Discussion #3: Understanding the Difference
Do you think that the iPad lacks ‘information production’ – the word processing capability that we are used to on PCs?
Before discussing whether the iPad lacks ‘information production’ or not, we need to consider the differences in the use of the iPad and the netbooks/laptops/PCs.
Although I spend a lot of time with my iPhone, I also spend a lot of time in front of my PC. I rely on MS Word whenever I need to create documents for teaching. About a year ago, I downloaded an app called Docs To Go. This app helps me save any of the MS Office files (including PPT, Word documents, and Excel) and pdf files. I could open them to see and modify if I want to make some changes. The functions were not as fancy as MS Office 2010 in my PC, but work that I did in Docs To Go wasn’t too bad. I also jot down and save important things in an app called Fast Notes.
As I’m currently teaching at a Technology Immersion Program, I use WordPress more often than MS Word. Rather than creating the “hard copy” of notes and assignments for students, I go to WordPress and leave all the instructions, lessons, assignments, and activities. WordPress is an iOS that allows me to create, modify, and upload posts and comments. It’s a little bothersome as I have to know how to use HTML when creating a post on my iPhone. However, it’s much more convenient as I can check out my blog anywhere, anytime. So what I usually do is that I create a post using my PC at home. Then, if I need to modify or leave comments I use the WordPress app on my iPhone.
To answer the question as yes or no only, I think the iPad does lack ‘information production’. However, we must also understand the difference in their functions and uses. PC has the better word processing capability than the iPad, but there are some good features of the iPad that PC doesn’t have. One of them is portability (It’s easier to carry around than a netbook and longer battery life). If I was to invest money, it would be on finding ways to have both the iPad and PC coexist so that I can utilize both (one at home and one outside home). In order to do that more word processing apps need to be invented.
Deb
Posted in: Week 09: iPad Apps
khenry 5:36 am on November 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deb,
Good points. Functionality and purpose do indeed distinguish the ipad from the pc and the information production capabilities. I do agree that the ideal would be to somehow fuse PC and ipad capabilities. However, as you pointed out, the different technologies serve different purposes and like you, I and many others I know, look to technologies during the day to support responding to, editing and viewing of information rather than actual production, which we do at sit down times. However, I wouldn’t mind doing some content creation as well as the demands for time increase. I also believe that creation/production apps are the way to go.
Kerry-Ann
Deb Kim 12:23 pm on November 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank you, Kerry-Ann.
You are absolutely right that “creation/production apps are the way to go”.
verenanz 6:33 am on November 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deb – The fact that we are considering buying some kind of keyboard support for the IPad for my daughter…proves your point. all users need to be able to have ease of use in creation and production. Excellent points. It’s true, I too use my Dell LapTop and my IPad for “different” things. There is room for growth!
Verena:)
Deb Kim 12:20 pm on November 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank you, Verena.
hall 6:34 am on November 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deb,
I absolutely like the comparisons of the PC/laptops/notebooks and IPads. I think the list of differences you mentioned were factual and gave readers a platform to make a valid choice of the electronic device they should purchase. In regard to word processing software for IPad, there are some Apps available which allow you to perform tasks similar to MS. You could visit this site http://www.iPadWordProcessor.com, it currently hosts a resource center for Apple’s iWork Pages, Office² HD, Quick Officeand iA Writer. These software are useful word processors for Ipads.
Conroy
Deb Kim 12:18 pm on November 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Conroy,
Thank you for the website address. I’ve never used any of the Apple products other than my iPhone, so that’s always been one of my concerns for purchasing an iPad. I use MS Office a lot (for my teaching practices as well as for my assignments), but it has occurred to me that Apple doesn’t provide such a good program that’s compatible to MS. I was looking for apps for the iPad that you mentioned (e.g. iWork Pages, Office² HD, and Quick Officeand iA Writer) because I’m planning to purchase an iPad in the near future.
Thank you for the tips.
Deb
Jim 10:18 am on November 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I enjoyed reading your post as I posted a discussion around the same answer. You also pointed out that PCs and iPads are different devices with different intentions behind their designs. I mentioned at the end of my post that PCs are going to become the workhorses of digital content whereas mobile devices will be used day-to-day. True, you can take notes on your laptop with MS-Word, but you will never us 98% of it’s capabilities in doing so.
You also talk a little bit about some of the difference between PCs and iPads, such as the portability. One could argue back, what about Netbooks? Just as portable and they can run MS-Word. But why haven’t Netbooks caught on with the vigor that iPads have? The answer is, I think, because the iPad was designed specifically as a easy to use, fun, mobile device from the start. The Netbook is just a continuation of the miniaturization of the desktop PC. The iPad breaks free of that desktop paradigm like no other device, I think.
Deb Kim 12:14 pm on November 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Jim,
I agree with you that the iPad is easier and more fun to use than the netbook as the netbook is “a continuation of the miniaturization of the desktop PC”. I mentioned “portability” because the iPad is lighter in its weight than the netbook. Also, it doesn’t take as much time to turn on as the netbook. You press the button and it turns on right away.
Deb