While the iPad Pro is an excellent productivity tool, the older versions of the regular iPad and iPad mini are also very efficient in daily work and professional use.
You might not have thought about using the iPad for work. In fact, using the iPad for networking, cloud storage and various productivity apps, as well as the right accessories, is not that difficult.
This article was written after the release of Apple's iPad Pro. It focuses on how to make full use of the old iPad Pro, which doesn't have a keyboard, a stylus, or a mouse, that people use to play games most of the time. If you own an old iPad or iPad mini, can you use it for work? The answer is yes.
Work on an iPad
The networking
For most of us, to do our job, we need a proper Internet connection. Web browsing and E-mail rely on networking. There are several networking methods:
1. Cellular network model
The iPad is typically available in two models: wlan and wlan + cellular. If the iPad is purchased to support cellular, you simply plug in your network provider's SIM card to connect to the Internet. But an iPad with cellular network costs more than a wi-fi version.
Work on an iPad
2. Mobile phone hotspot
Usually, a wi-fi version of the iPad can only be connected to the Internet at home or at work. If you're outside, you can use your smartphone as a hot spot to access the Internet. This method usually consumes a lot of phone power and is not suitable for long time network operation.
3. Portable router MiFi
The MiFi (portable router /Mobile WIFI) is a portable broadband wireless device that incorporates the functions of modems, routers and access points. The iPad can connect to a hotspot on MiFi, where a SIM card is inserted first.
Work on an iPad
When using mobile hotspots or MiFi for Internet access, you should pay attention to the following traffic you use, and avoid exceeding the carrier limit.
IOS productivity application
1. ICloud synchronization
If we have iphones, ipads, and macs, we can sync across devices based on iOS: iCloud, and with the iWork app, we can sync each document on iCloud.
However, iCloud has a free storage capacity of 5GB on all devices, at a premium.
2. Cloud storage
Given the iPad's portability and wireless Internet access, using cloud storage to get things done is a good idea. Files can be processed and saved on the iPad no matter where they are stored.
Many mainstream cloud services are well integrated into PC and Mac file systems, where users organize and manage files on their PC or Mac computers and access files from multiple mobile devices.
Common cloud storage services include Google Drive (free 15G), Dropbox (free 2G), Microsoft OneDrive (free 5G), Amazon Drive, etc. Domestic cloud storage services include nut cloud and so on.
3. Email
Apple's own E-mail app is a lightweight, clean one that handles most emails. Users can also add personal and work emails from multiple different providers.
4. Productivity application
The term "productivity" is both broad and vague, and many people understand it differently, and we're referring to products that increase productivity, such as the Office suite, Evernote, todolist, and so on. The main productivity applications are:
Microsoft Office 365
They include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, Outlook, etc., subscribers and OneDrive's 1TB cloud storage. You can easily view and process documents generated by desktop Office.
Apple's iPad productivity tool
In addition to Microsoft Office, apple also comes with a series of productivity tools, which correspond to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint: Pages, Numbers and Keynote. These tools are great in apple's ecosystem, so if you're a Mac or iPhone user, it's best to use apple's own productivity apps instead of Microsoft's Office products, and, of course, Microsoft's if you're working on a PC.
5. Teamwork application
Google Docs allows you to edit the same document with individuals and save it on Google's cloud hard drive. But it is not accessible from China.
6. Remote desktop
Remote desktop access to remote computers on the iPad. As long as the remote computer is open, users can control the remote computer and operate through remote access applications.
The main iPad Remote Desktop applications are Chrome Remote access, Microsoft Remote Desktop, VNC Viewer (for Mac) and so on.
The accessories
1. Bluetooth keyboard
The most obvious -- and probably most useful -- way to work with an iPad is to add a physical keyboard. Apple's own bluetooth keyboard is a bit pricey, and other companies' bluetooth keyboards can be used on the iPad for similar results, so typing is definitely better than the iPad's built-in on-screen keyboard.
Work on an iPad
2. IPad case
Most cases can use the back of the iPad case as a stand, which solves the problem of not having a stand on the iPad's display screen and also protects the iPad from being easily broken, though the case can't be angled.
Work on an iPad
3. IPad data cable and adapter
You can connect the iPad to a TV or other device with a cable to a different location, but the iPad has a few ports, which is a shortcoming.
That's how you can use the iPad for work. With apps and accessories, you can turn this entertainment tool into a powerful work and productivity tool
