How I Use My iPads

When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPad in January, 2010, I knew I had to have one. I already had an iPod Touch and the idea of a giant iPod was exciting to me. Although the iPad was available in March in the U.S., I was living abroad at the time and had to wait until it was available in December. The first iPad's system software limited what you could do with it, so I continued using my Mac computer for serious tasks.

I skipped the iPad 2 because I was waiting for a retina display, and my waiting for that ended when Apple released the iPad 3 in 2012. By that time, the iOS version (iOS 5) was fairly good and I began using the iPad more for text based activities, as well as for gaming and video viewing. Although Apple continued to release updates for the iPad 3, I kept it on iOS 5, mainly because that system was very stable. Two years later, when the Air 2 was released, I upgraded to that iPad, while still keeping my iPad 3 for gaming and a few other activities. Less than a year later, when Apple finally released an iPad Mini with a retina display, I added that smaller iPad to my collection.

Around the time Apple released iOS 10, I had switched from using Mac computers to doing everything on my two main iPads (the Air 2 and Mini 4). I stopped buying iPads until 2022, when iPadOS 16 was released and my two everyday iPads were stuck forever on iPadOS 15. I then decided on the iPad Air 5, even though the Mini had been my favorite and most used iPad for seven years. I wanted the power of the M1 chip and the most likely longer life of the Air 5, so now I use that as my main iPad, while still using the Mini 4 and Air 2 daily for some tasks.

I'm on a mobile device from the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed at night, so no one iPad can totally serve all of my needs. In addition to my iPads, I also own a cheap Samsung tablet, a Samsung phone, and a very old Amazon tablet that also gets used daily, but for only video viewing. Until a few years ago, I used my iPad 1 as a recipe book and for storing data, but I haven't turned it on in a couple years so I don't know if it works anymore. My iPad 3 is used for only a few very specific activities, which I'll discuss in this series of posts. I also have an iPod that is used as my main reading device.

The next four days will be broken up into categories of the primary ways I use my iPads: productivity (my main use), communcation and news, entertainment, and education. I'll write about the main apps I use in each category and why I like those particular apps. I'm not a huge fan of some of Apple's software so many of the apps I use are third party ones. I'm opposed to renting software so I have no subscription apps but I do use several full paid apps. Some of them, like Notability, I bought years ago when they were first released and cost almost nothing compared to the value they've had for me.

Finally, I decided to do this theme for two reasons. First, it will give my readers a better understanding of who I am and my experience and background with iPads. Second, and more importantly, it might help others find new ways to use their iPads. I often read the questions people have on iPad forums and groups and one question seems to come up again and again: How can I use my new iPad? I hope this series of posts will help you if that's a question you have.

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Ways to Use an iPad for Productivity