Forgive my ignorance.....Ive resisted reading all the hype about this new fangled gadget for the last few years purely because I didnt really need it. It took me quite a while to relent and get an iPhone which I must admit only gets used for telephone and texting...

Anyhow...I'm shortly changing my job and will be cold-calling prospective leads and am wondering if an iPad will do the things I need it to.
I need to be able to display websites OFFLINE. Does the iPad have a file storage facility, then, in the same way a laptop would?
Can I just transfer all my web pages to a folder c:\xxx on my iPad?
I suspect not.

I guess storing home made movies is the same way I would do it on the iPhone? ie plug it in...wait for iTunes to open...add movie to library....add movie to playlist ...sync.
Is there an easier way?
Ideally I'd like to place all the stuff I need on the iPad into 1 folder on my PC and when I click "Sync" it all gets transferred but I guess things arnt that simple are they?

Finally can one of you kind souls explain for the occasions I want to show a prospective client live web pages, and an internet connection is required, how do I ensure I always have one without asking for the clients password for his wi-fi?
Surely there must be a way to connect to the internet without bothering my client ?

Thanks for your help - I'd be extremely grateful if you could word your responses so a 12 year old would understand.

From what I am reading you wrote I don't see much of it happening using the iPad as it is today. As for your client's WifI I don't see how you could access their Wifi without their pass words.

Ok thanks.
So it doesnt work same way as a laptop. Basically its a bigger iPhone?

I think I'll stick with a laptop then, cheers.

There are apps for your iPad that will let you store and display websites offline, however with your attitude going in I would recommend you stay away from the iPad completely.

You could always go for a 3/4G iPad, then you would have your own Internet on the road, and wouldn't have to bother about wifi. Alternatively, could you meet your clients in Starbucks?

With some care over setting up, iCloud is looking very much like the solution for people in your position. With automatic syncing between your iPad, iPhone and MBP, you should have access to your info with little effort.

Update a Pages document, and it's available to edit on your MBP when you get home. Add a contact on your iPhone, and it's available on your other devices.

I think, far from being cut down versions of computers, iPads are only beginning to scratch the surface of possibilities for those whose business involves travel.

Thanks thewitt
You misread my "attitude" as just stating facts. I wasnt saying I was disappointed in the iPad...just that considering the previous reply it seemed I would have to make do with a laptop then.

Now you informed me there are apps that will easily let me install web pages then the iPad is a distinct possibility. I certainly like the look of it and I know the clients will be impressed if I'm using that. Ive seen images displayed on them and the colours are tremendous....so much better than a laptop.

So a quicker and easier question....had I know the terms...would have been "Are there aps that will enable me to install and display a website offline to my clients on an iPad?"

Would you be so knd as to point me in the direction of them?

Aha...thanks KevinJS
so 3/4g allows a higher bandwidth ...but I dont understand how it all works. I would, presumably, have to tie it in with a phone contract and unfortunately I only just took one out for 2 years.
No, Starbucks wouldnt be an option.

No. I just noticed you come from Blackpool in the UK, so 4G is out, for now at least. You should be able to get a data plan for your iPad that is completely independent of your phone contract. Since the iPad belongs to you, they run out quite cheap, as the company supplying your Internet is not subsidizing the price of your iPad.

I'm in Canada so I'm not up on UK providers, but I should think Virgin or BT should be able to hook you up with something. You can also tether your iPad to your iPhone and share the Internet connection, although some companies charge extra for this capability. Mine does not, so I've never bothered to get a plan for my iPad.

Pity about Starbucks. They make great coffee, and their wifi is reasonably fast.

Originally Posted by FBW

Aha...thanks KevinJS
so 3/4g allows a higher bandwidth ...but I dont understand how it all works. I would, presumably, have to tie it in with a phone contract and unfortunately I only just took one out for 2 years.
No, Starbucks wouldnt be an option.

You can go the PAYG route rather than a full contract. Or get a wifi only iPad with a mifi unit (I have gone this route) and just top up date allowance as you need it.

The Archangel

Balderdash, there are solutions for all of your needs. You do have to be willing to adapt, though--iPad does not have a file system like you're used to, in the interest of denying viruses a path to propagate. Your workflow will be a bit different, but the results should be the same. Lots of folks make a game of it, to see how far they can push this 'media consumption device' into doing useful work. You'll benefit from a spirit of adventure.

There are apps to grab web pages, and apps to play all types of video. The good ones include a wifi server, which you visit in your desktop or laptop browser, and just drag the files from Windows onto the iPad, no iTunes required. If you buy an iPad with 4G capability, it will fall back to your wireless data plan when wifi isn't available, as long as there's cell service.

I recommend that you try some of these apps on your iPhone, as a proof of concept. They'll all work much better on a larger screen, of course, but you'll get an idea of what's possible, and how many hoops you'll need to jump through. Then, if you decide it's all doable, you can spring for the iPad and get on with it.

BTW, I'm typing all this on my iPad's onscreen keyboard. With a positive attitude, it's not at all hard to get used to.

milliHelen: amount of beauty required to launch one ship.