Simon, it is usable, but you may not actually want to use it. I had an iPad, and I tried this stuff, but I didn't do it a lot, and I haven't tried it in a while, so I'll probably make some mistakes in my description. There will undoubtedly be some iPad people that tell me that I overlooked something. That's fine, but here is the general idea.
So, you want to put a file on your iPad to edit while you're away from home. You know that you can't just hook up the iPad to the computer and copy the file over, as the iPad security doesn't allow that. Here is what you must do. You must add the file to iTunes, including, I think, marking it for sync. Then, you must start a sync of your iPad with iTunes. When that completes, you need to go in to the iWork program on the iPad that you want to use, like Pages, and locate the document. Except, you can't use it right away. You must import the document in to Pages (I think it converts it or something). Now, you can edit all you want. However, when you get back home, and want to print it, you must go through the process in reverse. You have to go in to Pages on the iPad, load your document, export it to a regular document, hook up to the Mac, sync with iTunes, and then get it back in to your Word Processor. Basically, while iPad and iPhone programs can save and load files, they only have access to the files that they specifically create, or that are brought in to them through a sync with iTunes or over the Internet. Programs on the iPad and iPhone can't access any file that was created by another program on the same device, nor can they share their files with other iPad/iPhone programs. You also can't access any documents or files that a program makes from a computer, unless that program is authorized to sync through iTunes. That's why programs like the Daisy book reader can't let you transfer books directly to your device. They must waste time with built-in FTP servers or store files remotely on a server somewhere. For the most part, I don't need to do the sort of things with a phone to where this is a big enough of a pain to me, and so I use an iPhone. However, for most computing tasks, this is way too much of a lock down. I mean, if Apple wants to lock up the programs, that's one thing, but they should at least have a common place on the iPhone/iPad where programs can store and share files with each other. Like I said, if I can only get a voice memo out of the voice memo recording program by using its built-in function to e-mail it to me, then I'll deal, but trying to undertake large projects on one of these devices is a frustrating activity that I'd never recommend. These devices just are not made for producing content. They're meant to be very nice Internet terminals. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Simon Fogarty Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 5:16 AM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: RE: word processing and spred sheets on ipad And it's useable with VO on the iPad? -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kevin Shaw Sent: Tuesday, 27 July 2010 1:26 a.m. To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: word processing and spred sheets on ipad The full iWorks suite is available specifically; for iPad. This includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Good luck, Kevin -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.