Following some of recent discussions I would like to ask for your advice. Because of my employer demands, I am tied to PC/Windows world. Nevertheless I am considering buying the new iPad device and use it mainly as storage for documents and notes I need to carry with me. Here come a few questions: (1) what is the simplest way to transfer MS Word (doc and docs) and PDF documents to iPad, edit/comment on them, and transfer them back to my PC? And (2) what program would you suggest for making quick handwriting notes on Ipad? And for sending them to the PC? I guess, most of these things can be done via Goggle Docs or using Evernote, but maybe there are other simple and productive ways?
Best greetings,
W.

I am still working on a similar arrangement, and I believe that Bill ("MadAboutDana") and Dr. Andrus are several steps ahead of me. The first thought that cam to my head was to use DropBox, but I am not certain if your employer will allow you access to it at work (mine does not). If you are primarily working with text or PDF files, then sharing files is not too bad. Its when you need more that you have to choose carefully. It seems that each software wuthor has implemented their own solution to sharing and syncing. iOS5, and I am assuming iCloud, will be available this fall, and that may offer some good solutions. In the mean time, do a quick search here on "iPad" and will should find some useful threads to read.

Keep us posted and good luck

--Ken

Wojciech wrote:

Following some of recent discussions I would like to ask for your advice. Because of my
employer demands, I am tied to PC/Windows world. Nevertheless I am considering
buying the new iPad device and use it mainly as storage for documents and notes I need to
carry with me. Here come a few questions: (1) what is the simplest way to transfer MS
Word (doc and docs) and PDF documents to iPad, edit/comment on them, and transfer them
back to my PC?

I use iAnnotatePDF for journal articles. GoodReader handles also Word files, I believe, and so does Pages. The easiest way to transfer files is through a physical connection to the computer and iTunes. Connect the device, click on it in the sidebar, and go to the Apps tab. Then scroll down to "FIle Sharing". Its drag and drop in and out.

And (2) what program would you suggest for making quick handwriting
notes on Ipad? And for sending them to the PC?

There are numerous applications that do this. I'm fond of NotesPlus. Almost all, if not all, allow you to email the handwritten notes in pdf form when you are done.

Tom S.

Wojciech wrote:

I am considering buying the new iPad device and use it mainly as storage for documents and notes I need to carry with me.

The iPad is not the first solution that would come to my mind if you want to use it as a storage device. You would probably be better off with some portable hard drive or flash drive. On the other hand if you want to be able to get work done while away from a PC, then it does offer some solutions.

Here come a few questions: (1) what is the simplest way to transfer MS
Word (doc and docs) and PDF documents to iPad, edit/comment on them, and transfer them
back to my PC? I guess, most of these things can be done
via Goggle Docs or using Evernote, but maybe there are other simple and productive
ways?

The iPad is not exactly convenient for transferring files back and forth. It can be done, but usually involves several steps. The easiest solution I found was to have an initial transfer of all the files via the iTunes software on the PC using the USB cable or a WIFI connection. After that I simply use email to move new or modified files back and forth between my PC and iPad. All the main PDF readers and MS Office editors on iPad can export files and comments via email. Similarly, it only takes one click to import a PDF or Word file from my email. I do use Google Docs and DropBox (the free version) occasionally but I find that using email involves less steps and is quicker in the end.

The main problem with the incremental email method is the lack of synchronisation, as I do end up with a different set of files on the PC than on the iPad after a while. But this doesn't bother me as I mainly use the iPad as a mobile device for working on one file at a time, and once I'm finished I send it back to the PC and use that as the main storage.

Many thanks for all responses and hints.

Ken - fortunately neither DropBox nor Evernote servers are blocked at my place, and you are right, at some point I may need access to different files as well (say, PPT). If I choose 'cloud' to transfer my files, I think it would be EN, since I bought pro version some time ago.

Tom - thanks for practical instructions. They lead me to one more question (most probably - very stupid one): when I transfer files, for instance MS Word documents, from PC to iPad using iTunes, are they immediately readable end editable on iPad? Or should first I convert them from Windows to iOS somehow?

Dr Andus - yes, I need to make some work when I'm away, and also 'have some fun' (otherwise, I think it would better and cheaper to buy a netbook). I like your idea to use email for iPad-PC communication, this is something I've never thought about - thanks a lot. But again, the same dilettantish question: if I 'produce' new file on iPad/iOS, say I made some changes to a Word document, and then send it by email back to PC/Windows, can I open/read/edit it without converting first?

W.

Wojciech wrote:

question: if I 'produce' new file on iPad/iOS, say I made some changes to a Word
document, and then send it by email back to PC/Windows, can I open/read/edit it
without converting first?

No need to convert anything, regardless which method of transfer you use. Office and PDF files and a number of other file types are instantly readable on both PC and iPad.

Wojciech wrote:

Tom - thanks for
practical instructions. They lead me to one more question (most probably - very
stupid one): when I transfer files, for instance MS Word documents, from PC to iPad
using iTunes, are they immediately readable end editable on iPad? Or should first I
convert them from Windows to iOS somehow?

Dr Andus - yes, I need to make some work when
I'm away, and also 'have some fun' (otherwise, I think it would better and cheaper to
buy a netbook). I like your idea to use email for iPad-PC communication, this is
something I've never thought about - thanks a lot. But again, the same dilettantish
question: if I 'produce' new file on iPad/iOS, say I made some changes to a Word
document, and then send it by email back to PC/Windows, can I open/read/edit it
without converting first?

W.

I know that Dr. Andrus has already answered this question, and certainly has more experience with using an iPad than me, but I do want to say that I too am having a bit of trouble understanding what file formats easily "round trip", and what are converted upon import or export. Short of staying with plain text files, I am finding that a number of apps may read and convert many formats, but that they do not easily allow "round tripping". Now, I certainly need to play a bit more with some of these apps to better understand their limits, but I find some of the claims a bit misleading, as reading a file format is not the same as being able to write and export to that file format. I just received a couple of iTunes gift cards this week, and I will probably use them to CRIMP a bit.

Good luck,

--Ken

Ken wrote:

I too am having a bit of
trouble understanding what file formats easily "round trip", and what are converted
upon import or export. Short of staying with plain text files, I am finding that a
number of apps may read and convert many formats, but that they do not easily allow
"round tripping". Now, I certainly need to play a bit more with some of these apps to
better understand their limits, but I find some of the claims a bit misleading, as
reading a file format is not the same as being able to write and export to that file
format. I just received a couple of iTunes gift cards this week, and I will probably use
them to CRIMP a bit.

Actually when it comes to "roundtripping" files between the PC and the iPad, my experience is limited to Office files (.docx, .doc, .ppt and .xls - for which I use DocsToGo on the iPad), PDF files (for which I use PDF Expert, GoodReader and iAnnotate PDF) and .otl files (CarbonFin Outliner). I never had any problems with those file formats, but I can speak for others.

I meant to say "can't speak for others" (file formats that is)

Dr Andus wrote:

Actually when it
comes to "roundtripping" files between the PC and the iPad, my experience is limited
to Office files (.docx, .doc, .ppt and .xls - for which I use DocsToGo on the iPad), PDF
files (for which I use PDF Expert, GoodReader and iAnnotate PDF) and .otl files
(CarbonFin Outliner). I never had any problems with those file formats, but I can
speak for others.

I concur. I use GoodReader and iAnnotate and as far as I know these programs deal with the files in their native format and there's no conversion. Certainly I have never had to do anything special to deal with the issue. I can't speak for other programs, however, and I'd be particularly careful with Pages, Apple's word processing app. I have it but don't use it much so I'm not sure. But based upon the behavior of the desktop version, I wouldn't be surprised if it converted the file to their native format when editing on the iPad.

Tom S.