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Monday
Apr052010
The Tablet-Only Challenge - Day One
Young Urban Professional
Today I began a week-long challenge to use a tablet computer, in this case the iPad, as my primary content creation and consumption device. Here are my observations from day one. When I arrived in the office this morning, everyone of course wanted to see the iPad and what it could do. We had some challenges to get it connected to the wireless access point on our floor (it worked fine elsewhere), but this was fine since it gave me time to do more complex editing of a PowerPoint deck on my PC - something Keynote doesn't quite handle as well. With connectivity restored, I was off to the races, and just in time too as the rest of my day - like most - was consumed with meetings and calls. This is where the iPad shined. In some corporate cultures, it's more than OK to bring a laptop to a meeting for note taking. However, I often find that it puts a barrier between you and others. If you're taking notes on a smart phone, people just think you're checking your email. A tablet computer changes the dynamic because everyone can tell you are taking notes. I used the iPad to take notes throughout the day, which was terrific since I have terrible handwriting. However, it also unleashed more collaboration as well. During a meeting when I was trying to explain a concept, I opened up the free brand new Adobe Ideas app (Adobe is a client) and sketched out a schematic that illustrated my thinking. This was terrific since I could plop it on the table and we could sketch together. Even better, I was able to attach the doodle and send it with my notes to attendees.
As a next step I am going to download Omnigraffle, so that when we collaborate we can create more structured diagrams. I suspect many of these apps won't port video out - but that's something Apple can perhaps one day remedy with APIs. Still, it's easy to take a screen shot to get something into the Photos app, which does support video out, so that we can put it on a big screen. During the rest of the day I checked emails and took notes as I participated on calls. One important observation is that the iPad's ergonomics really are not ideal. If you use it without an external keyboard you're basically looking straight down all the time. It reminds me of when I wrote papers in college on electronic typewriters. It's ok for shorter writings but not longer ones. However, when you couple the iPad with the cool Apple case and a keyboard, as Brian Lam from Gizmodo does here (and pictured above), then it really sings. That's how I am writing this post at home. I have the iPad in its case propped on top of a book with my Apple wireless keyboard in front. Sweet. More to come as I continue the week-long challenge. Leave a comment to ask a question.
Reader Comments (29)
Thanks for the post Steve. I'm working on a similar experiment this week. Today was a pretty light day so it was easy. Bigger challenges to come later this week when I spend more time at customer sites. Looking forward to your journey.
Glad your 1st day wasn't too bad. I'm in love with the adobe app too. You should get the incase booklet case. It allows you to prop the iPad 4 different ways. Best I've seen so far.(commenting from my giant iPad)
As for the keyboard problem, Steve, it takes time. Remember how long we took to adopt to the qwerty entirely? But anyway, I'm bought the iPad for one single reason - I can read the web and .pdfs like never before.
Steve - I note that you used the iPad to write this post - I need to experiment how to use the email to embed the Hyperlinks that you have in your post ... and the Adobe Ideas app is fantastic. I also did some conference calls using the WebEx app at work today and the other thing that I had running for quite some time was Etrade Pro app instead of having it running on my PC.
Good points about the meeting use case. Makes a lot of sense, and is in line with what I had heard someone suggest previously, to use printed out materials rather than Powerpoint for smaller meetings -> more rapport with attendees -> more persuasion/sales/etc.Now the iPad can be the next gen. version of that...
See http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150179513090593&id=690209740&ref=mf for similar experiences, but this time using the iPad at a client site.
I'm Canadian and we don't have the ipad yet. I'm curious to see how your experiment works as I'd like to incorporate it into my health care practice. I will be following with eager eyes. Thank you. Peter Roach
What was the biggest surprise (best/worst) in using it on Day #1? To soon to call it a replacement anything? At best, it seems like a great meeting tool (judging by your comments on your post.
Your comment about the organizational norms inspired me to a post of my own: http://www.terrigriffith.com/blog/2010/04/05/ipad-and-social-cues/ Interesting that the tablet triggers a different response that either a laptop or phone.
Regarding whether resorting to ppt was cheap, I am employed and have to get work done. Keynote borks ppt docs that it imports. I would love to try this but I do have a job to do!Sent from my iPad.
Biggest challenge is ergonomics - I wasn't prepared for that.Sent from my iPad.
Steve, one thing you mentioned was the iPad led to more collaboration in your meeting. Do you think that has anything to do with the fact that the machine is new and people wanted to see it? In 6 months, when people are used to seeing this technology, will the level of collaboration still be elevated because people want to see it, or because this becomes a new technological norm? Or do you think now is the time to strike on collaborative efficiency because everybody wants to see what it can do?
I can see how the iPad would be more meeting-friendly than a laptop. I do feel sometimes that people with laptops screens up during a meeting (or a class) are doing anything but paying attention.Much harder to hide what you are doing on an iPad.As far as the ergo issues ... I don't have an iPad (yet), but the flat format reminds me of the Tandy laptop that I wrote on in my first newspaper job in 1989.
Josh I am not sure. Time will tell.Sent from my iPad.
Hi Steve. Are you typing your in-meeting notes using the on-screen keyboard? How's that working vs a laptop?
Iboy yes. Still getting used to it.
don't you feel the need for a hammock? I bet you can rest your feet on your desk when you get tired of the iPad keyboard dock, but when you get home, do you have a hammock hanging on the Apple trees in your garden? :)
If you have any that you would like me to test out.. (I am a 60 yr old woman who does WANT one. I do not NEED IT, but it would be fun to have) PLEASE send me one ASAP. I could use it to take notes when my husband is lecturing me about frugality.
I'd like to take a different approach... i agree with the use of laptops in meetings... but by the looks of things... when it comes to really doing some serious work, you need a keyboard. Sometimes, easy things just dont stick around... take for example the QWERTY keyboard itself... 'Several alternatives to QWERTY have been developed over the years, claimed by their designers and users to be more efficient, intuitive and ergonomic. Nevertheless, none has seen widespread adoption, due partly to the sheer dominance of available keyboards and training.' - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY
I forgot to mention... I use a Macbook Air... serves the purpose very well... lightweight, good for carrying around, large enough screen... oh.. and has a keyboard ;p
Steve. Thanks for documenting your experiences. I tried one out yesterday and found it difficult to get comfortable with, as the Apple store had 'em all tethered! I was not terribly comfortable with the touch keyboard, even in landscape, as there are no tactile clues for placing one's hands. I realized later that my age (almost 63) and the fact that my hands are not as steady as they used to be, played a role in my discomfort (no fault of the tool) as well.I'm wondering if you, or anyone you know, has tried using the combo keyboard-docking station. I was considering that but realize now it must need to be plugged into an outlet somewhere. That brings up the issue of battery life, which I have read is pretty good. Any thoughts on that?Thanks again. Look forward to reading more as you experience it.
I want an iPad SO BAD! Once I get one, I am gonna be able to read copywriting blogs ANYWHERE! I'll be able to read pdfs anywhere as well!! Once I get my iPad, I'll devour New Media blogs in their entirety by the hundreds!
I´ve been looking/searching about information about iPad-to-iPhone synchronization. Does some one have some info? Steve, is there such an option on the iPad?
mg look into Google Sync and MobileMe.
This is an awesome experiment. It's so cool that someone can do so much with thing!