How to Use an iPad for Business Productivity

Last week, I had the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of iPad usage in the office with about 100 business professionals.

While the iPad has already made a huge impact on the way the public consumes information, there are still plenty of professionals out there who remain on the fence. They may be thinking about purchasing an iPad or aren’t quite sure how to use the model they recently purchased.

If the above describes how you feel about iPad usage, here are a few topics we discussed during the class:

Which model should I buy?
The number one question I hear related to the iPad is “Should I buy the Wi-Fi only or 3G model?” Personally, I own a Wi-Fi only device, and the experience has been perfect 99% of the time. However, during those rare occasions where I needed an Internet connection ASAP and there wasn’t a coffeehouse in sight, I immediately regretted not paying the extra $130 for 3G.

While most professionals can probably get by with only the Wi-Fi version, purchasing the 3G model provides you with “productivity insurance.” In the event an Internet connection is required to finish work or communicate with clients, the 3G model will provide instant Web access (as long as a strong cell service is present). But, accessing the Internet via 3G does require an additional monthly fee to work. The service can be turned on and off as required.

Speed is of paramount performance
The iPad mirrors its older siblings (Macbook and iMac) and features an “instant-on” function that boots up the device in a matter of seconds. An iPad owner could pull up a document from a secure network back at the office, make the appropriate text changes and fire off the updated version before most laptops complete their boot cycles.

There are some “must-have applications” for professionals
If you’re looking for a killer combination of apps to help your business productivity, consider downloading one or more of the following recommendations:

Evernote – The ultimate application for syncing text, photo and audio notes between your iPad, laptop, desktop and mobile device. The app is free, but paid users receive additional storage.

Documents To Go – Named “One of the Best Apps of 2009,” Documents To Go allows users to open and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files right from your iPad. The app offers both a standard version ($9.99) and premium versions ($16.99).

Dropbox – Make file sharing easy by leveraging Dropbox’s cloud service. This free application allows users to easily upload and download documents right from the iPad in a fast and efficient manner.

Angry Birds – For those stressful days in the office, right?

During meetings, iPad etiquette is essential
The world doesn’t stop during meetings. Emails are still being sent and phone calls are still being made. In fact, it’s almost impossible to go an entire meeting without someone checking a smartphone. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of doing this.

With so many features and entertainment options available on the iPad, meeting attendees could misinterpret your actions. If you find yourself in an internal or client/customer meeting, consider letting the group know that you’ll be taking notes on your iPad during the discussion. This simple gesture might alleviate any concerns that arise during the meeting as to whether you’re actually engaged in the conversation or doing your best to beat Angry Birds.

What are your iPad best practices? If you have additional advice, let us know in the comments.

Photo credit