iPad, Laptop or Both?

General

An obvious advantage of my iPad is its weight and size. At a mere 1.3 pounds and smaller than a legal pad, carrying an iPad is certainly more convenient than lugging my 5.6 pound 15″ MacBook around. Besides being more mobile in general, the size, weight and tablet form make it easier for me to be mobile during presentations or meetings. I can easily move from a table to a podium or walk around a room while holding my iPad. For mobility, my iPad wins.

Another advantage of the tablet is that it is less obtrusive than a laptop. With an iPad in my hand or sitting on the table in front of me, there is no laptop screen between me and whomever I am meeting with. Of course, sometimes that screen is helpful. Keep in mind that people sitting close to you may be able to read what is on your iPad's screen. However, in situations when it is import to not feel separated from my audience, my iPad wins.

Connectivity is a big plus for my iPad. Because I can do almost everything from my iPad, which is almost always connected by WiFi or 3G, I do not need a 3G or 4G card and a data plan as I do for my laptop. My iPad wins the connectivity contest.

With only a virtual keyboard on its touchscreen, I cannot enter text on my iPad as fast as I can on my laptop. Although I bought a keyboard to use with it, it is a nuisance to carry around another device. Voice recognition software is another option, but I have always been more comfortable typing than dictating. Thus, for those times when I need to compose long documents, such as this article, my laptop wins.

What about storage space? 128G is a lot, but only about a quarter of what I have on my laptop. As a result, I do not load as many files on my iPad as I do on my laptop. However, I get around this issue by using Dropbox. Because cloud storage systems like Dropbox involve storing files at a third party site, and even though there is password protection, I have to be careful about what I store there. With the prudent use of a cloud storage system, I find that storage space is not an issue on my iPad. Thus, this one is a draw.

Communication

I have not had any trouble with receiving, reading or composing e-mail (except for longwinded messages) on my iPad. In fact, with the touch screen, some mail functions are slightly easier. My calendar and contact information are seamlessly integrated on my iPad, just as they are on my laptop.

In addition to e-mail, the iPad gives me the option of communicating with audio and video through the Skype or FaceTime apps. Although my laptop has these same apps, the size and form of the iPad make it a little easier to use them, especially when I want to be mobile during a video call.

For these reasons, I give a slight advantage to my iPad for communication tasks.

Reader

I believe that one of the best uses of my iPad is as a reader, both for reference works and for case-specific documents. I have downloaded inexpensive versions of several reference works, such as statutes, rules and treatises. I can also use the Kindle app to view e-books that I purchase from Amazon. Through the browser, I can read documents right from the Internet, such as news stories or company information.

I also load my own collections of documents on my iPad. For example, I can keep the pleadings, deposition transcripts and exhibits for a case. I can also load the legal research to review in preparation for a brief or oral argument. I can load the key patents, agreements or regulatory documents relevant to a particular matter.

With an app such as Docs To Go, I can open MS Office documents such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I also use the iAnnotate app, to, as the name suggests, annotate .pdf documents. Thus, I can review a stack of cases and highlight them for later review. I can also review an agreement, mark it up, or even sign it and send it back.

My iPad definitely wins as a reader.

Document Creation and Editing

With apps, such as Docs to Go and Quick Office, I can create and edit MS office documents, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. My iPad works well with my wireless printers, so I can create, edit and print a document without my laptop.

The iPad apps allow me to do a moderate amount of formatting, such as changing fonts, sizes, characteristics, indentation, line spacing, etc. However, I cannot work with pre-defined “styles,” as I can in a full version of MS Word. I also cannot “mark changes” when I edit a document from someone else. Docs To Go allows me to see marked changes, but my changes are not marked. As already mentioned, unless I use an auxiliary keyboard, I am not able to type as fast as I can on my laptop.

For these reasons, my laptop definitely has the advantage for creating and editing anything but simple documents.

Information and Task Management

I like working with lists and outlines to help me manage information and tasks. There are scores of iPad apps for creating lists and outlines. For simple lists, I like Wunderlist. I also use Outliner.

I like to work with visual outlines, also known as “mind maps.” I have been using this tool on my laptop for years to organize and visualize large amounts of information, such as the interrelationship and categorization of 400 patents in a particular field. The software I prefer on my laptop is MindManager by MindJet. On my iPad I use iThought, which allows me to open MindManager files and also create files on my iPad and read them in MindManager and several similar programs. The figure below is a simple visual outline I created for this article. The iThought app allows me to create a .pdf of the outline and e-mail it to anyone.

[IMGCAP(1)]

Because my iPad is more likely to be in my hands, I prefer it for lists and outlines. Also, because the touch screen makes it easier to move information around the screen, I prefer my iPad for visual outlines as well.

Research

Not surprisingly, Lexis and Westlaw have each developed a suite of apps to enable an iPad user to access their proprietary databases. As far as I can tell, there is nothing that I can do on my laptop that I can't do on my iPad. Fastcase is a free app that I have used to do basic legal research without a subscription.

In addition to legal research, I use my iPad for fact research, such as technical and company information.

Because I can do the same things from a smaller and lighter package, I give the advantage to my iPad for research.

Presentations

I use an adapter that allows me to connect my iPad to a projector or flatscreen display. Using a device like the Apple TV, I can connect wirelessly, giving me the ability to move around during a presentation.

Docs To Go and other programs allow me to open and display a PowerPoint file, although some of the advanced functions like screen animations may not work from the iPad.

Using programs such as Jot!, I can also use my iPad as a whiteboard to sketch and diagram ideas and share them with a group in real time.

Another app that I use for presentations is TrialPad, which allows me to store, organize, annotate and display exhibits, videos and other materials for a case or project. TrialPad has some great features that allow for easy transitions between exhibits, real time annotations and enlargements.

Especially because my iPad allows me to be both more mobile and less separated from my audience, I definitely prefer making presentations from it.

Travel

My iPad is a great travel companion. I have downloaded a few airline, hotel and rental car apps that allow me to book, check status and make changes. I am also a big fan of the WorldMate app which collects all my travel information in one place. There are several apps for keeping track of travel expenses. The one I use is BizExpense.

Because of convenience, the iPad wins the travel category.

Conclusion

As you have probably already determined, I am not ready to give away my laptop or my iPad. If I go on a trip and there is a chance I will need to compose or edit a large document, I will carry my laptop with me on that trip. However, for most meetings in my office and at clients' places, I find that my iPad is a better tool. I can take notes, follow outlines, project images all from a device that does not tie me down to a table or podium. So, I guess the answer to the titular question, so far, is “both.”

So, your husband, wife, parent, child (now your favorite) or firm's IT Manager got your hints and bought you an iPad for Christmas. You are reading e-mail, checking your calendar, surfing the Web, watching movies and listening to your favorite tunes. You have downloaded the coolest entertainment, lifestyle and news apps. Now what? Is this going to be a serious tool in your law practice? Or, is it going to be just a diversion from the daily grind? Is it going to replace your laptop? Or, is it going to be just one more gadget to carry around?

Well, it depends. It depends on how you practice and where you expect your iPad to fit into that practice.

I am in my second year of using an iPad in my IP practice and have learned there are some tasks that are, at least for now, better performed on my laptop. There are other tasks that are performed just as well on my iPad, and still others that are performed much better on my iPad. In this article, I make some general observations and then rate my iPad against my laptop in seven different categories of tasks.

General

An obvious advantage of my iPad is its weight and size. At a mere 1.3 pounds and smaller than a legal pad, carrying an iPad is certainly more convenient than lugging my 5.6 pound 15″ MacBook around. Besides being more mobile in general, the size, weight and tablet form make it easier for me to be mobile during presentations or meetings. I can easily move from a table to a podium or walk around a room while holding my iPad. For mobility, my iPad wins.

Another advantage of the tablet is that it is less obtrusive than a laptop. With an iPad in my hand or sitting on the table in front of me, there is no laptop screen between me and whomever I am meeting with. Of course, sometimes that screen is helpful. Keep in mind that people sitting close to you may be able to read what is on your iPad's screen. However, in situations when it is import to not feel separated from my audience, my iPad wins.

Connectivity is a big plus for my iPad. Because I can do almost everything from my iPad, which is almost always connected by WiFi or 3G, I do not need a 3G or 4G card and a data plan as I do for my laptop. My iPad wins the connectivity contest.

With only a virtual keyboard on its touchscreen, I cannot enter text on my iPad as fast as I can on my laptop. Although I bought a keyboard to use with it, it is a nuisance to carry around another device. Voice recognition software is another option, but I have always been more comfortable typing than dictating. Thus, for those times when I need to compose long documents, such as this article, my laptop wins.

What about storage space? 128G is a lot, but only about a quarter of what I have on my laptop. As a result, I do not load as many files on my iPad as I do on my laptop. However, I get around this issue by using Dropbox. Because cloud storage systems like Dropbox involve storing files at a third party site, and even though there is password protection, I have to be careful about what I store there. With the prudent use of a cloud storage system, I find that storage space is not an issue on my iPad. Thus, this one is a draw.

Communication

I have not had any trouble with receiving, reading or composing e-mail (except for longwinded messages) on my iPad. In fact, with the touch screen, some mail functions are slightly easier. My calendar and contact information are seamlessly integrated on my iPad, just as they are on my laptop.

In addition to e-mail, the iPad gives me the option of communicating with audio and video through the Skype or FaceTime apps. Although my laptop has these same apps, the size and form of the iPad make it a little easier to use them, especially when I want to be mobile during a video call.

For these reasons, I give a slight advantage to my iPad for communication tasks.

Reader

I believe that one of the best uses of my iPad is as a reader, both for reference works and for case-specific documents. I have downloaded inexpensive versions of several reference works, such as statutes, rules and treatises. I can also use the Kindle app to view e-books that I purchase from Amazon. Through the browser, I can read documents right from the Internet, such as news stories or company information.

I also load my own collections of documents on my iPad. For example, I can keep the pleadings, deposition transcripts and exhibits for a case. I can also load the legal research to review in preparation for a brief or oral argument. I can load the key patents, agreements or regulatory documents relevant to a particular matter.

With an app such as Docs To Go, I can open MS Office documents such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I also use the iAnnotate app, to, as the name suggests, annotate .pdf documents. Thus, I can review a stack of cases and highlight them for later review. I can also review an agreement, mark it up, or even sign it and send it back.

My iPad definitely wins as a reader.

Document Creation and Editing

With apps, such as Docs to Go and Quick Office, I can create and edit MS office documents, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. My iPad works well with my wireless printers, so I can create, edit and print a document without my laptop.

The iPad apps allow me to do a moderate amount of formatting, such as changing fonts, sizes, characteristics, indentation, line spacing, etc. However, I cannot work with pre-defined “styles,” as I can in a full version of MS Word. I also cannot “mark changes” when I edit a document from someone else. Docs To Go allows me to see marked changes, but my changes are not marked. As already mentioned, unless I use an auxiliary keyboard, I am not able to type as fast as I can on my laptop.

For these reasons, my laptop definitely has the advantage for creating and editing anything but simple documents.

Information and Task Management

I like working with lists and outlines to help me manage information and tasks. There are scores of iPad apps for creating lists and outlines. For simple lists, I like Wunderlist. I also use Outliner.

I like to work with visual outlines, also known as “mind maps.” I have been using this tool on my laptop for years to organize and visualize large amounts of information, such as the interrelationship and categorization of 400 patents in a particular field. The software I prefer on my laptop is MindManager by MindJet. On my iPad I use iThought, which allows me to open MindManager files and also create files on my iPad and read them in MindManager and several similar programs. The figure below is a simple visual outline I created for this article. The iThought app allows me to create a .pdf of the outline and e-mail it to anyone.

[IMGCAP(1)]

Because my iPad is more likely to be in my hands, I prefer it for lists and outlines. Also, because the touch screen makes it easier to move information around the screen, I prefer my iPad for visual outlines as well.

Research

Not surprisingly, Lexis and Westlaw have each developed a suite of apps to enable an iPad user to access their proprietary databases. As far as I can tell, there is nothing that I can do on my laptop that I can't do on my iPad. Fastcase is a free app that I have used to do basic legal research without a subscription.

In addition to legal research, I use my iPad for fact research, such as technical and company information.

Because I can do the same things from a smaller and lighter package, I give the advantage to my iPad for research.

Presentations

I use an adapter that allows me to connect my iPad to a projector or flatscreen display. Using a device like the Apple TV, I can connect wirelessly, giving me the ability to move around during a presentation.

Docs To Go and other programs allow me to open and display a PowerPoint file, although some of the advanced functions like screen animations may not work from the iPad.

Using programs such as Jot!, I can also use my iPad as a whiteboard to sketch and diagram ideas and share them with a group in real time.

Another app that I use for presentations is TrialPad, which allows me to store, organize, annotate and display exhibits, videos and other materials for a case or project. TrialPad has some great features that allow for easy transitions between exhibits, real time annotations and enlargements.

Especially because my iPad allows me to be both more mobile and less separated from my audience, I definitely prefer making presentations from it.

Travel

My iPad is a great travel companion. I have downloaded a few airline, hotel and rental car apps that allow me to book, check status and make changes. I am also a big fan of the WorldMate app which collects all my travel information in one place. There are several apps for keeping track of travel expenses. The one I use is BizExpense.

Because of convenience, the iPad wins the travel category.

Conclusion

As you have probably already determined, I am not ready to give away my laptop or my iPad. If I go on a trip and there is a chance I will need to compose or edit a large document, I will carry my laptop with me on that trip. However, for most meetings in my office and at clients' places, I find that my iPad is a better tool. I can take notes, follow outlines, project images all from a device that does not tie me down to a table or podium. So, I guess the answer to the titular question, so far, is “both.”