So I just got given a free ipad :-) well I've got given hubby's old one as he got a brand new one for free. So....what are the best apps/ways of reading pdfs etc.

I'd love to be able to annotate pdfs really, but not through mendeley - I found their pdf reader great, but the program itself crashes my pc every time I've tried to use it in the last 2 years.

I think the best PDF app on the iPad is Goodreader. It works well with all different kinds of PDFs, and you can annotate, even with a stylus if you buy one of those (can be bought very cheaply).

For mind mapping and brainstorming I use the iThoughtsHD app. I get far more done with it than I did beforehand, and it's a great productivity tool.

For distraction-free writing get an app like WriteRoom (there are others, but I think that's the original of its kind): totally focused writing, with no fussing about fonts or layout etc. I have mine set up to do green text on a black background - very 80s! Great for when you just want to get the words down.

And if you like Twitter and/or Facebook but want to try viewing them in a different light try Flipboard.

My other favourite app on there is Feeddler RSS reader (I use the Pro version) which is great for following blogs etc.

Enjoy!

Any other folk with app ideas or am I the only other post-doc or PhD type with an iPad? :p

I'm particularly interested in apps to turn it into a productivity tool. As I said I've found iThoughtsHD has transformed my productivity. I wish I'd bought an iPad earlier!

Also there's a blog dedicated to using the iPad as an academic/productivity tool. See http://academipad.com

This is very timely as I have been considering buying an ipad. Would anyone like to sell me the benefits of this shiny toy. I need to justify it to my wife as to why I MUST have this cool looking toy and how it will transform me into an amazing researcher-assume there is an app for that?

I guess I should also hear the negatives as well...

Take care all,

I like iAnnotate to read and mark up all sorts of PDFs. A good book reader is a must. Also, if you use a reference manager, try to find the corresponding app. Mendeley has a great app and synchs all my references. I also recommend some sort of cloud storage (I use Dropbox and Google) to save and synch work you do on the iPad that will need to go to your primary computer, like thesis chapters.

Have fun with it! :-)

I second BilboBaggins choices. I use them myself and find them very useful, especially Goodreader!!

Hope you enjoy the iPad!

Thanks for the suggestions. I've downloaded goodreader which is great! Already had dropbox. I don't use mindmaps usually, so not sure about the mindmap one? I tend to right my plans out in bullet points instead.

I've found the dragon app useful though.

I didn't use mind maps before I got this app, and I sort of still don't. I use it for getting down ideas fast, which is sort of the mind map equivalent of a bullet pointed list. I find I get things down more quickly and creatively using this app than I did before without it, and that means I get more things done more quickly and better. I really wish I'd got it when I was still doing my PhD, especially writing up the thesis.