I’ve been using an iPad for that last 5 days. The model I’m using has 16gb with WI-FI only (no 3g wireless). During my time with the iPad, I’ve mostly used it  to connect to my corporate network via WI-FI and VPN. After the first hour of Apple induced euphoria, I came back down to earth and started to use it. Here’s what I concluded:

Pluses:

1. Size–its a lot smaller and lighter than my MacBook Air.
2. Battery Life– It can go nearly 2 days with normal use in WI-FI mode.(I didn’t have  the 3g model and I didn’t use bluetooth so those battery hogs could effect battery life if used). Its a lot longer then any laptop or even my iPhone, for that matter.
3. Screen. Crisp and Bright.
4. Applications. Lots of them, specifically for the iPad. You have the force of Apple behind it and, with that, tons of iPad specific apps.
5. App Store. The App Store is easy to navigate, and does a great job of differentiating iPhone apps from iPad Apps.
6. Email. If you like the iPhone email you’ll love the iPad Email

Neutral

1. Web Browser. The iPad size browser is great. Its easy to read, and pages display properly on it (with the exception of Flash*). On the other hand  some advanced web features don’t work on the iPad,  for instance, Regular Google Docs won’t work properly on the iPad, so you have to use the less powerful the mobile version.
2. Keyboard. It’s a lot better than the small touch screen keyboards, but you still wouldn’t want to type more than a paragraph on it.
3. iPhone Apps, Yes, they load and work, but they are the same size as the iPhone. If you want to make them bigger, all you do is zoom in. (Yes, they are bigger after you zoom, but they look hokey.)

Bad

1. No Camera (Supposedly coming later in the year). I would be nice to use Skype for with video.
2. No External Memory. You get what you get when you buy it, and its not easy to move data.
3. No Removable Battery. Someday you will need a new battery, but when you do you’ll have to send the whole unit away.
4. iTunes. You still have to manage the unit with iTunes. iTunes never made sense to me before, and still doesn’t now.

I think that the iPad is great tool if you understand its limitations. It’s great for entertainment, light web browsing, and checking email. If you travel frequently, but don’t need a full laptop, the iPad is very convenient.  Make sure, however, you test any sites you need to use before get one so you are not unpleasantly surprised.

* Flash refers to Adobe Flash, a tool often used to add interactivity and video to websites.  Apple does not support, or currently plan to support Flash  on the iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad

As you know from my last post, I’ve moved a lot of my computer operations from my PC to Google. One of the downsides of doing this is that, if the internet is down, so are you.  That’s just what happened to me last week.  At 11 pm I turned off my computer and the internet was working, and at 8 am the next morning, no internet. I troubleshot the issue and established that I wasn’t getting a signal from my provider, called, waited on hold, and learned that someone would have to come out the next day to fix it. NEXT DAY.!… that’s at least 24 hrs without the internet!, so now what. Now its time for my backup plan.

My backup plan is simple and cheap. If nothing urgent is happening I can use my iPhone to keep up with email.  If I have a major project on the other hand, our local library has free Wi Fi,  so I can pack up my laptop and go there. Its not complicated, but I’ve thought it out in advance so I don’t have to panic.  (I just checked mail on my iPhone this time since nothing urgent was happening.) You need a plan too.

Options include:

• A list of internet cafe’s in your area
• A list of free Wi-Fi locations in your area
• Tethering your phone
• Dial-up
• A Wi-Fi modem from your wireless carrier
• Verizon’s MiFi cellular modem (It lets you setup a mini wireless network)
• Wi -Max (a long distance high speed wireless service available in a few large cities)

Consider these, and see what available and feasible for your  business — and make a plan. I recommend a two phase plan, since sometimes ‘Plan B’ fails, and you need to try ‘Plan C’. (For instance, if the phone and the DSL are both out,   dial-up as your ‘Plan B’ won’t work.)

Good Luck.

In the last couple of weeks, a nasty virus has been going around, so I’ll take this opportunity to remind you that you need to secure you computers. 

1. Use a firewall (built in to windows) make sure its turned on.

2. Install antivirus/antispyware software, use it, and  and keep it updated..

3. Keep your system updated. (Turn on automatic updates)

4. Secure your wireless network.

Resources

Microsoft Security Information

Secure your Wireless Network Please!

I  had the opportunity to get a new IPhone 3G last week. I have been using a Blackberry 8700 for the last two years and I just started testing out the IPhone for my day-job employer. So I figured that I would give you a my take on this phone. 

From my house I can access four unsecured wireless (Wi-Fi) networks. If I wanted to, in addition to surfing the Internet on their dime, I could access all of the files on their network and steal any confidential information that they had. (which is a federal crime). If you have a wireless network you need to follow some simple steps to secure it:

1. Get out the directions for your wireless router set the security to WEP128, or WPA (only if all you have is windows computers and not other devices like a Wii, or a Wi-fi ) . You’ll need a 16 digit password. Make sure you write it down you will need it later.

2. If your router has a default password, change it.

3 . Go to each of your computers and setup your secure wireless network with the password.
 

• Setup a Windows XP Secure Wireless Connection http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/wireless.mspx#4
• Setup a Windows Vista Secure Wireless Connection
  http://www.ehow.com/how_2172150_wireless-connection-laptop-windows-vista.html