How to save add to homescreen & notes before update

If you sync your iPad (and make sure sync Notes is selected) then they should all be there after the back-up completes and then apply the update to 4.2

Notes gets saved to your Mail.app. You can read, print and edit them there.

BUT...make sure it is set to sync your notes in iTunes first. Make sure they show up on your machine.

Either way, they will still be on your iPad after upgrading, as long as you restore from the current profile and not "setup as a new iPad"

🙂

As for the notes:
In the Mac OS Mail app. You might need to click the expansion triangle next to Reminders in the sidebar on the left. You can also have them show up in the Inbox if you check the box in Preferences > Accounts tab > Mailbox behaviors.

As for the home page bookmarks, I'm not sure. These should have been moved back over when you restored your info. Or did you set it up as s new device?

If so, you may need to recreate them. The best way to keep those would be to add them to the regular Bookmarks (and "sync bookmarks" in iTunes is turned on -> device name ->Info -> Sync Bookmarks).

Then after the regular bookmark is saved, add it to the home screen. That way you'll always have the bookmarks stored, even if you restore to factory settings...they'll still be on the Mac.

I can only say my home screen bookmarks have always been there. There isn't a "place" for them.

BUT, like I said, making an actual Safari bookmark (and syncing bookmarks in iTunes) means they will always be there and that can be verified by syncing the device with that enabled, then viewing your bookmarks on your computer after.

That way you can be sure that they are always there.

Yes, they are cumbersome to navigate. I created a Mobile or iPhone folder on the desktop, and put all of them in there that I use on the iPhone/iPad. It works pretty good.

But as far as saving them, they are saved as part of your preferences, so if you restore from your backup they will still be there.

You may also want to look into ReadItLater or Instapaper or something along those lines to modify the functionality and syncing of bookmarks.