The numbers don’t lie: By the end of 2010, some 500,000 iPads are expected to have landed in customers’ shopping carts all across Germany. Meanwhile, more apps are joining the some 300,000 already on offer for the device every day, making it increasingly difficult to keep track of them all. Market researchers estimate that users all over the world will download five billion apps in 2010 alone, with Germany accounting for 755 million. In our opinion, however, only a select few iPad apps are suited for serious everyday use in business.

In addition to some publishers’ attempts to provide digital apps as a substitute for their printed newspapers and magazines, these handy offerings primarily include productivity tools that make users’ daily work easier and address the shortcomings iPad evinces in its default state.

Audi is just one major company introducing tablet PCs into its automobile production, aiming to replace its paper-based entry of parts and components with digital records in a pilot project. This was also a topic of discussion at the SAP Automotive Symposium 2010 – for further details, check out “Automotive Symposium: €145 per Car”.

SAP is pursuing similar considerations; tablet PCs like iPad can, after all, be a convenient substitute for heavy, unwieldy file folders. However, this applies in particular to marketing and sales – areas that work more or less exclusively with text, e-mail, and presentations. Here, we can only concur with the skeptics who assert that the device is anything but ideal for creating such files.

Presenting to coworkers and customers alike with iPad (image: Frank Völkel)

iPad is much more about impressing customers on their turf and helping your company demonstrate its innovative nature. The question is, which apps does an everyday (virtual) office environment need to finally force laptop and desktop PCs into retirement? Can they offer enough functionality to cover e-mail, appointment scheduling, directions, presentations, social media, travel expenses, vacation applications, and company car management – all outside of the Windows world?

From a technical standpoint, Apple has made significant strides since the days of the first-generation iPhone and iOS 1.01: Its devices now support Microsoft Exchange Server and IMAP access, as well as encrypted Internet usage through (IPSec) VPN, WPA2, and SSL/TSL. However, iPad’s file structure is not currently open for modification by company-internal IT departments.

Meanwhile, iPad trumps ultraportable laptops in terms of battery life thanks to its low-power LED display and processor. The device can make it through an entire day of business without needing a recharge.

Have we roused your interest? Then read on for an overview of what we consider the best tools and programs to make your workdays more productive and less dependent on your laptop.

• Office² HD 3.6
• Numbers 1.2
• SAP Business One 8.8
• Reeder 2.1.2
• Read It Later Pro 2.2.1
• Dropbox 1.3.1
• Dragon Dictation 2.0.3
• SAP Business ByDesign 2.5
• Citrix Receiver 1.1
• SAP BusinessObjects Explorer / BI OnDemand
• VLC Player 1.1.0
• Smart Bring-Me-Back 1.0.3

Next page: Text and spreadsheets with Office² HD

New in iOS 4.2: Microsoft Exchange 2010, print functions, and multitasking