iPad Productivity Tools: 3 Must-Haves

More travel executives are leaving their laptops for iPad. Are you writing documents and crunching numbers and file sharing. Can you really swap your laptop with an iPad? Here's my game plan for success in three parts:

1. Cloud Storage: Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud storage service. There are other services out there such as MobileMe and iDevice, SugarSync, Box.net (which is more oriented towards business). But I like Dropbox because of its simplicity. It's just a folder of files in the cloud.

To begin, you must download the application Dropbox and create an account at Dropbox.com. I suggest that you do it before on your Mac or PC. There is a three-tiered pricing plan, based on the amount of memory: 2 GB (free), 50 GB ($ 10 per month) and 100 GB ($ 20 per month).

Next, we recommend that you download the application Dropbox on any computer (laptop, iPad, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) using the same Dropbox account name. The free apps simply provide access to your file folder and view its contents, including streaming music and videos stored on Dropbox. You can also access the folder file by accessing the Web site Dropbox.com and log-in.

You can move files into Dropbox on your laptop by simply dragging and dropping them within the Dropbox files folder. Any new files or changes to the older file in Dropbox instantaneously are encrypted and uploaded to the server Dropbox and viewable on any device with a Dropbox app (assuming, of course, you have an Internet connection).

Tip: a blue icon appears next to the file during this process and turns into a green check mark, once it is completed.

One of the great features of Dropbox is the ability to share folders with other Dropbox users. Right click a folder in Dropbox, go to Dropbox in the menu and select share this folder. Opens a Web page that allows you to enter recipient email addresses, inviting people to have access to the folder. The folder will appear in their Dropboxes.

You can also share single files with non-users. Right click the file in Dropbox, go to Dropbox in the menu and select Copy link to the public. Then paste the link into an email and send to the recipient.

2. productivity App: Quickoffice connect Mobile Suite

Viewing file Dropbox on your iPad is fine, but what if you need to work on them? You will need an iPad productivity apps. While the office productivity tools from Apple (pages, numbers, Keynote) work quite well, most people still use Microsoft Office. There are a few applications of Microsoft Office mobile, but my favorite is Quickoffice connect Mobile Suite for iPad ($ 15).

Quickoffice lets you create or open, edit and save Excel spreadsheets, Word documents and, as earlier this month, PowerPoint slides on your iPad. As mobile applications, Quickoffice lacks the full functionality of the desktop version of Microsoft Office. But Quickoffice has been filling this gap.

One of the coolest features Quickoffice iPad is its tight integration with Dropbox and other providers of cloud storage services.

First, you will need to set up Dropbox on Quickoffice. Start the application, Quickoffice, tap the Edit button, select Add Account and choose the Dropbox. Then enter your account information Dropbox. Now you'll be able to access your Dropbox files directly from Quickoffice app, edit the files using Quickoffice tools and then save them in Dropbox app Quickoffice.

3. hardware requirements: Apple Wireless Keyboard

If you're going to work hard on your iPad, you will need the Apple Wireless Keyboard ($ 70), which connects to the iPad (and iPhone) via Bluetooth. Is the same size as a Macbook keyboard, in the sense of the size of the keys, only slimmer.

The keyboard requires two AA batteries, which takes an incredibly long time. The keyboard is switched off when not in use and automatically starts as soon as your fingers touch the keys.

However, this presents a problem: the keyboard lights often accidentally, that iPad signals near fire up to via Bluetooth. The solution is to disable the Bluetooth on the iPad while traveling.

Tom Kaneshige covers Apple and Networking for CIO.com. Follow Tom on Twitter @ kaneshige. Follow everything from CIO.com on Facebook and Twitter @ CIOonline. Tom please send an e-mail to mailto: tkaneshige@cio.com.