I’ve been a PC user for most of my life, but the app that may change that is Omnifocus, the ultimate task manager. However, you can’t get it for Android, Windows, or anything else but a Mac and iOS. Penultimate for iPad is another awesome productivity app not on Android. This handwriting tool lets you use the iPad as a notepad and includes photo annotation, so you’ll never need to bring along a paper notebook.
Word processing and other office-oriented apps can make the iPad an acceptable replacement for a laptop. While you’ll want to buy a keyboard to use it to replace a laptop, iPad-only apps like Office 2 HD let you edit Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets with full Google Docs and Dropbox functionality. Apple’s own iWork suite is also Microsoft Office compatible. The only comparable application on Android is Documents To Go, which is a nice suite but built more to fit on various smartphones and tablets than to offer a great tablet user experience. The SG Product Pro project management app still lacks a decent Android counterpart. It lets you line up projects, people, tasks, and share information with a team via Dropbox.
IT professionals are probably already using Citrix’s GoToManage app for the iPad to provide real-time remote support to clients. The company has plans to port it to Android, but can’t give an exact timeline.
The lack of outstanding business apps on Android may be rectified in 2012 as Android tablets gain market share, and companies like Citrix are trying to catch up by getting their apps recoded for Android. But right now, the iPad offers the best productivity apps.
While Android devices may grab more market share away from the iPad on the strength of lower prices, the iPad remains both the trendier and more efficient choice for smaller businesses, particularly if you interact regularly with customers. In the end, the deciding factor is that anyone can pick up an iPad and use it right away. Until Android tablets can offer the same usability and quality of productivity apps, businesses will keep using iPads.
Word processing and other office-oriented apps can make the iPad an acceptable replacement for a laptop. While you’ll want to buy a keyboard to use it to replace a laptop, iPad-only apps like Office 2 HD let you edit Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets with full Google Docs and Dropbox functionality. Apple’s own iWork suite is also Microsoft Office compatible. The only comparable application on Android is Documents To Go, which is a nice suite but built more to fit on various smartphones and tablets than to offer a great tablet user experience. The SG Product Pro project management app still lacks a decent Android counterpart. It lets you line up projects, people, tasks, and share information with a team via Dropbox.
IT professionals are probably already using Citrix’s GoToManage app for the iPad to provide real-time remote support to clients. The company has plans to port it to Android, but can’t give an exact timeline.
The lack of outstanding business apps on Android may be rectified in 2012 as Android tablets gain market share, and companies like Citrix are trying to catch up by getting their apps recoded for Android. But right now, the iPad offers the best productivity apps.
While Android devices may grab more market share away from the iPad on the strength of lower prices, the iPad remains both the trendier and more efficient choice for smaller businesses, particularly if you interact regularly with customers. In the end, the deciding factor is that anyone can pick up an iPad and use it right away. Until Android tablets can offer the same usability and quality of productivity apps, businesses will keep using iPads.
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