Running a global firm from an iPad, thanks to Iceland’s volcano

The bad news? Realizing I would be grounded for at least six days in Europe, so missing my son’s debut as the lead in Beauty and the Beast. The not so bad news? Although I am 4,000 miles from New York, I am stuck in beautiful Paris!

This trip was different. It was to be a short business trip – a few days of meeting clients before heading back to CERTPOINT’s New York headquarters. For the first time, I left my laptop at home. Instead, I decided to give my brand new iPad a road test.

And as my only device for running a global firm on, that iPad has had plenty of testing over the past few days.

The verdict?

The iPad passed with flying colors.  Although I wish it had this feature and that feature, the bottom line is this: the iPad is a game changer. I believe it will change the concept of personal computing for ever – making the standard laptop a dinosaur.

For the past six days I have been running our global firm right from my iPad. I can access remote files, surf the Internet, author stunning presentations, email, work on spreadsheets and when in need of a break watch a movie.

And most fun of all, since it is not yet available in Europe, I feel like a rock star in the Parisian cafes which I have turned into my office since Wednesday. Trendy young men and women constantly stop and ask me to take a peek at it. I feel great!

Ara Ohanian
CEO, CERTPOINT Systems