Different Options for Using the iPad like a Laptop

We have been learning about different apps to use on the iPad and some of them are ways to use the iPad like a laptop. There are different apps that preform word processing, spreadsheet, photo, and more, just like one would have on their laptop.

This week we were to compare and contrast different apps available for the iPad. I chose to look at Pages, a word processing app for the iPad. I liked how Pages was very similar to Word, the program I used on my laptop. With the iPad being app driven I have looked at several word processing apps. I liked Pages so much I ended up purchasing it for my iPad for the low cost of $9.99.

Pages works just like Word when it comes to: changing font size, typeface, etc.; setting margins and simply entering text. Where I really like Pages is how easy it is to insert an image, add a border to the image, how to create a chart and insert it into the document, and how easy it is to save and with the document on iCloud I can pull it up on my iPhone, iPad, and my laptop.

In a classroom setting this would make it easy for a student to enter an essay and the teacher could pull it up using iCloud to read and grade. Pages can also be simply used to take notes, share a group report, or any other way a word processing program is used. Pages saves automatically, like Google Documents, so the document will be there in iCloud.

I created a Box.net account and moved a picture to the account. It was easy to use.

This is the photo I used

Since I have an iPad I have and use iBooks. It keeps all the books in one place so they are not on a "screen" like the apps. This makes it easy to find a book. I find iBooks easy to use and I haven't encounter not finding a book I need, if it isn't in iBooks I can find it as an app. When comparing iBooks with the Kindle app, I like the easy of use of iBooks. I don't like how you have to go to the Amazon website to find the book, purchase the book, then download the book. Then go back to the Kindle app to read the book. iBooks came on my iPad so I was already to go and it takes less time to find the book, so I can spend more time reading the book.

Since I have Apple products I have Safari, since that is their browser of choice. I however don't care for Safari. I have Foxfire on my laptop and have installed Google on my iPad and iPhone. Safari is fine, its just I find other browsers return more relevant searches and more detailed searches. For instance Google is more than just text there are always graphics and more information. Additionally, I encounter more delays and lag time with Safari than other web browsers.

I knew there were ways that one could run education software/apps that used Flash on the iPad I just wasn't sure how. Rover isn't ideal for running a website, but it is a way get around Flash. As the video said, this is fine for home use but not for a school. The lack of Flash on the iPad continues to be a problem. Rover is an app that "pretends" to be a browser.