iPad Revisited

We went out to visit my 91-year-old father-in-law in Phoenix in early January. I decided to take my iPad instead of a computer, since all I planned to do was check e-mail and Google.

The basic principle, not to have to schlepp a full-size laptop around, worked great. After that it was all down-hill.  My web-based e-mail didn’t work with the iPad (or vice-versa). I could look at the e-mail, but could not reply to it because I couldn’t type a message. So in order to reply to an e-mail I had to forward it to my gmail account and then reply from there. And of course trying to type on the iPad is still an adventure. Fortunately it was just a long weekend, so it was not too bad.

Since the iPad has no “back” function, using Google or Google maps was also a pain. I constantly had to exit out and start over.  Very clumsy to manipulate.  And for directions I could just as easily use the navigation app on my Droid phone.

So was it better than a laptop?  For this very limited purpose, yes. This iPad was a gift. Would I ever actually buy an iPad?  No.

If I needed certain legal-specific apps for the iPad, such as the Worldox app that lets you access the document store in your office from the iPad, it might be different. But without those add-ons, the iPad is little more than a convenient toy.

Comments

[John Moore]

I find your comments to be off the mark and perhaps misinformed.

No back function? Within the web browser? There is indeed a back function: at the top left of the screen. There are also buttons for forward, bookmark and share. If you had to exit and start over, maybe you're doing it wrong?

As for Google Maps, it works flawlessly and is GPS enabled (assuming you allow Location services to talk to the browser).

[excel training]

There are many apps for that. My favorite is Air Display and Log me in. Air Display os the best but it works with only MAC computers for now. Windows support is on it's way. Before you get app, read the description carefully and decide your if it's of any use to you.