Did I say I have bought an iPad 2 ?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

No idea on the Cyrillic, but ODF format is the issue. (apart from IBM, hardly anyone uses it in business, so there is little to no money to be made in a cheap app).

Otherwise QuickOffice will do probably everything you want; apart from the ODF format!!

http://www.quickoffice.com/quickoffice_pro_hd_ipad/

Thanks - will take a good look at QuickOffice - will certainly accept from my Office 2008 by the looks of things

OK update

Have an iPad2 WiFi 32GB from the refurb store - pleased with it

MBP is , as of this morning , on Lion - download easy - a few hairy moments during the install and it took aaaaages for Mail to organise itself but all is now up and running , Neo-Office muttering darkly about crashes - but that can wait to be dealt with - yes I do save frequently so hopefully that will be OK for a while . Office 2008 seems happy and the printer still works as it should.

Next thing is to deal with the compatibility of document going to DropBox , I really want to be able to use the iPad to save me carrying hard copies of stuff [ like 40 page booklets we have prepared in 2 languages ] We may well end up having to PDF everything .

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibm-lotus-symphony-vi...

ODF viewer for IOS.

Thanks - but I think we may still have a problem -

We are using a PC Lappy using Linux and Open Office , and Cyrillic Fonts are used

a MBP using Neo-Office and or M$Office 2008 using cyrillic fonts as well

And Dropbox into which we both put files [ we are working 400 miles apart ]

He can read all files in the DropBox no matter in what Format and no matter who put them there . While I'm on the MPB I can also read everything, whether he put them on or me .

The problem is ONLY when I'm using the iPad . If I put The Lotus notes reader on the iPad will it let me open the Open Office / Neo Office/ M$S documents whilst they are still in the Dropbox ?

I know i"m being a bit thick about this - but I'm getting confused I'm not intending to do more than a few posts on Fora or write e-mails while away from him on the iPad

In reply to a post by goldenoldie:

Thanks - but I think we may still have a problem -
We are using a PC Lappy using Linux and Open Office , and Cyrillic Fonts are used
a MBP using Neo-Office and or M$Office 2008 using cyrillic fonts as well

And Dropbox into which we both put files [ we are working 400 miles apart ]

He can read all files in the DropBox no matter in what Format and no matter who put them there . While I'm on the MPB I can also read everything, whether he put them on or me .

The problem is ONLY when I'm using the iPad . If I put The Lotus notes reader on the iPad will it let me open the Open Office / Neo Office/ M$S documents whilst they are still in the Dropbox ?

Yes it should and the IBM Lotus Symphony viewer (nothing to do with Lotus Notes btw) is free too. Give it a go - you just tap on the file in the Dropbox app on the iPad, and it will open in any associated app. iOS handles all this for you.

I know i"m being a bit thick about this - but I'm getting confused I'm not intending to do more than a few posts on Fora or write e-mails while away from him on the iPad

well - the problem was solved easily

All docs were prepared on either the MBP and/or the Linux lappy and passed between the MBP and the Linux Lappy by way of dropbox for proofing etc . The final document was then exported to PDF by whichever of us was the final proofreader and it could then be read with no problem on the iPad. I think the biggest document was a mere 28 pages long and bilingual to boot !

The iPad proves a resounding success and was in truth a Godsend