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Posted June 10, 2010
Why iPad Means Business
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently said there's no fundamental difference between Apple's hot-selling iPad tablet and the workaday, Windows-powered personal computers hawked by his company. Well Steve, if the iPad is just another PC then Twitter is just another blog site! The fact that Microsoft does not get it, may be why they their fall continues and if anything is accelerating. Now, before you send me evil hate mail that I have gone over the dark side, or in Apple's case the good side (They where white, or sometimes Platinum, after all.) I am by no means ready to give up my Windows computers, nor should any business that depends on those heavy Windows and .NET based apps. But the world is changing, and pretty fast. While the iPad may not be a useful business tool for some office bound workers, it does have its uses and many are finding out. Come one, one million new users a month. Steve. Wake up.
I have had a number of discussions as to why I think the iPad may be useful to business. First, you have to consider how many different types of business professionals exist before you eliminate it altogether. There are some weaknesses, such as high volume data entry. The Keyboard Dock has a very nice feel to the keyboard, and while the Keyboard Dock does not have a 10-key pad, that will not be catastrophic to all but a few users. Most people will not carry the keyboard with them, I admit, but the virtual keyboard works well for limited entry. Again, the key word here is limited. This is not a volume-entry device, or a heavy duty computing device. I will still need my desktop or laptop for that. I have found a number of Apps that do provide good business utility. Here are some of my favorite iPad Apps (note: of all these, I only spent $9.99 for Pages; everything else is free, so far!
Pages - Mac word processor. I know it is not Word, but it works fine and reads and writes .doc files. I am a Mac user, so I had no problem using this tool on the iPad. Works great for keeping me focused on my manuscripts. By the way, here is a great iPad iWork Pages Primmer for Word Users (you are welcome!)
Citrix Receiver for iPad - Access Windows Desktop remotely just like you do from your PC today. Ideal for looking up client information, taking orders, checking accounts balances, reviewing tax returns, and even reviewing financial reports. Saleforce.com has an iPad App version for Saleforce Mobile - a great way for business users to manage sales information and messaging on the go.
Adobe Ideas - your digital sketchbook, letting you capture and explore ideas anywhere you go. Adobe Ideas is an ideal companion for the professional design applications from Adobe, including Adobe Illustrator® and Adobe Photoshop® software.
Evernote - Evernote version (3.3) for Apple’s mobile devices is a universal binary that will run on all iPhone, iPod, iTouch and iPad devices. There aren’t many changes for iPhone / iPod/iTouch users in this version, but if you run it on an iPad, you get a completely new user experience. If you are a OneNote user, then Evernote is a nice free substitute that can manage your to dos, and your to don'ts, as well as all those notes you miss now that you don't have your Franklin Planner anymore. See Video and Read More...
Dropbox - Has been an easy to use web based tool for sharing files quickly with others. Now with DropBox for iPad (or iPhone) you can also easily open and review files stored at DropBox on your iPad as well.
PaperDesk LT - For those of you who are large project people who create journals, this is a fine tool for you to stay organized and go paperless.
PogoPlug - iPad App that links back to my PogoPlug Personal Cloud Storage Device. This is awesome for easily accessing PDF and other files I want to open and review on my iPad.
GoodReader - is a .99 App, but well worth it. Makes it easy to transfer PDF, Word, and other files to your iPad to read and review. I have converted many of my manuals for presentations into PDF and now carry these with me on my iPad - no more carrying text books with me. Yea!
For news Apps, I really like the free apps: USAToday, Bloomberg, ABC Player, CNBC RT, Fluent News, BBC News, Engadget, Time Mobile, NPR and Pulse News. I use USAToday daily and the others as I have time. I am sure that some of these will go away as I settle into a routine. But at the moment, it is a quick way to get caught up. No cost for a paper, and I don't bother with the evening news anymore.
Social Networking is, of course, a natural for the iPad and I would not be found without: Facebook, TweetDeck, Twitterific, WordPress, and FeeddlerRSS.
Apps to make my life better, easier and fun? Of course, WebMD (not getting any younger you know,) What's On (TV and Movie Schedule,) Flight Update and Flights Pro (to keep track of my flights, and Gate Guru (for a quick snack between concourses.) SitOrSquat lets me know where the better public bathrooms are (yes, I am serious!). Dictionary (with Thesaurus and Word of the Day,) The Weather Channel (of course,) and Yellow and White Pages are a necessity.
And, least I forget, just having fun. Yea, I know, you don't consider these business apps. But, when was the last time you waited five hours for a connecting flight? I have multiple Guitar apps, a nice Piano App called Virtuoso, Sudoku, Chess and Pong (if I am really brain dead) and I can drive a really cool race car with RealRacingHD. Sometimes, I just hand my iPad to the crying five-year old in the seat next to me. I got a bunch of slaps on the back and thank-yous for that one. But, my favorite personal app is pUniverseHD. Yes, my own personal astrological map of the stars and planets, no matter where in the world I am. Or, I suppose out of the world, as well.
I did save the obvious for last. Yes, my iPad Kindle App allows my wife and I to share our library of books from Amazon, and my Kindle is now collecting dust. Sorry Amazon, but one less device to carry.
With all of this, I have not even scratched the surface. Keep an eye out here for more great tips, or, visit K2's Val Stead at the iPadCPA, ipadcpa.blogspot.com, for more great tips and tricks for iPad Business users. Or, this article from Mashable makes some good arguments on how to treat you Social Networking initiative.
What are your favorite iPad apps? Let me know
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