iPad users, do you miss word docs and excel? [vanity]

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

I'd like to own a iPad but I use word and excel files quite a bit for work. From what I can tell, from using the ipad in the Apple store, Word/Excel/PowerPoint files won't work on a iPad. Is this true?

If not, how do you get around this limitation?

does the ipad have capitable programs that can easily convert between MS office and ipad files?

[RocketSprocket]

Apple and others have apps that will convert MS Word and Excel files for use on iPad. While on my iPad, I use Apple Pages for Word files, and Apple Numbers for excel files. I sometimes have format problems with certain Word files. Apple Keynote for iPad probably opens Powerpoint files. I have not used it.

I don’t miss owning Word or Excel, but they’re not absolutely crucial to my work as a video producer. Being able to open and edit files is not the same thing as owning the actual MS programs, but for me, it’s fine.

[truthguy]

Tell me where I'm wrong. Tell me what I'm missing. Am I becoming a Luddite?

I have high speed Internet at home. I have a very powerful laptop. I have high speed Internet at work with a laptop and desktop- both the latest and greatest. I have a 40" LCD HD TV and cable with more channels than I could ever look at. I have a cell phone on me all the time. I'm in constant communication all the time. I'm not in sales with my work. I have top notch Digital Camera and DVR. I have Navigation System in my Car (which I almost never need).

Why for the life of me do I need I-Pad. I've seen people with them and they only seem to be playing games and such. I need some time just to be free of technology like driving to work and such. What would someone like me benefit from by having an I-Pad or even a more powerful smart phone? What's the advantage of this?

[Pharmboy]

Indeed...as a physician, I use Practice Fusion which is an off-site server-based electronic medical record application (free, as a matter of fact). I have used it for 6 months on my pc, and about one month ago they made the system compatible with iPads. I now await my iPad 2 (I ordered it 2 weeks ago at Best Buy since I REFUSE to walk into an Apple Store and be condescended to by some 20-something twit).

[Keith in Iowa]

There are iPad versions of the Mac equivalents to Word/Excel/PowerPoint in Pages/Numbers/Keynote... but I’m not as familiar with those as I should be - I know the desktop versions can read and write files that can be compatible with the Windows counterparts... and as mentioned above, there’s an iPad version of Docs2Go.

[drbuzzard]

Why for the life of me do I need I-Pad. I've seen people with them and they only seem to be playing games and such. I need some time just to be free of technology like driving to work and such. What would someone like me benefit from by having an I-Pad or even a more powerful smart phone? What's the advantage of this?

To be overly honest nobody really needs an iPad. They do jobs that other devices do, but do it in a more convenient form factor. Nobody really needs that. It's just nice to have. They let you carry a library around for when you want to read. They can store a goodly number of DVDs, so you can watch a movie on the go. You can sit anywhere in wifi (or 3G if you shell out for that- I didn't) and look things up on the net. I find them best used for cases when you don't feel like using a laptop. One big thing they do better than laptops is battery duration.

[Timmy]

I use an iPad as a travel tool. Much easier to carry and get through airports. Boots up in seconds and will run off 3G as well as wi-fi. Also, much less expensive than a laptop. Would not go back.

[Timmy]

I have Quick Office. Works pretty well for all those type files. However, the iPad will never run Office files as easily as a computer. It is, however, much easier to carry and travel with, and boots up quickly and runs off 3G. Those are the primary advantages for me.

[big'ol_freeper]

As another poster said, download the Documents to Go app for your iPad and they’ll work fine. I’ve used Documents to Go on my Android phone and now on my iPhone and it works great.

[dayglored]

Hi Sword, You might find this of interest.

[jdsteel]

I just got a (slightly used) iPad version 1. I took it with me on a business trip to check the internet and my email. It was great for both tasks. It was easier to get though the airport, lighter and smaller to pack. The battery lasted 3 days and it’s still at 50%. I’m a PC person, but I’m a fan of my iPad now...especially since I got it for about $350 from Ebay now that the Apple addicts are going for version 2 ; )

[truthguy]

To be overly honest nobody really needs an iPad. They do jobs that other devices do, but do it in a more convenient form factor. Nobody really needs that. It's just nice to have. They let you carry a library around for when you want to read. They can store a goodly number of DVDs, so you can watch a movie on the go. You can sit anywhere in wifi (or 3G if you shell out for that- I didn't) and look things up on the net. I find them best used for cases when you don't feel like using a laptop. One big thing they do better than laptops is battery duration.

Okay the last sentence is valuable. Why do I need to carry a library around with me? I cannot stand to do enjoyable reading on even the best LCD screens. With WIFI I'm rarely in a situation where I need to look up something. Say I'm in my local coffee shop and I get the urge to look up the circumference of the earth? Doesn't happen. Store DVD's for what purpose. Don't like to watch movies on small screens. Hell there are very few movies worth watching on a big screen let alone a little screen. Horrible Experience watching movies even on a 17 in screen. I wish I'd bought a 46" LCD TV instead of a 40.

All and all I guess you are right. If you have every Digital Device imaginable, then a I-Pad is kinda redundant. If you didn't have all the things I have, then an I-Pad might be useful or if you were in sales the way some of my friends are then I can see it. For the foreseeable future I can't imagine getting one.

[drbuzzard]

Oh yeah, iPads a great for traveling. I used to tote around a bunch of books, some music device, and other junk, now the iPad can sub in for all of it. The only downside is I can’t read during the moronic ‘no electronic devices’ phase of the flight.

[USNBandit]

I would say that iPads aren't good for computing that requires a lot of typing. My brother uses his quite a bit for business, running demos and power point presentations for one on one meetings. He uses his laptop if he needs to hook up to a projector.

As far as the MacBook Air goes, it is great as long as you can deal without some of the main features of a PC laptop, like hanging up, crashing, forgetting your printer settings, constantly expanding boot up times, short battery life, hot batteries, and 5 extra pounds of computer in a plastic box. With a MacBook Air you will have to settle with 14 second boot ups, instant on from sleep mode, 7 hour battery life, a metal exterior that stays cool to the touch, and a computer that will run Windows on a separate partition better than any PC will.

I have to admit that my Windows partition probably works better because I only use it for one application, that views my computer at work. It is kind of like "Go to My PC" except it is secure enough to receive law enforcement level classified info.

[usconservative]

There are plenty of viewers that can read MS Office docs such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Other apps can read and write MS Office compatible formats.

I on the other hand, tend to use Office Live "in the cloud" via the Safari browser on the iPad. Believe it or not, Safari works just fine with Office Live.

Granted, the functionality of using Office Live and an iPad w/Safari is reduced, but it's functional for most purposes.

[drbuzzard]

Okay the last sentence is valuable. Why do I need to carry a library around with me? I cannot stand to do enjoyable reading on even the best LCD screens.

I don't care for reading books on anything besides my iPad or real books. The screen is actually very nice for reading. However YMMV.

With WIFI I'm rarely in a situation where I need to look up something. Say I'm in my local coffee shop and I get the urge to look up the circumference of the earth? Doesn't happen.

That's something I do often. People vary.

Store DVD's for what purpose. Don't like to watch movies on small screens. Hell there are very few movies worth watching on a big screen let alone a little screen. Horrible Experience watching movies even on a 17 in screen. I wish I'd bought a 46" LCD TV instead of a 40.

You put movies on it so you can watch them other than at home. Of course I don't drag out the iPad instead of watching something on my 42" HDTV. I use it when at the gym on an exercise machine, or while traveling.

All and all I guess you are right. If you have every Digital Device imaginable, then a I-Pad is kinda redundant. If you didn't have all the things I have, then an I-Pad might be useful or if you were in sales the way some of my friends are then I can see it. For the foreseeable future I can't imagine getting one.

I use mine primarily when traveling, at the gym, or when playing pen and paper role playing games (all your rules in one device instead of a stack of books). I don't imagine everyone needs one or can even find much utility in one. You sure don't sound like the ideal customer, but they don't need to sell them to everyone.

[youngidiot]

I got a app on my itouch that shows excel, word, adobe, etc. Look at the app store.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I'd like to own a iPad but I use word and excel files quite a bit for work. From what I can tell, from using the ipad in the Apple store, Word/Excel/PowerPoint files won't work on a iPad. Is this true?

If not, how do you get around this limitation?

Walter Mossberg:

These omissions have led many readers to ask me how you get files—especially Microsoft Office files and PDFs—into and out of iPads. They have bolstered the contention that the popular tablet is really just a "consumption device," not a productivity tool.

So, here's a brief primer on how to get such documents into and out of an iPad, and how to view, edit and create them on the tablet. This isn't an in-depth product review, though I've tested every product and method I will mention here. It's merely a quick, practical guide to how to work with documents on an iPad.

In and Out Of Office: Putting iPads To Work

[Erik Latranyi]

I used to tote around a bunch of books,

I follow Steve Martin on Twitter. He is one of the best, most intelligent Tweeters around.

He tweeted the following a few weeks ago:

I loaded 17 of my favorite books onto my iPad....now I can't lift the thing.

[stylecouncilor]

That was funny! Now make one showing me how to do that! :)

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I now await my iPad 2 (I ordered it 2 weeks ago at Best Buy since I REFUSE to walk into an Apple Store and be condescended to by some 20-something twit).

Wow! That is a pretty weak ego for a doctor. However, I am sure that those polished and professional sales people at Best Buy are better suited to your taste. By the way, how do you know you would be treated that way at an Apple Store? I never have but I have only been there three times.