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User profile for user: m_williams_1990
m_williams_1990 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

random iPad questions.

Hi all, I am a college student and was really interested in the iPad for being able to create and read document on the go. I do not own the iPad...yet. I have few random questions I am hoping to be answered. I've been doing research into the iPad and have downloaded iTunes. I would like to use iPad for music/movies/note taking/few app games.
1. With note taking, I saw many apps save them as PDFs. If I use any of the iWork apps will any of the documents I make with any of the iWork apps transfer over to my PC so I could print?
2. Any suggestions on best app for note taking that can be transfered to my PC.
3. Not sure which iPad to purchase. Would 3G be worth it if I am usually at school when using it? Having it there as a backup just in case would be nice. Need that push in deciding.
4. Any knowledge of school books that can be purchased over iBooks yet or any other similar app? If I get my school books as PDF which app is best for viewing?

Is there anyone else using iPad for college? If so, do you mind telling me what you opted for in your iPad as for apps. Thank you for your time, hope my questions will be answered and I will probably have more. I am new to Apple and do not own any Apple products so I am unsure about compatibility, ect.

Posted on Jun 1, 2010 8:36 PM

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9 replies
User profile for user: MacMiner
MacMiner
User level: Level 1
2 points

Jun 2, 2010 1:41 AM in response to m_williams_1990

Firstly, I'm not a student but I do have an iPad and hopefully I can give you a bit of insight.

1. Personally I haven't used the iWork apps for the iPad, however there have been rumours that printing direct from the iPad will be sorted in the next OS release, as this was a big issue for the business users of the device.
2. Notes is a standard app from Apple that can be synced via a MobileMe account. Therefore if you use this app to make your notes (not sure it's the best) they can be synced over the cloud with you PC (or when docked with your PC).
3. Like yourself I was at odds at which model to buy, and I stumped for the 64GB 3G version. Whilst public wifi is improving all the time, I didn't want to be constrained to only using my iPad when a wifi signal was available, hence the 3G option. I'm glad I made this decision as I'm currently in Scotland on holiday and I've used it quite extensively.
4. GoodReader is an excellent app for reading pdf's. It has an excellent rating on the app store and I think only costs 59p.

Hope this helps.
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User profile for user: nick101
nick101
User level: Level 5
5,138 points

Jun 2, 2010 5:35 AM in response to m_williams_1990

m williams1990 wrote:
Hi all, I am a college student and was really interested in the iPad for being able to create and read document on the go. I do not own the iPad...yet. I have few random questions I am hoping to be answered. I've been doing research into the iPad and have downloaded iTunes. I would like to use iPad for music/movies/note taking/few app games.
1. With note taking, I saw many apps save them as PDFs. If I use any of the iWork apps will any of the documents I make with any of the iWork apps transfer over to my PC so I could print?


The iWork Apps only save in Apple formats; if you have a Mac, you can transfer the documents for printing; if you have a Windows or other PC, no. You could look at Office2 HD or Documents to G~o or Quickoffice if you need MS Office compatibility/Windows compatibility.

2. Any suggestions on best app for note taking that can be transfered to my PC.


Evernote syncs to PCs and Macs; Simplenote syncs to the web and Macs. The apps I mentioned aboev also sync.

3. Not sure which iPad to purchase. Would 3G be worth it if I am usually at school when using it? Having it there as a backup just in case would be nice. Need that push in deciding.


If you can afford it, 3G gives you mobility, unless you only ever go where there's wi-fi. I bought 3G because to me, the whole point of the iPad is portable; but I'm not a cash-strapped student 🙂

4. Any knowledge of school books that can be purchased over iBooks yet or any other similar app? If I get my school books as PDF which app is best for viewing?


Goodreader is the best of the PDF viewing apps. iAnnotate allows annotation, but has issues (well, issues have been reported). For textbooks, look at Amazon's Kindle store (there's a free iPad app. iBooks can read any .epub format book provided it's not copy protected, so there may be other sources
Is there anyone else using iPad for college? If so, do you mind telling me what you opted for in your iPad as for apps. Thank you for your time, hope my questions will be answered and I will probably have more. I am new to Apple and do not own any Apple products so I am unsure about compatibility, ect.


When I was at college, computers hid in clean rooms behind multiple doors, so I can't help you there 🙂
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User profile for user: m_williams_1990
m_williams_1990 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 2, 2010 6:04 AM in response to m_williams_1990

Thank you for your responses. I think I'm going to go for the 32GB with 3G. The 64GB might be overkill for me because I don't have much music (like 1.5GB lol) or photos, my iPad would be mainly filled up with movies and text files. If I like how the iPad works for school and at home I just might end up buying a macbook so it can be compatible with the iWork apps on the iPad. Any other suggestions on apps for note taking, PDF viewer, school related app, ect. would be appreciated. I have started downloading some free apps for iPad so once I get the money (since I only work over summer) I will go buy one.
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User profile for user: presto211
presto211
User level: Level 1
126 points

Jun 2, 2010 11:45 AM in response to m_williams_1990

I'm not a student, but I'd recommend Evernote, as mentioned once above. With a free account, your notes will sync between iPad, PC or Mac, and you could also access them from any web browser on any computer you might happen to be on since the data resides on their server. (Install their free desktop software on your main computer, and I believe you'll also have a local copy.)

Total amount of storage is unlimited, but you can only upload I think 40 MBs of data per month. A paid account is like $5/month and allows you to upload much more per month, as well as giving you more file types that can be read in the app. Definitely check it out: http://www.evernote.com/ ...it's free, as I've said, and I've been very pleased with it!

Oh here's their blog about Evernote for iPad. Check out the video to get a good idea!

http://blog.evernote.com/2010/04/03/evernote-for-ipad-is-here/
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User profile for user: m_williams_1990
m_williams_1990 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 2, 2010 2:30 PM in response to presto211

not bad, but the note taking i will be doing during class would be more heavily weighted towards math courses and circuit courses (i am an electrical engineering student) where i would prefer to write my notes by hand because of the various symbols used constantly. i did see an app called PenUltimate, which looks nice. Another question I have is with the attachment for cameras. Can't I just put files on a memory card and use the attachment to upload to iPad right then and there?
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random iPad questions.

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