In my office, I work with documents all the time, and even while I am on the go I tend to receive files that I need to check out or fill, depending on the situation. And while using Office 365 might be a good idea, I don’t have a laptop with me all the time, and that’s where Office 365 for iPad comes into play. This application has been specifically designed for people just like me which need to access Office files on their iOS device and it can even open files created under the Windows version without any hassle.
The iPad version of the fabled software suite isn’t just another iPhone port, instead Microsoft took the time and effort to create the app from scratch, and this means that you get a much better experience than a simple resized port.
Presentation
Office 365 for iPad integrates three applications, which are Word, Excel and Power Point. These applications are free to download and use as long as you want just to read files, but the need for writing documents or creating presentations arises, then you will need to purchase an Office 365 subscription, which is around $7 per month. The application suite is fully compatible with Sharepoint and OneDrive, as it stores files there.
User interface
The Office 365 for iPad suite comes with the fabled Ribbon interface that you usually encounter in the desktop versions, which is a very good thing. I also liked the fact that the interface isn’t stuffed with features, instead it brings you the ability to access only the most important functions and that’s it. The menu is located in the upper left corner where you can access functions such as creating duplicates, restoring previous versions, checking the file properties, turning off AutoSave and so on. You don’t have an option to print items, but in the end you won’t need it, as you can easily send the desired file via mail if you want. A neat feature here is the fact that the application scales between the portrait and landscape mode with ease, so no matter the usage method you prefer, Office 365 for iPad provides it to you.
Word
In Office 365 for iPad’s Word you get a lot more features when compared to how many you can find in the iPhone version for example. Here you get a full color gradient as well as multiple other customization options that just make the application customizable and different at the same time.
The overall usage is pretty much like in the desktop version for Windows tablets, as you swipe with ease and you won’t encounter any difficulties even while zooming. Inserting images within your file is made seamlessly and you also get numerous neat functions to work with. If someone else is also working within the opened document, you will even receive a notification for that, a feature that I personally found to be very useful, considering that I work in an office environment where sharing documents is essential.
You will even see the portion of the document that the other person is working on when you use the Office 365 for iPad, ad this is one of the most impressive features that Microsoft has managed to implement until now.
Excel
This version of Excel is actually very powerful and it places a lot of power in your hands. You can add anything from shapes to text boxes, charts or anything that you might need. One can also images and change their format if you need, a very useful feature if you are one of those persons that just wants to add a touch of uniqueness to his/her Excel charts. The iPad processor does a wonderful job in running this app, and everything worked seamlessly in my experience. There are some minor downsides here, such as the fact that you can’t add pivot tables for example, but this doesn’t damage the overall user experience as much as you might think.
Since this is Excel, you gain the opportunity to use a wide range of integrated formulas, just like in the iPhone version, although in this situation you get support for even more formulas as well as other goodies. The formula bar can be hidden whenever you want and you also get the ability to freeze panes.
Power Point
Unlike in the desktop version, here you don’t have the opportunity create that many types of slides, but those that are present were professionally created and using the app is just a breeze because of that. The pinch and touch gestures work seamlessly and the whole process of creating a slide or viewing it has never been easier, thanks to the integration and support for various types of slides.
Conclusion
Office 365 for iPad has been specifically created to provide the iPad users with the possibility of using one of the best office suites that are available right now. You get access to the most important applications from the desktop suite, and this is by far one of the best things about it. Additionally, you use an app that was specifically designed for the iOS environment and which has been tailored to offer the best iPad experience.
The Office 365 for iPad tool successfully manages to take full advantage of the larger screen that’s offered by the iPad and brings an even more immersive experience. The fact that you have countless customization options is a great addition to the iPad version and despite the Office 365 subscription requirement and the ability to store only on OneDrive, Office 365 for iPad still remains a viable solution for those that are Office users on desktop and want to use an iPad. The ease of use, reliability as well as lots of interesting functions certainly recommend Office 365 for iPad as being the best productivity tool that you can use on your iOS device!
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