The Apple iPad's Versatility

The Apple iPad's Versatility

The Apple iPad is the most versatile digital device I've ever owned. Lighter and easier to carry than a laptop, the array of comparatively inexpensive app solutions makes the device a winner at both work and at home. Although I purchased the Apple iPad primarily for use at home, it's versatility has made the device a work day essential.

Apple iPad and iPhone Integration

One of the delightful aspects of owning and using an Apple iPad is the easy integration of work processes with the Apple iPhone. As I've mentioned previously, I use both OmniFocus for the iPad and the iPhone to manage work projects. Synching calendars between my Apple iPad, iPhone and my Mac at home is a feature available through Apple's MobileMe service.

iWork apps and iCal

I'm now using Numbers, Pages and Keynote on the Apple iPad and documents from the Mac and iPad versions of the apps can be easily transferred between devices. Being able to integrate project management, synch calendars and share documents among devices is creating a decidedly lesser role for my office PC in day-to-day workflow and accomplishments. 

The Apple iPad Transcends The PC

I have my iPad with me at all business meetings for the purposes of taking notes and entering new contact information. Because my iPad, iPhone and Mac at home all synch through Apple's MobileMe service, I no longer bother to enter business contact information into my work PC. All of my business contact information is readily available on my mobile devices when needed and is stored on my Mac at home.

Ironically, my iPad has become my general use device while my work PC has become a limited and specific-use utensil. At home my Mac is used primarily for content creation, Website updates and moderating discussions in the Apple Finance Board. All other tasks from following Twitter activity, reading news, reading books and monitoring my email activity is performed more conveniently on my Apple iPad. 

It's not that the Apple iPad "replaces" a netbook or notebook PC. The Apple iPad represents a product paradigm that transcends the netbook and notebook PC. The iPad's touchscreen and app environment is rendering the netbook obsolete. 

OnmiFocus for iPad and iPhone

I've started the hard work of entering all of my active projects and tasks into OmniFocus for iPad and I'm finding this organizational solution surprisingly effective for my needs. Although I was ambivalent about the $39.99 purchase price, I'm finding the dollars invested to be well spent. 

This week I purchased OmniFocus for iPhone to serve as a complement to the Apple iPad version of the product. The two versions synch over MobileMe, allowing for the iPhone version to serve as a pocket-sized personal organizer. In just a few days of use this has proven to be a convenient way to keep track of current projects on-the-go while away from both my office and my iPad. 

My investment in the iPad and iPhone versions of OmniFocus totals about $60. So far I consider it money well invested in a mobile productivity solution. 

Robert Paul Leitao

OmniFocus For iPad

Last week I took the plunge and purchased OmniFocus for iPad. It's a $39.99 app for project and task management. The price was outsized for what I would ordinarily pay for an iOS app and I was ambivalent about the price. But time and time again I found myself at the Omni Group Web site checking the features or watching the brief tutorial videos waiting for the impulse to buy the product.

Purchasing a $39.99 app was above the threshold I had set for single app purchases. It's more than I've spent in about the past two years in the iTunes Music Store and more than I spent for the iWork suite of apps the day I purchased the iPad. But there I was looking at the app one more time. What finally prompted me to buy the app is the recommendation of my former boss. He's an extraordinarily organized guy and a recommendation from him in favor of an organizational app carried a lot of weight. I clicked the purchase button, bought the app and I've been busy adding action items, contexts and projects to my OmniFocus database ever since. 

A fews days after buying OmniFocus for iPad, I'm now visiting the Omni Group Website looking at the features and watching the video to determine if I should buy OmniFocus for iPhone as well.  I'll probably do that a few more times before taking the plunge. The two apps work in concert or as standalone solutions.

I have a lot of things to do and after loading into OmniFocus all the things I need to do that I can remember I need to do it's no wonder I'm constantly thinking about all of the things I need to get done. I've already invested a few hours figuring out how OmniFocus works best (or at least works best the ways I want it to work best). There's one big thing I've already determined from working with the product the past few days. Those things I really don't want to do look much less ominous when reduced to a simple action item among the many things I do need to accomplish.

I'll post a review of OmniFocus for iPad after I work with the product for a few more weeks. Already I feel much more organized after only a few days of active use. The manner in which OmniFocus organizes information has become surprisingly intuitive after only a few days of use.

Robert Paul Leitao