Is an iPad useful for Architects and Landscape Achitects? My Top 10 Features and Uses

With the recent release of the iPad2, you may be wondering if the iPad would be a useful tool for you, as a design professional? What you would use it for, or what exactly is it (a small laptop? a big cell phone? something to watch movies and play Angry Birds on?)

When I first heard of the iPad and it’s upcoming release in spring 2010, I knew it was exactly the tool I had been waiting for. Now that I have been using it for a few months, it has completely met and quite exceeded my expectations.

Of course it is a great accessory for non-work use: music, videos, movies, games, news, ebooks, etc. It also functions as a great day timer and email reader, especially if you find doing all this on the small screen and keyboard of your smart phone frustrating (which I do). However, for these functions alone, the cost of the iPad may not justify it.

But is it useful and worthwhile for Architects and Landscape Architects (and any of the allied design professions?).

The main criteria to ask yourself is the following: is your work day spent mostly at a desk in front of a computer or are you on the move a lot, traveling, attending meetings, reviewing email attachments from the office and generally working ‘on the fly’? If you answered the latter then the iPad would definitely be an asset. In fact, even if this description is 20% of your time (1 day of 5), the productivity gains will likely exceed having a laptop. However, if you are mostly in front of a desktop, then the iPad may be in the accessory category for you (a useful, but expensive accessory).

If you require full operating versions of software with you at all times to do your work remotely, the thing to remember is that the iPad is not a full functioning computer running Windows or Apple operating systems. For instance: full versions of AutoCAD, PhotoShop, Revit, 3D Studio, etc will not run on the iPad. However, there are Apps (‘applications’: mini programs with limited, or better put, precise functionalty) that can most likely allow you to do what you need to do without having the full program. If you really need the full software program, then a laptop for remote work is what you’ll need.

So here are my top ten features and uses of an iPad for architects and landscape architects.

1. Instant On and Instant Off: Something that has always frustrated me is how long Windows takes to boot up (I use PCs at home and the office). I turn my desktop off at night to save energy. When I push the on button in the morning, I still can not believe how long I have to wait in this day and age for the thing to boot up! Ditto for any laptops I’ve owned. At the push of a button the iPad is on (and silently-no hard drive whirring, which is great in meetings). I use the subway to go to most meetings: by the time I would be able to get a bulky (on a crowded subway) laptop out, I have would have to change trains – on my iPad, I’ve already got caught up on email, sent a sketch back to my office (when going over the Bloor Viaduct that is: please TTC, install wireless in the subway!). Not that I ever did use a laptop on the subway, streetcar or bus, they are just too bulky.

2. Portability and Size: Fabulous at meetings, restaurants, transit (see above), escalators, crowded kitchen islands. Once again, try these places with most lap tops or regular tablets. It is quiet (turn that fake typing sound off though) and discreet. Fits easily in any case or man bag (not sure about purses!?). I have the Apple case which I really like: simple, functional, not bulky.

3. Email: If you spend more time on the go, and not in front of a monitor, then you’re probably looking at a tiny little mobile phone screen most of the day. Reading emails of more than a few sentences is a pain, looking at plans meant to be printed 24×36 is even worse, especially if you are far-sighted. The iPad’s large keyboard in landscape mode has keys almost the size of a regular keyboard.

4. Email Attachments: This was the main reason I bought my iPad. Previously, it was almost impossible to comment on attachments on my non-smart phone screen. Away from the office, with a laptop, the process was to print it out the attachment, red line it, scan and email it out: a slow and laborious process. Now, I open the pdf on my iPad, redline it directly on the pdf and email it out.

5. Screen Size, Quality and Visibility Outdoors: I feel the screen size is perfect (wouldn’t go any smaller) and I wouldn’t want to trade off functionality for the loss of a few components. I was at a meeting today (sunny and -5C), and the two attendees both asked me if I could see the screen. I forgot that using a laptop on a sunny day (without using one of those tent- type things) is almost impossible. Of course it’s great for videos, games and stills.

6. Battery Life: Like the iPhone, the battery is life is amazing. I often only charge my iPad every other day, even though I am using it throughout the day.

7. Windows Compatibility: I have not experienced any major incompatibilities between the iPad and Windows (or MS Outlook for that matter). The only thing is how Outlook sends PDFs, which sometime makes them unreadable on iPad-see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290809 for a fix.

8. Sketching and Designing: There are excellent programs for sketching ideas. You can also import pdfs, jpegs, etc and draw on top of them (photos, drawings, diagrams, etc.) This is a great feature, because the sketch is instantly digital, so you can email it right away, attach to minutes, etc.

9. 3G Network: This is a necessity (iPads are available with or without 3G). What this means is where there is no accessible wifi connection (which the iPad will automatically connect to), say at the office, home or coffee shop, then you will not be able to connect to the Internet or send/receive email. With 3G, wherever a cellphone works, my 3G iPad works: streetcar, boardrooms, hotel room, cottage, etc.

10. Meetings: The iPad has revolutionanized my meeting experience and productivity. During meetings I type in notes, sometimes email them out during the meeting, look up terms I’m not familiar with, research items on Wikipedia or the web, sketch ideas (so I have a digital copy), use street view, maps to look at sites, give a presentation with a projector, …

Next: My 10 best iPad apps for architects and landscape architects