Okay, eliminate may be an exaggeration, but reduce by 80%+ is truly possible. With an iPad ad stylus you can replace “the notebook” in your life. I write all of my meeting notes in an app called Notes Plus. I have tried about 5 of the handwriting apps and this is my favorite because of the organization of folders and notebooks, the ability to voice record, and the quick ease of email or other sharing.
I use Notes plus like a legal pad, but with immediate filing and retrieval available without doing anything. My uses:
- write all meeting notes and email to other participants before they leave
- write all of my task lists
- keep business and blog ideas
- jot down phone numbers or other quick tasks
- journal
- keep track of marketing projects, prospects and other working on your business stuff.
Use Evernote to Store in the Clouds
Then I email certain notes directly to Evernote. Evernote is my real file cabinet. The iPad is the tool to collect information and present information, but I bought the cheapest one without very much storage, because I can use my laptop or the clouds to store information.
Once I send it to Evernote then I immediately have the same information available on my iPad, iPhone and Mac Book Pro, as Evernote syncs in the clouds and has apps for all of my devices. Voila! A virtual file cabinet.
Perfect for the Organizationally Challenged
If you are like me and not very physically organized (I use the pile system) this will give you an even double benefit because you can actually find your notes.
If you are super organized and can’t leave your office without everything in it’s proper place, this will save you hours a week in organizing and filing!
This is just one of the many awesome business applications for the iPad. Read about more in my prior post 11 Key Uses of iPad for Your Small Business!
Evernote is an awesome tool. You are right, you can eliminate paper entirely from your task and “to do” list generation. Being able to access the note on your laptop after you have typed it on your iPhone allows you to add much more information to the original note. Often time I come up with an idea or solution and note it in Evernote on my iPhone, return to it later on my laptop and add much more narrative to the thought. Great tool indeed.
I really like the new trunk feature for Evernote! It has helped me to expand my uses for Evernote.
With iPad2, is the need for a laptop completely eliminated?
Theo, I don’t think it is completely eliminated, but it really depends on your needs. Many softwares don’t work on iPads. So if you needed to do graphic design, significant project management, etc. some of the software is not available for iPad. It just depends on your use.