Advice required re Ipad v Laptop and Microsoft Office 2010 please.

Advice required re Ipad v Laptop and Microsoft...

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 Hi,  I am trying to make a decision as to whether to buy a new laptop or use an Apple Ipad remotely via something like logmein to get access to my main computer for taking out to clients and or giving me a life outside the office.

I can see that the Ipad would be very easy to carry around and I already have a few thousand (slight exageration) apps on my iphone that would be serviced much better on a bigger screen. However I have spent the last twelve months convincing myself that I don't need one, I have always thought the Ipad a bit superfluous to requirements BUT having recently discovered that I can access my main computer, via logmein, on my phone it has now occured to me that this might actually be a better and cheaper option than the expensive laptop I had in mind. It would lhave added attractions if I did not have to pay Sage for the extra licences they have just started to charge me for putting a copy on my laptop, despite the fact I can only use one machine at a time of course! 

Does anyone have any experience of using Sage in this way? I have accounts, Personal Tax, Partership Tax, Business Tax and  Corporation Tax. Are there any problems or serious delays in transmission etc. Really , any advice woudl be helpful as I have seen comments from some devoted Ipad users on other forums.

I also use the Microsoft Office suite, which I am pretty convinced won't be a problem, but again would really like to know if anyone out there has got any useful opinions on the 2010 version. I currently use 2003 but my disk has got damaged and it is getting embarrassing when I have to confess to clients that their version is later than mine and a lot more sophisticated. I did download the patch to read later versions but it does not always seem to work!

 Any help/advice woud lbe most gratefully received.

Replies (11)

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Adrian Pearson
By Adrian Pearson
02nd Mar 2011 23:44

Get a laptop

I am sure that there will be plenty of Apple lovers posting below with a different opinion, but my view is that the iPad is a device for consumption. A laptop or desktop pc/mac is a device for production. Your use case sounds like you need a traditional device.

Apply the "where will I be sitting test". If you see yourself using the device sitting at a desk, get a pc. If you envisage sitting in a hotel lounge or relaxing on your sofa, get a tablet. The iPad is not the only tablet in town.

As for Office 2010, I have been using it for a year or so and it's great. Very good now for working with your files on your pc hard drive or in the Cloud. Click "open" or "save as" and choose your location or destination. It's really easy.

Windows 7 is a great operating system too - so, if you do get a laptop, don't think about Vista.

Hope this helps.

Adrian @topaccountants
http://adrianpearson.com

 

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FT
By FirstTab
03rd Mar 2011 07:47

ipad 2

Looks so good. I want one but I do not need it! http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Agree with Adrian.

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By MarionMorrison
03rd Mar 2011 08:38

Depends on your fingers

If you are the sort of person who picks slowly at the keyboard ("where is the 'z' key?) then it might just make sense to use a tablet.  If not, forget it.  You'll take about 3 times as long to do anything on a tablet.  Logmein used remotely is fine - it's occasionally a bit sluggish (I'm using the Sage Taxation Suite on it remotely on a regular basis).  Spreadsheets fiddled with remotely can be a bit annoying, but you can just copy it over, use it locally and put it back instead.

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By cymraeg_draig
03rd Mar 2011 08:50

Net book

Why not get a "netbook" for when you're out and about ?

I have one, Small & light t carry, 10" screen, windows7, about 8 hours battery life.  I find it perfect for taking to clients.

OK they are not as powerful as a laptop, but if you get the N455 dual core processor, they are not bad. 

The other advantage is they are cheap - £170-£350 - so you're not so worried about dropping it. 

 

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By thisistibi
03rd Mar 2011 11:01

Laptop/netbook

I have had an iPad since launch day, and can absolutely confirm it's a consumption device.  It's not for productivity.  So as much as I think the iPad is brilliant for sofa surfing and email, I certainly wouldn't recommend it for what you describe.

Personally, I hate netbooks since they are underperforming, frustratingly low spec devices but it does seem it might be suitable in your case.  Or just get a proper laptop.

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By cymraeg_draig
03rd Mar 2011 11:14

Netbooks

..... they are underperforming, frustratingly low spec devices

Posted by thisistibi on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 11:01

 

Not if you shop around.

There are quite a few now with 2Gb RAM and dual core processors.  And its a breeze to upgrade a 1Gb to 2Gb (or get the nice man at PC World to do it for you).

They will never be as fast as a good laptop, just as laptops will never be as fast as a top spec desktop, but what do you expect for £200-£300? 

The point is they are cheap, and dont give you a hernia to carry. And I find the keyboards large enough to be used (90% of full size). 

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By thisistibi
03rd Mar 2011 11:38

Best netbook

The best netbook is the Macbook Air.  By far.  But the price is on a par with a laptop..... I suppose you get what you pay for.

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By beverly chester
03rd Mar 2011 12:09

Advice

Many thanks for all replys to date. They have been very helpful.

Unfortunately you are all really saying pretty much what the sensible part of my brain is telling me but oh I do love gadgets, especially my iphone! I started off thinking I might use an ipad just for making notes, email, apps etc and get a new laptop. Mine is sooooooooo slow. I then got a bit carried away with enthusiam when a client's wife was raving about using hers in a similar manner to that described but in education not accountancy. I get the impression she loves hers so much she actually sleeps with it!

Adrian: You have made the point very clearly. If I want a toy fine but not for work and I think you are right. I am torn between the fact that I do have two very fast Windows 7 PC's sitting on my desk which are all singing dancing except for the Microsoft suite! (I am too lazy to print so I have spreadsheets up on one and post to the Accounts software on the other) and the convenience of being able to throw something in my bag when I am out and about. I still find laptops cumbersome especially at teh top end of speed. Clients mostly come to me but some are quite a distance away (having to moved to Isle of Skye, South coast etc) and a good source of weekend breaks - to discuss their accounts of course! I do however very much fancy the idea of sitting on a beach somewher hot, sipping the requisite glass of wine whilst my dear clients think I am slogging it away at my desk! I can dream can't I? 

I have been very happy with Office 2003 but need to move on and was quite disturbed with reviews I had read on the 2007 version. Your comments are very helpful. 

Marion: I am a reasonably fast typist, used to be better, and that is where the idea first came from as I could see it would be a fairly accessible gadget for typing notes of phone calls etc without taking up space on my desk/taking time to warm up like a laptop would , also for use in the car, out shopping etc. Sad aren't I?

Guess I just got a bit carried away with thinking I could use it for much more than that. Do you use logmein on a tablet/laptop or something smaller. I really do want to have a life away from the office. My daughter was seriously ill throughout December/January (timing!) then had a mild stroke in February. We thought we would lose her a few times so it makes you rethink work committments and that is what has prompted this enquiry really. I want more time with her out and about whilst she is still with us (for however long that might be) but as a sole trader who needs to keep her clients happy to pay the bills I also need to look after my very tolerant clients.

CD: Your advice is always valued but I am not gone on netbooks which probably makes me pretty stupid for trying to think I could work on an ipad. I have a 12 inch HP  Pavillion touch screen which was essentially bought as a special needs/DVD machine for my daughter whilst allowing me to access work whilst on holiday if necessary. My biggest problem is poor eyesight these days. I love a crystal clear black on white screen and the HP is quite dark and grey which is quite tiring to work with so has probably put me off for the wrong reasons.

Thisistibi: I was hoping someone who was in love with the ipad would respond. Thank you. Again you really seem to confirm what everyone else is saying but it is a real help knowing what someone in the profession who actually has an ipad thinks of  my proposed usage. Do you have an iphone as well? Is the ipad worth the money for the sofa surfing and apps? I do have over a hundred apps on my phone and have just given up trying to use some of them (particularly the financial ones) on such a small screen! Do you use it for anything other than emails and apps such as typing notes? If so what is it like to type more than an email on. Have you tried out the Dragon speach software on it? I am quite impressed with that on my phone.

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By thisistibi
03rd Mar 2011 13:07

@Beverly

Yes I have an iPhone 4 and an iPad (which is now sadly "the old model"!).  Yes, they are both brilliant and if one of them broke then I would go out and buy a replacement immediately.  But is it worth the money?  That depends on your perspective, and your disposable income.  My partner doesn't get on with it - she finds the keyboard a bit fiddly (not a concern if you already use an iPhone).  I have both a Macbook Pro and an iPad in the living room, and I nearly always choose the iPad (exceptions being when I want to use MS Word or MS Excel for something).  The reason is simple:  it's light, portable, fun, easy to use, turns on instantly.  And it's fantastic to pass it to a visiting friend so they can look through some of your holiday snaps.

One thing I would mention is that although you can run iPhone apps on the iPad, they don't run full-screen - they take up a block in the centre of the screen the same size as the iPhone.  Which is pointless.  There is a 2x zoom option, but that just makes it look all pixilated so I never use the feature.  So, on the iPad you will probably only use iPad apps, for which there is a smaller selection than the iPhone apps.

I have tried the Dragon speech app and it's very impressive, although I don't tend to use it as there's normally somebody around who would find it irritating for me to be talking to my iPad!  So I can't give you much of a review for that.  I do type on it (actually I use instant messenger on it, which can involve quite a lot of typing) and I do type slower but it's alright - ideally you need the Apple case for it, as the iPad then sits at a more comfortable typing angle.  The auto-correct can be annoying sometimes, like the iPhone, but I can live with it.

What do I use it for?  Mainly web browsing, email & reading The Times & Sunday Times on the respective apps which are outstanding.  I also use the Calendar app heavily which is linked to my Google Calendar online and syncs across my iPhone, Macbook Pro & iPad.  I also use the Maps app quite a lot and occasionally a game.

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By beverly chester
03rd Mar 2011 13:35

Thanks again Thisistibi

 More very helpful information, thank you. Disappointing comment about the phone apps though. 

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By chatman
03rd Mar 2011 14:34

Apple is not the only technology company

I think it is important to realise that there are non-Apple products that do everything Apple products do. They do it just as well or better and are nowhere near as expensive. The major downside of these products seems to be that they are not white.

Apple has done an amazing marketing job in convincing many people that their products do things that only they can do. They don't and they never did; they just cost more. And they are white.

I don't know much abut music players though, so I can't comment on the iPod.

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