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Winning Applications for the iPad-Only Executive

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When I tell clients or partners that I only use the iPad, they’ll often respond with arguments about how it’s impossible, or at least that it would never work for them.

“iPads are consumption devices, not production devices,” and “I need to use Internet Explorer to access a lot of our corporate programs, and IE isn’t compatible with the iPad” are some of the most common objections.

To bust these iPad myths on the spot, I launch some of my favorite applications.

iPad, the Producer

Many say that the iPad isn’t so great for producing documents or presentations, just consuming them.

In reality, I think that programs available on the iPad are able to produce more engaging and interactive content. The beauty of these applications is that they’re built for touch. I also have no issues sharing files and presentations because with the iPad you can export everything into Microsoft-Office ready files or PDFs.

I use the following basic production programs—they’re my lifeblood:

• Pages—Similar to Microsoft Word.
• Numbers—Similar to Microsoft Excel.
• Keynote—Similar to Microsoft PowerPoint.

iPad, the Connector

Some of the following apps make life with the iPad easy, and connected:

• Cisco Mobile—This application literally turns your iPad into a phone, and can be kept open all day without interfering with other applications.
• Cisco WebEx—Use it for video conferencing, document sharing and other collaborative projects and activities.
• Cisco Jabber IM: This application turns my iPad into a corporate Instant Message client, complete with my team’s presence information.
• Citrix Receiver—Access Outlook, Internet Explorer (how we access our CRM), Microsoft Office and more Windows-basedapplications.
• Virtual Private Network—The VPN client built into the iPad allows secure remote access to client networks and MCPc’s secure networks.
• FaceTime—Use it for conferencing, or to check in with the family. Even my five-year-old knows how to fire up her mom’s laptop or her own iPad to chat. We eat dinner together via video, making FaceTime an invaluable tool to me, especially with on the road.
• WirtePad: Use it for taking notes in meetings, and then converting them into text or Word documents.
• GoodReader: To view PDF’s and other files types, make annotations on the documents, and collaborate with my team.

These applications are the ones I use every day that enable my iPad to be my only computing device. What are some of the apps that you’ve used to save the day? What are you favorites for work and personal use?

In our next blog post of this series, Managing the iPad-Only Executive, we’ll discuss the more technical backend setup required to tap into corporate networks and applications securely, and enable your workforce to be more mobile.

Darin Haines is Group President of MCPc's Advanced Technology Group, focusing on solution delivery, and has over 16 years of experience in leading the technology function in mid-sized and enterprise-level organizations. Connect with Darin on LinkedIn.

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