Now that the first wave of iPads are in the hands of consumers, we can now debate more intelligently how useful the device will be for doing business. In the long run, as touch-based productivity iPad apps evolve and businesses further embrace cloud computing, Apple’s tablet computer will become as commonplace as laptops for getting work done.
In the interim, these iPad apps will help you furnish your office on the go.
More than a touch of commerce
It’s a shame that Google and Apple are no longer playing well together as the iPad, in my opinion, would be the perfect device to manage and manipulate Google Docs on the fly. For now, with the exception of spreadsheets, Google docs are only available on the iPad in read-only format. While you can access from Gmail or the Safari browser, gogoDocs Google Docs is the most efficient way to get there. The iPad app, which is currently on special for $1.99, gives you an idea of what a Google-enabled tablet device might look like in the not-too-distant future.
While there are already more than 100 personal organization iPad apps available, Bento for iPad is one of the few imagined and developed specifically for the tablet device. The $4.99 app developed by FileMaker is a great project and content management tool.
For heavier lifting like graphs and image creation, OmniGraphSketcher at $14.99 is the way to go. The app illustrates how freehand sketching on the iPad is superior to squeezing an image on the smaller screen of an iPhone or iPod touch.
Participating in virtual meetings
While popular web-based tools like GoToMeeting and WebEx already have free-to-download iPad-enabled applications, MightyMeeting for iPad is the best free app developed specifically for the mobile medium. The app has all the presentation and communication functions provided by the incumbents, but with more fluid sharing integration via Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.
