Things to change about my IPAD.

As you know, I love my IPAD. But with all things, I would like a few changes. I have researched these changes, and haven’t found solutions. If you know of solutions to my problems, please let me know!

First, I would like a slightly different keyboard. I really want a TAB key and an apostrophe. When I first bought my IPAD, I figured I would get an external keyboard. It turns out, I don’t need it at all. I have gotten used to typing on the screen and it works great, with two exceptions. I really need my TAB key and my apostrophe.

Second, I would like something like MS’s autotext. I want to be able to write s7c and have it automatically change it to Shift 7 Consulting, LLC. I would like to have a place to set a whole bunch of phrases like that.

I am sure I will think of some other changes, but for now, that will do it.

What is with Apple?

As you know, I recently bought an IPAD. I love it. I have had an IPOD for a few years and I love that as well. Soon, I will be investing in my IPhone. So, with the exception of my main computer all my peripherals are from Apple. What is going on? I am not saying I want to move to an Apple computer, I really like my Windows 7 machine, but I think it is interesting.

At my very first “real” job in 1997, we used Macs. I have always believed that having my first work computer a Mac made computers more accessible to me. I understood better how a computer worked because I used a Mac. I think that is what made me interested in technology. Even ACT! worked on a Mac, back in the day. Apples are just easier. Why can’t I have a Mac as my main machine? Software. I personally think that Apple lost out on a huge opportunity. There are many older programs that don’t run on a Mac. When I say “older” I don’t mean programs that have not been updated, I mean programs like ACT! that have been around for a while, but never really invested in the Mac operating system. If Apple had offered incentives for programs like ACT! to build for their platform, I really believe that more people would be using Apples right now. I also think that the IPAD is going to change everything. ACT! is going to have to figure out how to make it work on an IPAD and hopefully that will move them toward Macs as well. So, in my humble opinion, operating system agnosticism is going to be the next step in computing. I can’t wait for my Iphone!

My IPAD

I bought an IPAD about six weeks ago. I don’t want to be hyperbolic, but I will say it has changed my life. I love it. I love being able to have my whole computer with me on a little screen. It is the perfect size and weight and has everything I need. The IPAD commercial says something like: To us (Apple), it is just the beginning. I totally agree, I think that this is an amazing machine, but it is going to get much better.

Here are a few of my favorite apps for the IPAD. I use something called Logmein Ignition. I have used Logmein Free for years. Logmein Free is the program that I use to remote control my main computer from any computer in the world. I have used this countless times and it has occasionally saved my hide. Logmein Ignition enables me to login to my main computer from my IPAD. It does take a few minutes to get used to because there is no mouse. The mouse is basically your finger and while not as fast as a real mouse it gets the job done very efficiently.

The other main program I use is called Evernote. Evernote is a digital notebook. If you have ever been in a meeting with me, you know I write everything down. I have found that it helps me to process information. Evernote is a program that allows you to have different digital notebooks with pages and sections. So, for instance, I have a Work Notebook, a Personal Notebook and a Quick Todo Notebook. To be honest, I started using MS OneNote before I moved to Evernote. I actually like OneNote much better, but their IPAD app was terrible. Evernote’s IPAD app is wonderful so I moved to Evernote for the ability to have it on my IPAD and with me all the time. It keeps me organized, synchronizes and works great.

I do have a few things I would like to change on the IPAD. I will save that for another post.