Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Many of my classes are online and there are many PDFs PPTs and word files posted daily to study, reveiw and do homework on. Safari does not let you download files and save on your ipad. GoodReader Does! I was about ready to smash my iPad if I had to download my files on my computer every single time my proffesors update the site and then sync then on itunes. I'm still hoping that someone makes a better file manager or an app that will let me download shows of off rlslog.net, instead of dling them on my computer and then transferring them over. Thats all i ask for.
 
This thread got me to go download GoodReader, but I keep getting a 502 (Bad gateway) error when trying to connect to the goodreader.net site. This is both at home and at work.
 
I bought it to see what buzz was about. For 99 cents, I'm not going to cry about picking it up.

It's good, but I like ReaddleDocs much better. However, I found 1 PDF (just one of many) that crashes RD but opens in GR. Odd.

Still, RD fits me fine. I like having nice, neat folders for all my stuff so it's categorized and reading is a joy.

But really, why complain about an app because you don't agree with the concept? Odd.
 
The problem here is that I do not want to interact with a filesystem or anything too much like it. Even worse is that no one here has mentioned the alternatives to filesystems.

I've used filesystems to interact with my data like everyone else. None of us has a choice, really—that's what lies beneath all of the abstraction. I wouldn't mind working from a database that manages metadata. I don't like making folders to organize files. What if I want to change the way I browse these files? What about more categories? Overlapping categories?

I want iTunes for documents. I'd much rather browse my iTunes library for music than scroll through endless folders that I can't change without inconsistency or needless renaming.

How many times have I argued over naming conventions with Unix users?— /usr/local/who/cares.

If "Papers" is that—and it looks like it is—then I'm there. Obviously, goodreader is definitely not for me (I've used it for the last month, and I dislike it).
 
I just found out with good reader wifi sharing that you can put the iPad to sleep and the share stays up. Unlike the touch and iPhone the iPad wireless does not disconnect while sleeping.
 
Without GoodReader, I might not have bought an iPad.

Agreed.

Since when did folders and a file structure become a bad thing? When you have lots of files, they need to be organized.

This is why Apple is bringing folders to OS 4.0.....

GoodReader is amazing.
 
I want iTunes for documents. I'd much rather browse my iTunes library for music than scroll through endless folders that I can't change without inconsistency or needless renaming.

Why would you want to use iTunes to organize your documents. iTunes is a horrible management system. It is slow and clunky
 
Why would you want to use iTunes to organize your documents. iTunes is a horrible management system. It is slow and clunky

I don't know why you'd say iTunes is a horrible management system, but I presume you've had bad experiences. I'd be interested to know why you didn't like it, but speficically: (1) what did you want iTunes to do, (2) how did it fail to do it?

I mean.. why shouldn't I be able to browse my PDFs by author, subject… year? Why should I have to spend all this time making folders?
 
I don't know why you'd say iTunes is a horrible management system, but I presume you've had bad experiences. I'd be interested to know why you didn't like it, but speficically: (1) what did you want iTunes to do, (2) how did it fail to do it?

I mean.. why shouldn't I be able to browse my PDFs by author, subject… year? Why should I have to spend all this time making folders?

You should be able to but for me it is just to slow. On my quad core pc running vista or on my macbook it just runs slow. Also I just like organizing my files myself. Also organizing in iTunes does nothing for me on the iPad which is what this thread is about. The ability to have a shared folder to save files for any program to access would be great.
 
Agreed.

Since when did folders and a file structure become a bad thing? When you have lots of files, they need to be organized.

This is why Apple is bringing folders to OS 4.0.....

GoodReader is amazing.

Folders in 4.0 are only for organizing apps, at least according to what was shown in the preview. They mentioned quick view as one of the new APIs so there could be some sort of file browser in the pipeline.
 
Goodreader is awesome, one of my favorite iPad apps.

Blows me away that anyone would write a rant complaining about it but whatever.
 
I purchased an iPad for the simplicity and minimalism and NOT to have to deal with file structures and organization.

Am I the only one that thinks GoodReader is counter to everything that the iPad is supposed to be? :confused: Steve Jobs must be shaking his head at this stupid app.

GoodReader is almost an OS unto itself... file manager and file viewer. Ugh! Why would you want an iPad and then use something like this?

Yeah, I have PDF's I want to read, but do you really want to manage a file system to view your PDF's? I sure don't. I want an iBooks or iPod like interface for my PDF's... not some clunky file browser from like 1990.

There seem like equally good PDF apps for the same price like myPDF's (no association) that seem so much more along the lines of what the iPad experience was meant to be.

GoodReader is just bringing your OSX file system into the iPad... I really really don't understand that.

Flame away! :D

Thank's for bringing my attention to this. It's going to be one of the first things I get for my iPad when we get them eventually here in the UK.
 
Folders in 4.0 are only for organizing apps, at least according to what was shown in the preview. They mentioned quick view as one of the new APIs so there could be some sort of file browser in the pipeline.

Yes, I know. I was only using that as an example of why organization is a good thing.

Apps should be organized in folders, and so should PDF files, which is why GoodReader is doing things right
 
Still hoping the devs come up with an easy way to get documents back INTO goodreader from the iWork apps...
 
Yes, I know. I was only using that as an example of why organization is a good thing.

Apps should be organized in folders, and so should PDF files, which is why GoodReader is doing things right

Hm. I'm still not convinced that this is how it "ought" to be done. After 6-7 years in college and juggling PDF files, I've grown to hate not having a database for my PDFs.

Am I the only one who has spent hours making folders for PDFs with little payoff?

Even if you wanted to be completely responsible for the organization through folders, GoodReader has always been clunky for me—at least on the iPhone. Is the iPad app any better?
 
Hm. I'm still not convinced that this is how it "ought" to be done. After 6-7 years in college and juggling PDF files, I've grown to hate not having a database for my PDFs.

Am I the only one who has spent hours making folders for PDFs with little payoff?

Even if you wanted to be completely responsible for the organization through folders, GoodReader has always been clunky for me—at least on the iPhone. Is the iPad app any better?

If Apple had provided a way to organize PDFs, ebooks, and other data files with some kind of database, I would love that, and I think it would satisfy most people asking for a file system. However, Apple has provided nothing. No file system, database, nothing.

As for Good Reader, I never really used the iPhone version, but I'm sure the iPad version is easier to use simply due to more screen space. It's hard to tell wether or not it'll work for you, since I don't know exactly what you found clunky about the iPhone version, but it's only 99 cents, and I think it's definitely worth a try.
 
If Apple had provided a way to organize PDFs, ebooks, and other data files with some kind of database, I would love that, and I think it would satisfy most people asking for a file system. However, Apple has provided nothing. No file system, database, nothing.

As for Good Reader, I never really used the iPhone version, but I'm sure the iPad version is easier to use simply due to more screen space. It's hard to tell wether or not it'll work for you, since I don't know exactly what you found clunky about the iPhone version, but it's only 99 cents, and I think it's definitely worth a try.

I'm waiting for the 3g, or I would've tried it already (—I hate relying on others for something I must decide for myself). 99 cents is a great price too, so I'm likely going to try it at some point.

What I found clunky about the iPhone version is how much it clashes with the design of other applications. They should have figured out some intuitive gesture-based way to manage folders. Instead, they put an "actions" button at the top right that reveals a panel with buttons like: delete, move, copy, paste, blah blah blah—there are about 20 buttons there if you include the icons that show up when you tap "more." Tossing these functions together on a single panel makes the interface feel cluttered and difficult to manage.

Also... the web-sharing button is right at the bottom of the screen always. Why? The icon is also too big—it takes up space that could be used for other buttons! Why not implement the common "Add" button that other Apps use? When you tap the "Add" button, a popover slides up and asks, "How do you want to add? Wifi? Web-page? E-mail attachment?" Would that have been so difficult?

The web sharing is nice, but why not a nicer interface for both the iPhone and Mac end? Perhaps javascript to make multiple uploads easier? I can hear it now: "You want a whole lot for 99 cents." Call me picky, but I'm willing to pay for a good design.

Many companies have shown (and Apple might be the paradigm here) that if the design is flawed, then people are not going to use the product. I'm tired of people listing out what a product can do instead of talking about how well the product can do it.
 
If Apple had provided a way to organize PDFs, ebooks, and other data files with some kind of database, I would love that, and I think it would satisfy most people asking for a file system. However, Apple has provided nothing. No file system, database, nothing.

That's the problem. An app like myPDF is nice and simple; good if you've got but a few PDF file you need access to.

I'm a physician and teacher, so I would like to have a huge library of scientific articles at my fingertips. GoodReader lets me organize hundreds or more (if I choose to carry that many) of PDF and other document types in to folder and subfolders, download and upload from my cloud storage or from my email, delete and rename, etc.

And so far, I've got about 35 important PDF articles saved and sorted - full color, high-res graphics... impossible to do on a Kindle and cumbersome to read on a netbook. I've got my own personal, portable reference library and I couldn't be happier - for me, it's the killer app for the iPad.

While the iPad may be a new paradigm in handheld computing, nothing Apple or anyone else has done so far has replaced files and folders for sorting documents -- there is Spotlight on the desktop, which is great and saves me lots of time (I can search for key words in PDF files to find what I want instead of drilling down a filestructure), until Apple implements Spotlight search into saved PDF text on the iPad/iPhone OS, we're stuck with folders.

Thus, the need for an app like GoodReader. Sure, the interface could be Apple-ified a bit, but it's highly functional for a v1.0 iPad app.
 
I'm still on the fence about getting an iPad, and one of the reasons I'm still on it is because of Good Reader, otherwise I'd probably just walk away from considering it.

The more apps that come out to make the iPad more "power user" friendly then the more likely I'll pick one up. Right now I want to wait and see what some of the other tablet devices will be like, and also see what other developments are in store for the fall with the iPad.
 
Need to email out my resumes ...

Good reader to the rescue!

Great app - discovered it while browsing these forums. Don't work for the company or have ANY association with them FYI. THNAK YOU! to the people who recommended this app here from me.

I have a large library of PDFs that I want to read . tried converting them to ePubs with AWFUL results. Goodreadr let's me transfer them to my iPad no fuss and no bother and see the PDF just like was supposed to look.

Great app and the price is unbeatable !
Highly recomended.
 
I have Good Reader on the iPhone but this is an area where I'd like to see a well known Mac developer be involved.

I'd like to see PDFpen by Smile On My Mac. I'd like to do some relatively heavy PDF editing on the iPad.
 
How can you have a Mac Pro and make such a thread? I don't understand. xD

The iPad should be make your everyday work simpler, and GoodReader helps with that. I think a lack of a proper file system actually makes a lot of what you want to do harder, or not doable at all.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.