iPad in an interview
2010
Last week, I’ve been testing my iPad to see how useful it would be in a work environment.
As a mobile device with a 9.7-inch screen, it can be used for writing, well at least to take notes during an interview. I didn’t fancy typing on the iPad. It feels odd. I do touch typing and I would have to type with my fingers flat on the screen which is uncomfortable. Typing in URLs and short notes are fine. But not a 60-minute interview.
So to get started, I’d to spend money. The keyboard is the first consideration. Apple’s wireless keyboard (absolutely love the thin, light keyboard) for US$69. You can get one in Singapore for S$78. To type notes, I needed a document software. So I bought Pages, Apple’s word processing software for US$9.90 from the App Store.
Link the iPad and keyboard via Bluetooth and I can start working. I’ve used it to take notes during three interviews and the combo worked beautifully. The two devices together are lighter than the 1.36 kg Macbook Air. When completed, I email the file as a Word document to my laptop in the office. Two benefits, don’t have to carry a backbreaking laptop and the iPad and l Apple wireless keyboard are great conversation starters, so the interviewees are pretty relaxed - and talkative - when the interview starts!
One problem I encountered while I was carrying the iPad around. It hooked on to a public wifi network and didn’t let go. For 36 hours, the iPad showed one bar of wireless connection to this public wifi network, draining the battery juice quickly too. It wouldn’t recognise any other network, not even the one at home.
After much frustration, I got enough courage to reset the network settings. But I backed-up the iPad first. Then I hit Reset Network Settings. It worked. I got rid of the public wifi network. My geek friends told me that I could also click on Forget Network. Apparently, this fault is a known bug.
Now, that my iPad is proving itself more than an entertainment device, dare I bring my iPad to an overseas assignment? I’m thinking hard. Stay tuned.
Related Posts