Setting up an ipad and pdf storage?

[aimee25]

Hi all,

Please be kind, this is my first post and I thought it would be best to come to the experts first.I have been saving up for my iPad for 6 weeks and on monday I finally get to pick it up. I am so excited (but with manageable expectations)! So here is my situation:

I bought the 64 wifi+3g because I frequently travel for a week at a time to places where there is no net. As it happens I have to travel an hour away to pick it up and then I'm staying down there to house sit for my grandparents who have no internet. From what I can gather I will need to take my macbook to set it up but do I need my macbook to be connected to the net to do set up (eh cause that could be a problem)?

Secondly next week also happens to be the first week of university. I study online but it is pretty hardcore with video podcast lectures, tons on of PDF readings and heaps of word doc uni guides, study guides and assignment outlines. Clearly I do not want to have to download them on 3G when I can get most of them on my macbook before I leave for my grandparents but being the first week of term I don't really have the time to test all the PDF readers out there to see which ones can be used to mark up, store in unit folders, works with word docs, etc? I am asking for suggestions in regard to apps that can keep all my uni stuff without having to rely on the net. I have evernote but sometimes when I set notebooks up to be offline it doesn't save the whole thing.

I would also love to hear about your fav apps? Can't wait to play with my new toy!

Thanks in advance.

 

[SVT Amateur]

1. Where ever you buy your iPad from have them setup your iPad in store. You just need them to activate it in store - Apple and Best Buy will do this for you.

2. Get Documents to Go. I use the Pro version ($14.99) because I love using DropBox (cloud storage) but it seems for your usage you just need the $9.99 version. You can put all your pdf, excel, word, powerpoint, and image files on your iPad and Documents to Go will do a great job of reading and editing those.

I also suggest getting GoodReader which works well as a file management program (also is great for reading files but this is unnecessary if you get Documents to Go) so that you can create directories for the files you put on your iPad. Last time I checked this program was selling for $0.99.

 

[IrishVixen]

One thing to note on Documents to Go--it doesn't provide full external/wireless keyboard support. So unless you really like the virtual keyboard, it's not great for editing or even extensive writing. If you're planning on doing all that on the MacBook, then it may be less of an issue.

Personally, since even free notetaking apps support that function, I'm not about to pay $10-15 for an app that can't be bothered to incorporate it.