With Apple’s more than 15 million iPads shipped during the quarter, the worldwide PC market grew 16 percent year over year. Not counting tablets, of which the iPad is easily the most successful, the PC market actually shrank by 0.4 percent worldwide when compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Canalys data.

Apple’s success both with the iPad and its Mac computers allowed it to take top honors for the quarter, knocking HP to second place overall. Canalys says the lack of a valid HP tablet competitor, now that the TouchPad is shelved, will mean that HP will continue to struggle against Apple’s success.

The iPad wasn’t the only tablet to do well during the quarter, however. Canalys says that the Amazon Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet also helped contribute to the success of tablets in the U.S. Amazon ranked as the second strongest tablet manufacturer worldwide, while Barnes & Noble took the fourth place spot.

All told, iPads accounted for 22 percent of all worldwide PC shipments in the fourth quarter of 2011, as measured by Canalys. It’ll be interesting to see what effect a new iPad launch in the coming months might have on the worldwide momentum of tablets, and the larger PC industry.

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Apple has previously topped the most valuable U.S. company by market cap, Exxon, on other occasions but if the stock surge sticks, it will now be ahead of Exxon by around $3 billion to $4 billion. Apple’s quarterly profit of $13 billion is the second-highest reported figure on record from a U.S. company, surpassed only by Exxon in 2008, which boasted a $14.8 billion quarter.

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We do indeed appear to be approaching the crucial moment, as Bloomberg reported recently that production of Apple’s next-generation tablet is now underway in earnest ahead of its official consumer availability, and the device includes LTE connectivity as well as a new, high-resolution display. Macotakara’s new report merely puts a more specific timeline on something many suspect to be imminent.

It’s worth noting Macotakara also accurately called the release timeline of the iPad 2, though they were a little off on the announcement; it had cited February as the month for the unveiling event, and March as when it would make its way to consumers, and Apple actually announced the device on March 2, 2011, and began selling it March 11. The site also said in Oct. 2011 that the iPad 3 would begin wide production in January, with release planned for March.

If you’re a user pinching pennies in advance of an iPad 3 release, budgeting for March definitely seems like the best course of action at this point.

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Credit: ifoAppleStore.com

As Apple has added to its collection of retail stores around the world, it has also been upping the ante on the stores’ design and architectural flourishes, from the 5th Avenue “cube” store in New York City to the Shanghai store with the clear glass cylinder.

Apple is getting even fancier for its proposed new flagship store in Aix en Provence, France, set to open in late 2012 or early 2013: It is doing away with walls almost entirely and going for an all-glass structure (as seen in the rendering above), with the exception of a rear wall for offices and inventory. IfoAppleStore.com reports that the glass will be “enabled by new technology developed by Apple’s glass suppliers.”

The newest store is clearly an eye-popping and accurate expression of Apple as a company in one way: It shows its love of and appreciation for design. But the design analogy of almost total transparency? Not so much.

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Generally, the suppliers listed in White’s index experience an average decline of 15 percent month-over-month in December, he said in the note. That dip seems to anticipate a similar drop in sales among certain products following the holiday shopping cycle; in 2011, for instance, Mac sales went from 4.19 million in its first fiscal quarter, which includes Christmas, to 3.76 million in its second, and iPod sales dropped from 19.45 million to 9.02 million. iPhone sales saw a modest increase, but Apple introduced the Verizon iPhone 4 in February during the second quarter, which could explain the isolated uptick.

Most analysts estimate that the quarterly results to be announced by Apple on Jan. 24 will be record-breaking, based on information like that from supplier Multi-Fineline Electronix, but White’s checks indicate Apple’s sales could be on a roll that will bear impressive results next quarter and beyond, too.

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• In total, Apple conducted 229 audits, an improvement of 80 percent over its 2010 total. Over 100 of these audits were first-time audits.
• Apple expanded its audits to 28 suppliers in Malaysia and Singapore, where migrant workers are known to be in heavy use. The audits resulted in payout of $3.3 million to foreign contract workers as a result.
• Overall, Apple found a 74-percent compliance rate across eight categories when it came to labor and human rights practices in 2011, and 67-percent compliance when it came to suppliers having management systems in place to deal with the problem areas identified.
• In response to non-compliance across human rights and labor practices, Apple ended discriminatory medical screening at suppliers that had them in place, cut ties completely with at least one supplier in retaliation for repeat offenses regarding forced labor, and required compensation for underpaid wages, among other measures.
• Apple has partnered with the Fair Labor Association, an initiative spearheaded by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, to bring outside monitors into its suppliers’ factories to ensure standards are being met.
• At 14 suppliers in China, Apple conducted “specialized environmental audits,” which involved bringing in third-party environmental engineering experts. Apple intends to continue working with these facilities to correct issues uncovered during these audits, and plans to expand the program in 2012. This will no doubt continue to be an area of contention for Apple, since Chinese environmental groups continue to press the issue, and while they’ve reported being pleased is taking action, they aren’t yet satisfied enough has been done.

In addition to the highlights listed above, Apple also posted a list of its suppliers, containing 156 companies and representing 97 percent of “Apple’s procurement expenditures for materials, manufacturing, and assembly of Apple’s products worldwide.” Apple has been criticized in the past for not divulging specific supplier relationships, so this is a major step towards greater transparency, and one that will likely be welcomed by environmental advocacy organizations.

Update: Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly sent out a company-wide communication about Apple’s supplier report. In it, he highlights some of the progress made by Apple in curbing underage labor practices, improving living conditions for supplier employees, and building an extensive training and education program. Cook also highlights Apple’s partnership with the FLA:

The FLA is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving conditions for workers around the world, and we are the first technology company they’ve approved for membership. The FLA’s auditing team will have direct access to our supply chain and they will report their findings independently on their website.

For the full text of Cook’s letter, check it out at its original posting location at Macgeneration.

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Apple’s special displays were announced alongside a program of deploying small boutiques within Target’s larger stores called the “Shops at Target,” the retailer revealed. These pop-up-type shops seem to be temporary locations that will sell Target-specific goods. The arrangement with Apple is separate from the “Shops at Target” initiative, but full details are not yet known about what exactly it includes.

Target spokeswoman Dustee Jenkins told MarketWatch that Target will “have 25 stores with unique display and assortment [of inventory]” for Apple goods, but it isn’t clear where or when the stores will appear first. We have requested more information from Target and Apple and will update this story if we find out more about what is being offered and what the timeline is for the arrival of these stores.

An in-store partnership with Target should help Apple reach more markets in areas where dedicated Apple retail locations don’t make financial sense. If they do end up resembling Best Buy mini-stores, they will be staffed with knowledgeable, Apple-specific personnel and offer Mac computers and more in addition to the iOS devices currently available at Target.

Photo: Some rights reserved by Chris Coyier

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Despite that Apple doesn’t officially exhibit at CES, its presence is felt everywhere. Accessory makers use the show to launch docks, devices, chargers, peripherals and more designed to plug into, power up or otherwise complement Apple hardware. And Apple’s competition in the computer and mobile hardware game seem to be almost equally paying homage to the absent Mac-maker; Intel’s vaunted Ultrabooks aspire to be the next MacBook Air, while smartphones and tablets are measured against Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

It makes sense then, that Apple’s own iOS product marketing chief Greg Joswiak, as spotted by PaidContent’s Tom Krazit, would be on hand to take a look at what the competition thought would represent legitimate competition to Apple’s hardware and software. And if someone as high-ranking as Joswiak is on hand, then another 250-odd lower-level employees is hardly a surprising figure. CES, after all, is a terrific opportunity to see not only shipping products from a broad cross-section of the competition, but also to get a look at how your third-party peripheral partners are representing your own products by association, as well as other in-development tech trotted out to wow the media.

Apple doesn’t need a presence at CES, but it will benefit from the opportunity it represents to take a look at the competition with its guard down. In stark contrast to Apple’s typical behavior, many companies are previewing devices that could be almost a year out from actual production; getting a hands-on look at the iPad 3′s and next MacBook Air’s potential competitors with the benefit of insider knowledge is definitely worth the price of a few hundred registrations.

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1. Take a picture of your products and serial numbers

Whether you want to inventory your items or need a handy reference when there’s a problem, taking a picture of the product as well as its serial number means you won’t be in the awkward position of trying to talk on the phone while on the floor with a flashlight trying to read those teeny tiny numbers.

Plus, if you should have a theft or disaster, having a visual record of your items makes it easier for your insurance company to settle your claim.

2. Schedule your items with insurance

Speaking of insurance, I suggest contacting your homeowners, renters, or business insurance provider to see about separate insurance for your most expensive technology items. While insurance providers and policies vary, typically scheduling an item provides it extra protection and covers it separate from your regular deductible. If your computer is scheduled, many times it will even cover data recovery should your computer be dropped or damaged.

3. Track key information in your Address Book and iCal

If only you’d contacted tech support before the warranty expired, the broken gadget would have been repaired at no charge! There’s an easy way to make sure you have all your info on hand when you need it.

As you take pictures of your items in step 1, put the serial number and warranty expiration date in your Address Book along with tech support’s phone number (create custom fields for Serial Number and Tech Support if you wish). Attach the picture of the item to the address book entry.

Then put the warranty expiration in your iCal Now you’ve got all the info you need in one place and won’t miss that warranty expiration date.

A bonus outcome of this tip is that if you are at the electronics store and you have questions about compatibility or which model you own, the information will be handy so long as you sync your address book info manually or through iCloud.

While these tips won’t prevent problems from occurring, they’ll help protect you from further cost and inconvenience when they do.

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The iPads all plug into the town’s NovusAgenda software, providing commissioners with all necessary meeting materials, including budget worksheets, zoning maps and PowerPoint presentations, which once comprised 210 pages of printed materials each. These packages used to be distributed in paper form to 19 members, which meant a whole lot of time spent copying, and money spent leasing and maintaining copy equipment, in addition to the cost of supplies.

Town Manager Anthony Roberts says he’s amazed with how much sense it makes to use iPads and digital material instead of paper. “It’s just a no brainer,” he told the Huntersville Herald. “We used to print all those agenda packets and people threw them in the recycling bin after the meeting.” Plus, Roberts says, going digital helps transparency, since “the beauty of this system is you have everything online. It’s there forever and a day, and the general public sees everything.”

There’s an initial expense associated with the system, but the NovusAgenda software is a one-time fee that should last years, and the iPad 2s are actually relatively cheap, since only the 16 GB Wi-Fi versions are required. Roberts says the city spent between $700 and $800 on each laptop it was purchasing anyways, so the iPad is a much more economical solution. With a gradual rollout, there’s no reason to think the savings wouldn’t scale for larger cities, too.

The iPad is winning fans in government, business and education because it’s easy to use for almost anyone, and because it’s very flexible thanks to its support of custom apps that plug into third-party systems and server software. Cornelius is a good example of how it can have an impact at the municipal level, and Roberts points out a very good reason why we might see other cities (many of which are facing budget crunches) follow suit: “People ask why? To save money. They’re cheaper. That’s why.”

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The new iPad displays are distinct from the iPads on display for customers to try out; their home button doesn’t do anything, and the tablets appear to be running a custom version of iOS software that is specifically designed for the Apple Retail environment. The iPad software displays information for the products they’re next to, including pricing, technical information and features. You can also compare different models from the iPad consoles, check out a section aimed at new Mac users (who continue to be a key target audience for Apple Stores), get support information and also call a specialist to come and help you out.

The presence of the iPads means that instead of static information placards, customers have access to an interactive display featuring tons of useful information regarding the product next to it you’re interested in buying. At the same time, you’re using another Apple product to digest said information. It’s a natural extension of Apple’s hands-on experience retail focus and could lead to more retail sales as people experience the ease of iPad navigation and its responsiveness.

The use of iPads as selling tools is one step closer to providing a retail experience that sells by using the infrastructure of sales, not just marketing and display material and the products themselves. Apple Retail 2.0 is a live case study that other business owners and retailers can observe in action, complete with examples of how Apple hardware and software can work together to change the very nature of your in-store customer relationship.

Apple also introduced a new version of its Apple Store iPhone app, which brings new in-store features, including push alerts telling you when the next Genius Bar appointment is available, and a call button for a customer service representative, so you don’t have to hunt down a blue-shirt yourself. The app also now includes built-to-order customization options for Macs.

All of the changes mirror a trend with Apple in general to move to in-house solutions where possible, and to keep the ecosystem and product interaction tight. But it also acts as a great example for business users and enterprise, where iPads are often used as sales tools. Apple hasn’t traditionally pushed its products very hard on the enterprise sales side, but it’s still making huge gains in that space. And while it may not market to business directly very much, creating a living, breathing proof-of-concept is arguably a much better selling tactic, anyway.

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The remaining 22 percent of smartphone activations fell into the “other” category, which includes Windows Phone devices, as well as Symbian and Palm smartphones. The iPhone grew its share of all activations in April to 64 percent, and Android also saw an increase, with 33 percent of all new devices brought online during the month. Note that Intermedia’s stats do not include BlackBerry devices, since they don’t use ActiveSync.

While Apple maintains a strong lead with iPhones, the story regarding tablets is even more heavily weighted in favor of iOS. Intermedia saw 900 and 1,200 new iPad activations in March and April, compared to a monthly average of around 300 before that. iPads accounted for 99.8 percent of all new tablet activations, with the remaining tiny fraction split between the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Motorola Xoom, and the Huawei S7.

Enterprise adoption of the iPad is impressive by all accounts. During its last quarterly earnings call, Apple said 75 percent of the Fortune 500 are actively using or testing the iPad for deployment. (Eighty-eight percent are doing the same with the iPhone.) Another report from a different enterprise hosting firm back in January found the iPad was quickly growing its slice of the enterprise iOS adoptions pie. I hear reports daily about iPad deployment programs at businesses large and small. Most recently, I was told that at most major Canadian law firms (some of which are arms of much larger international organizations), the iPad has become an omnipresent sight, especially among senior partners.

Apple’s success in the enterprise can be attributed to its ability to bring the iPad to market as a finished product with a smooth and dependable user experience, something Google has been unable to do thus far with its Android operating system. Enterprise IT is far less likely to take risks on an unproven platform than consumers, and while Android is a proven hit with consumers, it still hasn’t shown itself to be on par with iOS in terms of OS stability, regardless of whether you’re looking only at tablets, or at smartphones as well.

Reports also rightly point out that Google Android is much less secure than iOS, which is bound to scare off  IT departments already reluctantly dealing with the risks involved with allowing consumer devices in the enterprise. Finally, Android OS fragmentation is a considerable issue when it comes to being able to provide comprehensive IT support.

Android may be doing a good job of cornering the consumer market, but all indications are that Apple is the one making real inroads among enterprise customers. Thanks to the iPad, the aggressive growth position iOS occupies in the business world may become a dominant one before too long, especially if we continue to see big activation numbers like those reported by Intermedia during March and April.

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Getting Connected

Getting a new iPad 2 is only half the battle.  Once you’re at work, before you can reclaim the time you once lost to reboots or hunting for the one free power outlet in the conference room, you realize you need to get connected to the corporate network.  For the most part, establishing a new connection to your place of work’s wireless network is quite easy.  If you’re running into any issues when connecting, Apple has updated its iPad networking troubleshooting guide.  You may also need to contact your IT help desk if you’re unsure about any of your connection settings.

While getting connected may have its technical challenges, don’t be too quick to overlook your company’s data policies and security guidelines concerning HIPPA, COPPA, FACTA and OPPA before attaching your personal device to the network.  Even once you’re connected to your business’s network, you may find you’re no longer connected to the internet.  This could be because you have yet to configure the proxy settings for your network. Apple has documented a series of deployment scenarios your business can adopt if you’re not the only one who’ll be using an iPad in the workplace.

Accessing Emails Calendars and Contacts

This is where things may get a little tricky, especially if your corporate email server sits behind a firewall.  If you’re going to exclusively use your iPad on your business network, they you may not have any issues.  But if you plan on taking your iPad outside of that network, it will constantly keep trying to access your email server that’s no longer accessible.  For this reason, it may be worthwhile to see if you can access your email via a web-based interface. Both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes offer such solutions.

The built-in iPad Mail app will support Microsoft Exchange, MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and any POP/IMAP email accounts.  Setup for these services is easy if you follow the steps outlined in Apple’s online assistant for configuring mail.  Most business users will use Exchange to sync mail, calendar and contact data.  You may need assistance from your IT help desk to identify the mail server and domain for the solution you need to connect to. Lotus Notes users also have the option to download and install the Lotus Notes Traveler app from the App Store.

If you’re interested in maintaining just your business calendar via Google Calendar and keeping other elements separate, you can set up an account specifically for that purpose, and access multiple calendars via the CalDAV interface.

Establishing a Comfortable Workspace

While the virtual keyboard is great when on the move, there are times when your needs are a little more intense.  I’ve always liked the BookArc ($29.99) from Twelve South paired with an Apple Wireless Keyboard. Another great option from Twelve South is the Compass Mobile Stand ($39.99).

JustMobile also has an impressive lineup of iPad stands, including the Slide ($39.99), the UpStand ($49.95) and the Encore ($59.99).

Sharing Ideas with Colleagues

There are thousands of apps that can help you express your ideas and make decisions that help enable your business realize its true potential. From just brainstorming a series of random thoughts in Notion’s Popplet Lite (free), to architecting the next great Internet innovation with The Omni Group’s OmniGraffle ($49.99), the options are endless.

One of the biggest trends is to replace the old school Black N Red note-taking standards of the past with more modern online repositories like Evernote (free), or if you’re looking to draft something with a little more substance, the Dropbox-powered Elements ($4.99) may suffice.  When reviewing the work of others,  I’ve also found the PDF annotation capabilities of GoodReader ($4.99) quite useful.

You may also find you don’t need more traditional editing applications like DocumentsToGo, QuickOffice, Numbers and Pages as much. I would, however, recommend using Keynote to at least start drafting a presentation or outlining a new idea.  Once you’re ready to share, connecting an iPad to an HDTV via HDMI or to a projector via VGA requires only a simple hardware accessory.

Now More Than Ever

At the latest iPad launch, I was able to talk with many individuals who all shared a common need, which was to have a simple, portable, powerful connected device.  It struck me as I was conducting the latest round of iOS benchmarks that Moore’s Law may no longer be applicable, as Apple has found a way  to enable individuals to think and communicate using less energy and less computing power, not more.  You may not be using your iPad in the workplace yet, but even if that’s the case, the day when you will isn’t far off.

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It’s not all gumdrops and unicorn tears, though. There are some serious shortcomings I hope Apple fixes in future hardware and software releases, and the unveiling of the next generation of iPad Mar. 2 is a perfect opportunity to see some of these dreams realized. Here’s what I’d love to see, from a business user’s perspective.

Hardware

Matte Screen. It seems I always get stuck under a light when I’m typing on my iPad. The resulting glare is killer. I really hope Apple gives us a matte screen as an option. This will also make reading outdoors a whole lot easier, rendering Amazon’s Kindle ad campaign less potent.

Rear-facing Camera. It’s a given the next iPad will have a camera, most likely a front-facing one for FaceTime. However, for business uses, I’m a strong advocate of a rear-facing camera. While the iPad isn’t a good alternative to an iPhone as an out-and-about camera, when I’m in meetings or a lecture, I’d miss having the rear camera to integrate a picture of the whiteboard into my notes. Also, I can see the rear-facing camera as a huge boon to field service personnel.

Support for Bluetooth Remotes. This may be a software issue, but I’m hoping Apple allows me to use a Bluetooth remote when giving presentations with the iPad. Right now, the lack of any remote for iOS Keynote is a major downfall.

Pass-through Accessories. The VGA dock connector is great, but Apple needs to make a solution where I can use that and charge my iPad at the same time for when I’m giving presentations. I also tend to hook up my iPad to a monitor for watching videos, so being able to charge and watch is a definite necessity.

Software

Centralized Document Storage. The biggest problem I have with the current iPad is how hard it is to move data from one app to another in iOS. Plus, using iTunes to side-load a file into an app’s sandbox is cumbersome. My hope is Apple creates a Documents app similar to the Photos app. If you connect a USB storage device, it would ask if you want to import files (and allow you to choose which ones are imported), and it would make these files available to all applicable third-party apps. This will greatly improve interoperability.

Uploading in Mobile Safari. The second biggest problem is that Mobile Safari can’t upload files.This is a gigantic pain. It means I can’t use my iPad to upload files via my school’s Blackboard, insert inline pictures with WordPress’s web UI, send files using a corporate webmail client, or do just about anything else involving uploading from the web.

Better Bluetooth Control. I mentioned I want Bluetooth remote support, but overall, I need better control of my Bluetooth devices. For starters, the Bluetooth range is a little long — I’ve walked 50′ away from my keyboard and still had it paired. This is fantastic for a remote, but a pain when I need to type on the virtual keyboard. Unfortunately, the only “clean” way I’ve found to shut off the keyboard and not have to re-pair it is to shut off Bluetooth altogether. I’d like to be able to pause an attached device, or specify a smaller range.

Overall, I’m fairly happy with using my iPad as a mobile writing platform. It has its limitations, but I think the advantages outweigh the negatives. It’s lighter than my MacBook, it’s a wonderful device to read and surf on, and when I need to bang out some copy with a Bluetooth keyboard it’s fantastic. I’m going to be at a local four-day convention soon and I won’t be bringing my MacBook with me; everything I need to do, I can do on my iPad. Even still, improvements like these will go a long way towards removing some of the iPad’s limitations.

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Selling Health

First, the iPad continues its well-documented success in the health industry, this time with medical device-maker Medtronic Inc. CIO Michael Hedges has purchased 4,500 iPads for Medtronic, which has around 40,000 employees. The volume purchase came after a successful pilot project with 10 iPads just after the device’s launch.

Hedges bought the 10 tablets for use on Wednesday, April 8 2010 at a trade show in Germany. The iPads replaced larger, more expensive displays traditionally used by the company. People came to check out the booth just to see the iPads, which hadn’t yet been released in Europe at the time.

The 4,500 iPad purchases that followed made sense to Hedges because they work wonderfully for showing off products to clients when you can’t bring physical samples with you. Try fitting an MRI machine in your luggage. The iPad supports video and can grab data in real time, making it better than any glossy sales catalogue. Hedges also pointed out that the iPad is instant-on, a huge boon when it comes to using gadgets with impatient clients and tough-sells.

Selling Cars

iPads are also being used by BMW for the South Florida International Auto Show in Miami, taking place right now. Instead of the usual specification panels used by auto-makers at these kinds of shows, BMW wanted to provide potential customers with an interactive experience, and the iPad just fit the bill.

Using BMW’s digital configuration app on the iPads, show attendees can customize car color, interior and wheel options for each model. They can also provide contact information for local BMW dealers if they’re interested in finding out more about a car or scheduling a test drive. The technology clearly has the potential to make its way from the trade show floor to the sales floor of every dealership, which is exactly how some auto-makers are already employing the iPad.

Selling Anything

Both cases speak to the same truth: whenever business has to speak to customers or clients, the iPad can help. Even if you’re just using your website via the device to show clients what you have on offer, it’s better than paper because it’s searchable and supports multimedia content. Also, there’s the “wow” factor of the iPad itself, something which it doesn’t seem to be set to lose anytime soon.

Businesses want iPad presence. Canada’s leading grocery chain is working on iOS apps for all of its major lines of business, which include banking and houseware sales, according to a reliable source. That same company also provides iPads to all of its executives, and the CEO is said to be very familiar with the platform. The reason? Apple created an ideal consumer-focused device, and for any industry where working closely with clients and customers is of utmost importance, that’s exactly what business is looking for.

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Forrester’s Ted Schadler looked at how tablets are making their way into the enterprise in a new report, asking more than 200 companies about their experiences with the iPad (primarily) since January 2010. What they found was both surprising and, in some ways, to be expected.

IT Leads the Charge

First, and most unusual, it looks like the drive to bring the iPad to enterprise isn’t being pushed from the bottom up, as is often the case with new technology adoption at larger companies. Instead, IT departments are stepping up and initiating iPad pilot programs of their own accord. According to Forrester, this time IT doesn’t want to be stuck in the reactionary position of playing catchup, as happened when the iPhone first starting infiltrating the enterprise in a major way.

The numbers reflect this strategy. 30 percent of firms are actively working on tablet apps, while another 43 percent are interested in the devices in some way or another. Considering the newness of tablet tech, those are very high percentages.

How the iPad Is Useful

In the report, Forrester identified three major ways the iPad is working its way into enterprise IT:

• Displacing Laptops. The iPad is a worthy notebook replacement for many, especially for people who use their portables mainly for email and other forms of web-based communication. But for now, the device is mostly appearing in scenarios where it’s more appropriate, so people aren’t ditching their notebooks entirely at the office just yet.
• Replacing Paper. We see this happening in the medical and pharmaceutical industries especially. Anywhere people once had to carry around a stack of paper, basically, is a good place for the iPad to step in. In many cases it’s more portable, and it’s definitely much more flexible .
• New Uses. Where companies may have lacked an efficient way doing something, or at least of doing it in a way that provided instant connection to additional resources and data, the iPad has stepped in to fill the gap. Forrester cites the example of sales floor personnel being able to instantly customize an order with a customer.

The advantages and disadvantages of tablets in enterprise, according to Forrester.

Effect on Business

It’s too early yet to provide solid numbers on the kind of business impact the iPad is having in enterprise, but a few use cases described in the report do point to some pretty significant advantages. One pharmaceutical company, for example, is using iPads to avoid the costs associated with the destruction and reprinting of new marketing materials when changes need to be made, something it’s required to do by the FDA. Sales staff can carry iPads instead of printed materials, so that updates can be issued on the fly, keeping everything current.

The introduction of the tablet isn’t without challenges. Forrester notes that IT will soon be faced with a glut of choice, and recommends prioritizing iOS, Android, and HTML5 first. There’s also the problem of when you can and can’t use an iPad. Office still has only limited support on the device, with no official solution from Microsoft on the horizon.

Problems aside, the iPad is already guaranteed to be a permanent fixture in business. It should provide a way for Apple to heighten the enterprise presence of all of its offerings, since iPad users will want greater cross-platform integration once tablets prove their worth.

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):

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