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Sadly, iPad not for me. Not enough productivity

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Dec 29, 2007
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I am sure many, many folks see an excellent entertainment rig in the iPad. No doubt. But, I need a certain level of productivity to justify the spend. Given that I do photo and video editing, I'll need to keep my macbook anyway, so I don't have the change to spend for just fun.

But, after visiting the Apple store, the iPad's not for me.

I could put up with the no printing. I might even be able to put up with the kludge to manage pdfs.

But the fact that I can't put two documents together into a single e-mail (like two pages docs, or a pages doc and a numbers spreadsheet -- and numbers doesn't even save as xls, only numbers and pdf).

Just missing a little too much for me. Maybe in round two.

I post this not to complain, but to let people who might be looking for the same things as me, know about it.

edit: some nice folks below have pointed out ways that you CAN attach multiple documents to an e-mail! Very helpful MR people, as usual.
 
I think its more a really sexy e-book reader, not a productivity tool. Apple provide a line of excellent macbooks for that purpose.
 
Sorry it didn't work out for you, I think for what it was advertised to do it does very well, but as with any product, it's not for everyone as we all have different needs and expectations.
 
I think some compelling productivity use cases (for 3g) are:

1. Can load it up with documents/presentations/PDFs and read or reference them on the go.
2. Can reply to emails from anywhere with an easier interface than iPhone.
3. Can access the web for research from anywhere.
4. With rdesktop/logmein/etc you can use your home computer from anywhere.
5. With WolframAlpha it's an amazing calculator.
6. (any apps related to your specific work)

But the interface is so nice that you'll probably end up wasting a ton of time just browsing or playing games on it and end up less productive overall.
 
bking1000 said:
I am sure many, many folks see an excellent entertainment rig in the iPad. No doubt. But, I need a certain level of productivity to justify the spend. Given that I do photo and video editing, I'll need to keep my macbook anyway, so I don't have the change to spend for just fun.

But, after visiting the Apple store, the iPad's not for me.

I could put up with the no printing. I might even be able to put up with the kludge to manage pdfs.

But the fact that I can't put two documents together into a single e-mail (like two pages docs, or a pages doc and a numbers spreadsheet -- and numbers doesn't even save as xls, only numbers and pdf).

Just missing a little too much for me. Maybe in round two.

I post this not to complain, but to let people who might be looking for the same things as me, know about it.
Click to expand...

The only thing I got from this is that you can't afford the ipad and you have no fun. I surprised based on the your tone you didn't ask for donations.
 
PsyD4Me said:
If you actually owned one I would take the review more seriously
Click to expand...

Why? I HAVE to buy it to note this issue with two docs in one e-mail? Sorry, but I know what i need and this doesn't fit it (though it's clearly a fantastic product for others). Your posting makes no sense.
 
I think of the iPad as mostly an entertainment device, the best thing is for web browsing its so easy to use while lying on a couch
 
sinsin07 said:
The only thing I got from this is that you can't afford the ipad and you have no fun. I surprised based on the your tone you didn't ask for donations.
Click to expand...

No, a slight misreading. I don't sit in my mom's basement and spend all my money on video games and purchasing TV and movies. (you give nasty, you get nasty).
 
bking1000 said:
But the fact that I can't put two documents together into a single e-mail (like two pages docs, or a pages doc and a numbers spreadsheet -- and numbers doesn't even save as xls, only numbers and pdf).

Just missing a little too much for me. Maybe in round two.

I post this not to complain, but to let people who might be looking for the same things as me, know about it.
Click to expand...


I just opened up AirSharing, selected 2 documents, selected mail and it attached both documents.

GoodReader does the same as well.
 
I agree with part of what you are saying, the iPad isn't a productive machine. I love mine but don't use it to edit 1000 images from a wedding. I use it for the basic tasks that do take a lot of my time and use it when on the go.

I also don't really use my macbook pro for most productivity things like editing, to me a laptop isn't built for heavy duty graphic use. My laptop until now was always used for safari, email, movies and other content which is how I use the iPad. Haven't needed my laptop since. But we all use our devices different, thats just my take on it
 
bpd115 said:
I just opened up AirSharing, selected 2 documents, selected mail and it attached both documents.

GoodReader does the same as well.
Click to expand...

REALLY?? The folks at the Apple store (about three of them) just looked at me bewildered when I asked how to do this. So, it sounds like AirSharing or GoodReader (which I knew about for pdf use) are essentially for the iPad. I'll have to give it another look. If I can just get it to do this, that'd be huge.

I need an eReader, but I can't stand synching constantly between 2 machines. I'll keep the MBP, of course, but if I can make the iPad work for most everything else, that'd be cool. Thanks man!
 
stagi said:
I agree with part of what you are saying, the iPad isn't a productive machine. I love mine but don't use it to edit 1000 images from a wedding. I use it for the basic tasks that do take a lot of my time and use it when on the go.

I also don't really use my macbook pro for most productivity things like editing, to me a laptop isn't built for heavy duty graphic use. My laptop until now was always used for safari, email, movies and other content which is how I use the iPad. Haven't needed my laptop since. But we all use our devices different, thats just my take on it
Click to expand...

Really? I find my MBP 2.26 handles Lightroom just fine, but I'm an amateur, not a pro like yourself, so I don't use like Adobe CS. Maybe that'd be too much or something. Now that others have pointed out the ability to put multiple docs in an e-mail, I might give it another look.
 
bking1000 said:
REALLY?? The folks at the Apple store (about three of them) just looked at me bewildered when I asked how to do this. So, it sounds like AirSharing or GoodReader (which I knew about for pdf use) are essentially for the iPad. I'll have to give it another look. If I can just get it to do this, that'd be huge.

I need an eReader, but I can't stand synching constantly between 2 machines. I'll keep the MBP, of course, but if I can make the iPad work for most everything else, that'd be cool. Thanks man!
Click to expand...

Yep. I have both apps and I like both. I like the interface of AirSharing better since it's a more traditional 'finder' like interface. AirSharing can also print to shared Mac Printers. Printed my Tax form out at work this way.

GoodReader has a quirky interface but allows you to download files from the web (pictures, documents, pdfs, etc.) to store locally or upload somewhere else.

Both let me hit my iDisk (or dropbox, etc.) and both let me FTP into my home directory on my Mac Pro at home....both let you open the files into specific apps as well, or import them from mail, etc.

Essential apps indeed. The only thing that's a bit wonky is you can't export from the iWork apps to the file managers....you essentially have to email the document to yourself or upload it to iWork.com
 
I must admit there are a zillion annoying things about this thing

It's so restricted. Even the app store is under lock and key.

ok, but I still like it fine enough, but....:D
 
bking1000 said:
Man, that is sad. I had a crowd of Apple help at the store, and no one could tell me this.:(:confused:
Click to expand...

Their confusion comes from the fact that there is not an "attach" option when composing an email. At first impression, it seems that only apps can attached stuff. I too thought this, until I remembered cut and paste.

The lack of Excel export from numbers is an oversight - the Mac iWork version can export to excel, and I would imagine a future update to Numbers for iPad would add this functionality as well, or else numbers on iPad is a lot less useful to most computer users who only have access to excel.
 
bpd115 said:
Yep. I have both apps and I like both. I like the interface of AirSharing better since it's a more traditional 'finder' like interface. AirSharing can also print to shared Mac Printers. Printed my Tax form out at work this way.

GoodReader has a quirky interface but allows you to download files from the web (pictures, documents, pdfs, etc.) to store locally or upload somewhere else.

Both let me hit my iDisk (or dropbox, etc.) and both let me FTP into my home directory on my Mac Pro at home....both let you open the files into specific apps as well, or import them from mail, etc.

Essential apps indeed. The only thing that's a bit wonky is you can't export from the iWork apps to the file managers....you essentially have to email the document to yourself or upload it to iWork.com
Click to expand...

Hmmm... that is a bit wonky.

So, AirSharing actually creates a "my docs" space that's global across all apps?
 
bking1000 said:
Hmmm... that is a bit wonky.

So, AirSharing actually creates a "my docs" space that's global across all apps?
Click to expand...

The whole file management system is wonky, and I am not surprised at all that you noticed it, and are hesitant to buy an iPad for productivity reasons due to this wonkyness. Everything is work arounds and 3rd party apps. I expect this too will be fixed with some future updates.
 
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