Do you use an iPad for work?

[cantdrv55]

I'm thinking about getting one but only if I can really use it for work. I recently saw someone take meeting notes on it then she emailed the "paper" to all as a pdf. The same can be accomplished using a PC laptop, MS Word then Outlook for email so what she did wasn't really all that cool. If you have a novel work application, please share your best practices with us. Thanks.

[nostatic]

specialized, but a game changer. If you look on the mic stand you'll see the iPad clipped to it. It has all the charts for the night (and then some).

[cantdrv55]

Alright, that is cool. Thanks!

[imcarthur]

While I don't, many of my colleagues are fruits & use them for carrying price lists, product pictures etc. Of course, the same guys all have iPhones & Apple laptops so it is just another toy to carry around.

At shows we load several iPads with music & stream iTunes to various components. WiFi streaming is a big deal y'know. We even have a promo with one line & we give away refurb iPads with new orders.

Ian

[redstrosekNic]

I use mine for college. It's my calender, note keeper, camera, ipod, and sometimes I use it just for fun (games). I haven't posted anything on pelican using a computer for months. I love the portability.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I'm thinking about getting one but only if I can really use it for work. I recently saw someone take meeting notes on it then she emailed the "paper" to all as a pdf. The same can be accomplished using a PC laptop, MS Word then Outlook for email so what she did wasn't really all that cool. If you have a novel work application, please share your best practices with us. Thanks.

One of the minor differences is you can use a tablet in portrait mode which when working on documents provides a slight advantage.

[Dottore]

I was in a taxi here the other night and the guy had restaurant and shopping apps on his iPad—as well as gps function. Very cool for tourists.

[wdfifteen]

Making credit charges is easier for me on the iPad than on the iPhone. It's because if the size.

[intakexhaust]

My suggestion. Get the best of both worlds and try an HP laptop / tablet. 12.1 inch screen. Get the latest ones with upgrades and not an early unit. A bit thicker and heavier than a tablet but portable enough and much more of a useful product. I'm running a dual core proc. w/ Win 7 ultimate and XP Pro in virtual mode.

Without going into all the details, you get a full blown PC to run all your media, online gee-wiz, remote control, tablet w/ pen, etc. The cool part is all my older (any) program can be used in tablet mode. You can run Win 7 and XP at the same time and on two screens. Works great for ACAD and older versions, graphic programs. Powerful enough to use for some online league racing when I'm out of town traveling.

The one I have has the DVD w/ lightscribe but you can sub for a Blu-ray. Wireless N + bluetooth 2.1.

I'm pleased enough to get another with the i5 processor.

[intakexhaust]

Here's a link for the HP tab/laptop - runs a grand. NEW HP ELITEBOOK 2760P XU102UT 12.1" INTEL CORE i5 2.3Ghz 4GB 320GB TABLET PC | eBay

[12own911]

I use my iPad at work to take notes when I do not feel like carrying around my laptop. I am waiting for MeetingSense to get on the iPad bandwagon and produce an app that I can use. I love MS for the laptop for all meeting information but would love it more if it worked on an iPad.

[gassy]

I use mine at work as a 2nd albeit small screen next to my laptop via the Air Display app.

[island911]

They reallly can help make work more comfortable...




Pads everywhe...oh wait . . .


nevermind...

[jwasbury]

I can't think of any work-related task that you can do on an iPad that this statement wouldn't apply to:

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

...The same can be accomplished using a PC laptop, MS Word then Outlook for email so what she did wasn't really all that cool...

Even Mr. NoStatic's usage as a "cheat sheet" (no offense bassman) for his gigs could be done with a laptop, but it would look pretty dorky clipped to his mic stand. I'd be willing to bet that most musical directors would say a laptop on stage is a no-go, unless you're a keyboard player or drummer.

I've only had an iPad now for a month or so and have used it here in the office with success. In my case, I connect to our windows network using citrix. Then I can have access to everything I would as if I were sitting at my desk. I recently used this set up during a conference call that I attended while sitting at the company CEO's desk. The CEO and other execs of the firm will look to me for the numbers. When I walk into such a meeting, I can make an educated guess at which of the millions of data points my department warehouses will be the topic of discussion. That would narrow it down to a few reams of paper that I would need to drag into the meeting to cover every possible question. Easier to access spreadsheets and other documents directly for reference in real time during the discussion. Yes it could also be done on a laptop, but the form factor of the iPad makes it more user friendly for those situations.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

I can't think of any work-related task that you can do on an iPad that this statement wouldn't apply to:



Even Mr. NoStatic's usage as a "cheat sheet" (no offense bassman) for his gigs could be done with a laptop, but it would look pretty dorky clipped to his mic stand. I'd be willing to bet that most musical directors would say a laptop on stage is a no-go, unless you're a keyboard player or drummer.

At that gig the rest of the band had laptops. An while it works, it doesn't look as good, and is more unwieldy to use. One guy still had paper books - about 5" thick worth along with multiple stand lights. That is a big difference with an iPad - no power needed at your music stand (it'll easily get through multiple gigs without charging). I've used mine both on a traditional stand and with the clip. There are two main apps I use. One is a pdf reader for charts that I get as pdfs, and the other is iRealBook, which just shows chord changes. BUT - you can transpose the charts on the fly so if a singer calls a different key you don't have to do it in your head. You can also easily edit the charts to fix mistakes or alter. For some of the gigs I do, everyone just shows up with an iPad.

I went from carrying multiple fake books and three ring binders along with stand lights (which invariably would run out of battery at the wrong time) to just the iPad. And if I'm on the network, I can pull down lyrics/chords on the fly as well. There also are apps that turn the iPad (and iPhone for that matter) into an amp, complete with preamp, effects, etc.

For musicians, it is a total game changer.

[Scooter]

I tried the iPad for two weeks, but it wasn't really working for me, so I returned it. It is a great machine, but I felt that I really didn't need anything between my laptop and iPhone after all. BTW: I used it mostly for reading documents and internet search.

[rouxroux]

In playing our big band gig with over 1000 tunes in the "folders" and many of them being 5 to 7 pages long, the iPad has made my life easier. Casuals are much easier when an "off-the-wall" chart is called using the " I real book" Also using it with students and a sansamp adapter, I'm able to travel "Light". Many of the shows I play backing headliners that come through the casinos still use "paper charts", and it feels strange playing those gigs. I also have tons of programs I use with my students, plus the advantage of having YouTube to look up examples at an instant is priceless. Now I just have to carry an iPad and my Roland CD2e from school to school makes my life easier.

[LakeCleElum]

It's slick for sure, but to me, not $500 slick when you already have a small Netbook and an I-touch.

Everyone had different needs. For me I wanted something with a screen larger than the Itouch for reading books, email, internet, etc....

So, I went with a 7" tablet.....It's called a Pandigital Novel. For $77 (refurbished), it's basically an Adroid Tablet. Does Android Apps, email, internet, and a great E-reader....I understand the Ipad is great and some will find it very useful. Can't justify it myself and is larger than I want to carry around.

[AirKuhl]

Best of both worlds:

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime announced with Tegra 3 quad-core processor - SlashGear

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by nostatic

For musicians, it is a total game changer.

My Wife is getting one for Christmas. She plays the piano and organ at her church and I showed her your pics...her only question was do the pages change automatically for the sheet music?