PDF on iPad
September 6, 2010 1:23 PM Subscribe
PDF presentations on iPad: easiest way?
Nice toy, the iPad, but getting files from your computer on the thing is not always easy. What's the easiest app to get PDF presentations from computer (PC's running Vista, Windows 7) to the iPad without having to upload them somewhere? Preferably, we would just pass through iTunes or something.
We would prefer to use PDF instead of Powerpoint files for multiple reasons, the main one being that Powerpoint is evil. As far as I can tell, Keynote does not import PDF files (only exports them from Powerpoint files?).
Nice toy, the iPad, but getting files from your computer on the thing is not always easy. What's the easiest app to get PDF presentations from computer (PC's running Vista, Windows 7) to the iPad without having to upload them somewhere? Preferably, we would just pass through iTunes or something.
We would prefer to use PDF instead of Powerpoint files for multiple reasons, the main one being that Powerpoint is evil. As far as I can tell, Keynote does not import PDF files (only exports them from Powerpoint files?).
(drop box is just cool in general BTW)
posted by bitdamaged at 1:25 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by bitdamaged at 1:25 PM on September 6, 2010
Best answer: Connect your iPad to your computer, fire up iTunes, then drag and drop.
Couldn't be easier.
(bitdamaged is right, though...Dropbox is just about the coolest thing ever. A must-have for iPad.)
posted by Salient at 1:31 PM on September 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
Couldn't be easier.
(bitdamaged is right, though...Dropbox is just about the coolest thing ever. A must-have for iPad.)
posted by Salient at 1:31 PM on September 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Well, what I'd prefer is *not* to have to upload them to dropbox first. I'd prefer to upload through iTunes or something, straight onto the iPad.
Also, I need the PDF's on the iPad even when I'm offline. Dropbox does not seem to support this.
posted by NekulturnY at 1:33 PM on September 6, 2010
Also, I need the PDF's on the iPad even when I'm offline. Dropbox does not seem to support this.
posted by NekulturnY at 1:33 PM on September 6, 2010
Then see above where I said, "Connect your iPad to your computer, fire up iTunes, then drag and drop.", and you'll be all set :)
posted by Salient at 1:38 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by Salient at 1:38 PM on September 6, 2010
I don't have an iPad for testing, but on the iPhone version at least, if you "star" a file in Dropbox it will persist in offline storage. See here.
posted by Sam Ryan at 1:39 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by Sam Ryan at 1:39 PM on September 6, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, Salient. They make that whole App thing so complicated, you figure: they must have found a way to prevent you from uploading files. I will now go overthink a plate of beans.
posted by NekulturnY at 1:40 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by NekulturnY at 1:40 PM on September 6, 2010
My pleasure. I probably should have mentioned that once you've synced you iPad, look for the PDFs in iBooks.
posted by Salient at 1:47 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by Salient at 1:47 PM on September 6, 2010
FYI, Although iBooks supports PDFs, I tend to prefer goodreader, myself. Some apps, including goodreader, have a drop icon that shows up in the app section (or was it the main section...I can't recall and I'm away from my computer on an iPad right now...) in itunes of the ipad or iPhone.
posted by hylaride at 2:39 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by hylaride at 2:39 PM on September 6, 2010
I need the PDF's on the iPad even when I'm offline. Dropbox does not seem to support this.
It does, in fact. Mark the files you want stored locally as favourites (i.e. star them), and Dropbox will keep a local copy.
posted by SNACKeR at 2:55 PM on September 6, 2010
It does, in fact. Mark the files you want stored locally as favourites (i.e. star them), and Dropbox will keep a local copy.
posted by SNACKeR at 2:55 PM on September 6, 2010
The Dropbox app is not the hottest, but Dropbox as a service is great. Like hylaride, I recommend using Dropbox + Goodreader. It will automatically store pdfs locally once you open them up for the first time, you don't need to hook up your iPad to transfer files, and Goodreader is a great pdf reader in its own right.
posted by painquale at 3:16 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by painquale at 3:16 PM on September 6, 2010
I would also look at Goodreader. It gives you multiple options for accessing files (including Dropbox) and its great for viewing all types of files in addition to PDFs. I regularly use Goodreader to give presentations on the iPad. Highly recommend it.
posted by tundro at 4:10 PM on September 6, 2010
posted by tundro at 4:10 PM on September 6, 2010
It is important to note, as an aside, that IOS has some pretty nasty bugs regarding the rendering of some PDF documents.
Be sure your documents appear properly before showing up for a presentation.
posted by Rendus at 6:20 PM on September 6, 2010
Be sure your documents appear properly before showing up for a presentation.
posted by Rendus at 6:20 PM on September 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bitdamaged at 1:25 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]