iPad workflow troubles

On a recent three-day business trip for the WOMMA Summit, I left my MacBook Pro at home and tested the iPad as my primary electronic device. The verdict: decidedly mixed.

Among my frustrations: 

• Certain e-mail attachments wouldn’t come through, even though they downloaded just fine on my smaller-capacity iPhone.
• There was no way to “save” a 5-minute video that my co-worker tried sending me via Dropbox.
• Isolating and grabbing an image from my e-mail inbox and then uploading it to Facebook required jumping through a nightmarish set of hoops.

It wasn’t all bad, though. The iPad worked just fine for taking notes during WOMMA presentations (I use an exernal wireless keyboard for even faster typing), reading and sending tweets, and accessing most websites. I also read a book on the Kindle app and a pair of reports (in .pdf format) that I had stored in GoodReader prior to starting my trip. 

Plus, the multiple treks between the WOMMA site and my room in a neighboring hotel were much brisker without having to carry around a heavier laptop!

Ultimately, deciding on the appropriate road-warrior device comes down to the kind of work you need to get done, and having a tolerance — and workarounds — for some of the iPad’s limitations. 

As for me, I’m headed on my next business trip right now, this time with both the iPad and laptop in tow!