is available then you SHOULD be able to select the documents and upload.

I think better to do research on the limitations/shortcomings of an iPad.
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I applied for my current job on an iPad. But I think I used the Monster.com app to apply.
 
jojoba said:
LTD, can you annotate pdfs within that app?
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I think this confirms it (and it's a recently-added feature, too):

http://news.mekentosj.com/

Aside from bringing familiar features back, we have worked on expanding the number of features in Papers2.

Annotation support was high on the wish list. If it was on your wish list as well, then Santa came early this year because we’ve made annotations a reality for Papers2.1. Not only can you highlight (in different colors!) and add notes anywhere in the text, but your annotations sync with Papers for iPad and iPhone. We believe highlighting and annotating in Papers should be faster than grabbing a highlighter and taking it to a printed article. That is why any text you select with your mouse while holding the command key is automatically highlighted. You can, but do not have to, right-click to select the “highlight” option. Equally simple is note taking: hold the command key and double click anywhere in the article to add a note.

We could go on and on about all the great features we have brought back, and the new ones we have created, but instead we would like to invite you to testdrive them yourself. Download a free 30-day trial of Papers 2.1.
 
*LTD* said:
I think this confirms it (and it's a recently-added feature, too):

http://news.mekentosj.com/

Aside from bringing familiar features back, we have worked on expanding the number of features in Papers2.

Annotation support was high on the wish list. If it was on your wish list as well, then Santa came early this year because we’ve made annotations a reality for Papers2.1. Not only can you highlight (in different colors!) and add notes anywhere in the text, but your annotations sync with Papers for iPad and iPhone. We believe highlighting and annotating in Papers should be faster than grabbing a highlighter and taking it to a printed article. That is why any text you select with your mouse while holding the command key is automatically highlighted. You can, but do not have to, right-click to select the “highlight” option. Equally simple is note taking: hold the command key and double click anywhere in the article to add a note.

We could go on and on about all the great features we have brought back, and the new ones we have created, but instead we would like to invite you to testdrive them yourself. Download a free 30-day trial of Papers 2.1.
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Right. It looks like this refers to the mac version (since they talk about a mouse), but I also read on their Papers for iPad bit of the web site that there are supposed to be annotation features

http://www.mekentosj.com/papers/ipad

However, I can't manage to actually highlight text as it is suggested on this page :confused:

I'll look around a bit more on the web.
 
greythorne said:
Trying going to a job application website and you will soon realize the upload button is grayed out, now if file system is available then you SHOULD be able to select the documents and upload.

I think better to do research on the limitations/shortcomings of an iPad.
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First off, I am not sure, but perhaps your using the wrong browser for what your trying to do. There are many browsers available for the ipad, It may be a limitation of the browser, not the ipad.

Secondly, I did suggest for the OP to talk to students at their school.
I would suggest that you look for students at your school, who are using the Ipad, and ask them what limitations they have found since using the Ipad for school, and whether they would recommend for the major you are in. Get real world answers rather then relying on people that may be trolling, or people who may be blinded by the "Kool-aid".
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bri1212 said:
First off, I am not sure, but perhaps your using the wrong browser for what your trying to do. There are many browsers available for the ipad, It may be a limitation of the browser, not the ipad.
I have tried numerous browsers without success. Blackboard (in use at most major universities), for example, will not upload files from the iPad.

Secondly, I did suggest for the OP to talk to students at their school.
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This is a good idea. However, in my experience lots of people know how to consume content on the iPad, but few of them know how to create it. There are many threads on this forum (including ones I have started) suggesting possibilities. Your mileage will vary, of course.
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