I have a law office. I have a PC, so I can't say I only use an iPad3, wireless. But the PC is used by an employee for the most part. I am learning to use an iPad as my sole computer. It has some definite limitations, but fewer than I thought. If you want to use the iPad in lieu of a laptop, these are my observations:
First, you definitely need some cloud real estate. I pay for 50 gigs of Dropbox, which is the smoothest sync with the PC. I can access the same files with either machine. It takes an extra step to upload from iPad Pages to Dropbox, but I expect that to be resolved soon. I give the cloud storage link an 8 of 10. But get the 64 gig iPad.
Second, the iPad is good for simple text, but not so good for complex text formatting. I am an attorney, and while I can do some pleading paper documents on the iPad, it really does not do highly complex formatting very well. I am using Pages, which works fairly well for correspondence. But it is not seamless. I give the iPad a 9 for single font text documents, but only a 5 for complex formatted documents using multiple outline levels, spacing and texts. I still have to finish pleadings on the PC. But Pages converts to MSWord fairly well.
Third, I bought a wireless keyboard but I seldom use it. I have become comfortable with the on-screen keyboard, and find it works for 99% of my needs. But the more complex the document, the more you need the Bluetooth keyboard. Mostly, it is faster to type on the separate keyboard until you get used to the on-screen keyboard. However, once you get used to the on-screen keyboard, it's convenience outweighs the extra keys on the Bluetooth keyboard. I only use the Bluetooth keyboard if the iPad is charging, at my desk. Portability is a premium. I give the iPad keyboard a 7.5.
Fourth, the iPad is easy to take to court, and therefore I assume it is easy to take to class. The laptop is just too big to lug around. I use the smartcover and a thin plastic snap cover for the back. It seems to be enough protection. It is nice to have all my files on the iPad. But you really need an active wireless connection to use Dropbox. If I am not sure it will be available, I save documents to Pages, iBooks, or .pdf on the iPad. So for not having to lug around files, I give the iPad an 8 for convenience.
Fifth, it prints fine, via the PC and an air printer program. Otherwise, you need to buy an air printer module.
I have only done simple spreadsheets on Numbers, but my impression is that the the program suffers from the equivalent issue as Pages. It works fine for simple spreadsheets, but probably not for complex spreadsheets. But the one I did transferred to Excel without any problem.
There are several things Apple could do.
- Make the IPad a little larger. Large enough to add the four arrow keys and a tab key.
- Make it work with Dropbox without hassles. I think the bottom line is that Apple wants you to buy their cloud storage. They need to get over it. Let the user choose their cloud.
- Allow documents to be transferred by a USB connection device.
So in general, if you are typesetting, an iPad will not be enough. But if you are typing papers in the same font throughout, and if you have an always-on wireless connection, it will be enough. When I went to college home computers had not been invented. Having to decide between an iPad and a laptop is not a problem. I was lucky to have a transistor radio. Does anyone from Seattle remember KEZX and KZAM?