Posted by Chris Irwin
on 08/31/2010
I’ve been a fan of Apple products since computers have been a part of my life. They’re sleek, efficient and most importantly different. Every time I see their logo it brings a smile to my face. Their aura emits a “simple” glow, yet behind the scenes a complex set of developed pieces is working together to make an end users experience painless. Apple has effectively targeted different groups of end users and offered a plethora of products to cover the different needs/wants of these audiences. One of their latest releases has received a slight buzz of criticism surrounding it’s presence; the iPad.
You’ll either love or hate the iPad; the middle ground between these emotions is scarce. Critics deem it pointless, unnecessary and under accessorized. I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum; iPads serve multiple purposes, they’re quite useful and come out of the box ready to serve. E-mail? Absolutely, the real question is how many of your email accounts do you want delivered to the iPad (including your exchange account from work). Music, Movies and Photos? Of course. Need the weather? Done, there’s free app waiting to show you more than the 6:00 news. Need something else? Browse the 10,000 plus apps, chance would have it you’ll find what you need.
iPads easily extend beyond the boundaries of a personal accessory; they’re capable of being a professional resource. I find mine to be a great way to show people at a meeting recent job photos. Sure I could fire up a laptop and show them the same pictures, but it doesn’t have the same effect. The presentation from the iPad is more interesting and captures the attention of viewers immediately. Beyond the photos, I find the IP Camera app a useful tool as well. The ability to have instant access to any of our IP cameras, with PTZ control, from anywhere in the world with an internet connection is absolutely helpful. Checking in on the data center, the office conference room or making sure the other tenants in the building aren’t filling the dumpster are just a few touches away.
The iPad is not a laptop replacement. It’s a laptop supplement. If you’re waiting for a meeting to start, a dentist appointment, or the next train, a laptop can be a bit cumbersome. Between taking it out of the case, booting it up, logging in and THEN starting your business, you should have just grabbed a magazine to kill the time. Browsing the web, checking email, composing minor letters in Pages (emphasis on minor), are all easily accomplished on the iPad. It’s instant availability lends itself as the bridge from cumbersome to productive in the aforementioned situations.
Bottom line, the iPad has potential. It’s definitely a leisurely device but in the right hands, it can also be a helpful tool. If you haven’t had the ability to explore one yet, make a point to do so. Being productive hasn’t been this fun in a long time.
