iPad After Two Months of Experience

I’ve had my iPad now for a couple of months and really like it. It isn’t a replacement for my laptop but it is more convenient for email, calendar activities, and searching the web. When I travel, I rely on it and not my laptop. I haven’t had any significant challenges with Microsoft Office attachments. I can view Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and I can also see PDFs with no problems whatsoever.

We have had some debate at the executive level about the relevance of a product like the iPad. Some on the team think it is a toy or luxury item. It reminds me of the laptop discussions companies had years ago before they became standard office tools. PC makers are all jumping on the iPad copycat band wagon so they will become part of business environments at some point in the not too distant future.

I think that having devices like the iPad in people’s hands in an organization helps keep the creative juices flowing. I feel that the imaginative parts of our brains are stimulated and you begin to see how the device can add value in your environment. Conversely, I feel that not using devices like the iPad results in that aspect you’re your brain going to sleep.

Obviously there are incremental costs associated with the iPad and there are the normal security and support questions. Our CFO suggested that cell phone user data plans get swapped out for the 3G data plan of the iPad. We will pursue that route for now to minimize monthly recurring data charges. We are still working on security and support policies but the iPad is likely to become an optional offering in our environment in the near future.

At home, the device is a complete hit. The kids are lined up to use it the moment I get home. While I let them use it, I am always concerned about the potential accident or teenage practical joke that involves an email message from “me” to the whole company. The iPad is really a single user device. You can turn off email using iPad setting controls but it isn’t very convenient or practical for multi-users.

We are looking at the iPad for use with our sales teams. Putting interactive product catalogues and product video clips are early favorites for the tool. I am happy to do another update in a few months if there is interest. Let me know.