I have a iMac, an iPhone and an iPad. I am struggling to integrate the use of all three devices. I've spoken with other Mac users who are also struggling with this issue and notice that it's now being discussed on the Web. [Note - Although I describe some iPad problems, I love my iPad and so do most users.]

People use iPads in different ways and thus have different needs. My goal is to be able to use the iPad at any time or place whether I have an Internet connection or not. While I recognize that screen size, processor power and storage capacity impose certain limitations (i.e., in video editing), I'd like it to be able to do on my iPad almost everything that I now do on my Mac.

The integration issue arises for a number of reasons:

File Transfer.

The iPad raised the level of conductivity and integration by orders of magnitude. The iOS operating system contains methods for transferring files between a Mac and an iDevice, although they are rudimentary and require the use of iTunes and a cable connection.

All types of files can be transferred from the Mac to the iPad using the GoodReader app or the Air Sharing app. Which one you use is a matter of preference. Both apps have folder functionality and both allow you to specify the app you want to use to open a file. Thus, you can transfer a Pages file to the iPad using GoodReader and specify that Pages should be used to open the file, but a duplicate of the file will be filed with the Pages app. That certainly is not an optimal solution.

Lack of a File System.

Even more frustrating is the lack of a real file system on the iPad. Folders are not yet available for iWork apps. iWork files are stored with the Pages, Numbers or Keynote apps, and files are stored chronologically. You can have the equivalent of folders (termed Collections) in Apple's iBook app, but subfolders are not yet available. The iBook app can store PDFs and e-books in various formats, but it cannot store other types of files, such as word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation files. Files transferred to GoodReader are stored with GoodReader, and folders are available.

Synchronization.

Of prime importance is the ability to synchronize files among all the devices. Using Apple's iTunes or MobleMe, you can synchronize these Apple apps: addresses, calendars, music, podcasts, photos, Safari bookmarks, and Mail accounts What is missing is support for a standard way for third-party apps to synchronize their files. Currently, you have to separately synchronize each third-party app. Apple needs to allow third parties to use Apple's synchronization software, just as they eventually supported multitasking for third-party apps.

The lack of a unified file system for the iPad means that you have separate, non-integrated silos of data on the iPad. It's cumbersome but it's workable, assuming you can remember which silo the file you're looking for is in. For example, is the file in the GoodReader, iBooks' or Pages silo? It's is definitely not the superb user interface we expect from Apple products.

This brings me to my major complaint about Mac/iPad synchronization. I want to be able to be able to leave my Mac behind and rely entirely on my iPad when I leave my office. Therefore, what I need is seamless two-way synchronization of files between my Mac and my iPad. If I'm working on the iMac, I want the files on the iPad updated. Similarly, if I'm working on the iPad, I want the files on the iMac updated. In effect, I want the MobileMe functionality applied to all files. That's not pie-in-the-sky, but it's probably several years away. In the meantime, I have to remember to manually update my files.

Synchronization has a reduced importance when (not if) you begin to store your files in the cloud, i.e., on a remote storage facility that you access through the Internet. That's the subject of another column.

One tip. On an application-by-application basis, you can use either iTunes or MobileMe, but not both. I use the latter for most synchronization and turn off iTunes synchronization for those files. Failure to do so would result in duplications, such as events in calendars, bookmarks and notes.

What Device To Use.

The final question to consider is what you want to do on each device. This depends in part on what devices you are willing to carry and also on the size of the device. I have no problems carrying an iPhone and iPad in most places, including around the house. But I find that the iPad is too large to use in some meetings, particularly dinner meetings. Similarly, the iPad is a bit cumbersome when I'm sitting at a meeting without a table.

An iPad, with its larger size, is much better than an iPhone for searching the Internet, although I have used my iPhone to search the Internet while I was composing on the IPad. The two devices can work well in a complementary fashion.

I didn't use Apple's iPad Pages application to compose this newsletter because it doesn't provide as many features and flexibility as I have in the desktop version, but I can use the iPad to edit what I've written

I have yet to figure out an easy way to search the web with the iPad and then save the pages on my iMac. I can e-mail the link, but that means I'm opening the page twice. I've been using the LogMeIn app ($30) which allows me to work directly on my iMac from my iPad.

Conclusion.

I'm beginning to feel comfortable using my iMac, iPad and iPhone in some sort of coordinated fashion. There are still some hurdles to be overcome, but as users work through the issues and as Apple and other companies improve their synchronization software, we will reap more of the benefits of using both Macs and iDevices.

— Mark S. Bazrod, Editor