Can I put Microsoft Word on my iPad?

No.

In a nutshell, the iPad is not a computer. It does not run computer applications. Instead, it runs iPad "apps" (sold in Apple's App Store).

No you can't. As for the rest, you'll have to define what you mean by compatible and describe what you want it to do.

There are quite a few 'Word compatible' apps in the App Store. Examples are Documents to Go, Office2HD. I use the word 'compatible' a little loosely as they are not so good with complex formatting, but still they can read, create and save Word-type documents which you can tidy up later on your PC or Mac.
Just search for 'Office' in the App Store.

You might consider Logme Ignition and remotely using Mac Office directly on your Mac.

I'm curious, would you provide another definition of "computer," because your second sentence is recursive.

pvonk wrote:
I'm curious, would you provide another definition of "computer," because your second sentence is recursive.

His post contained some questionable grammar, as does yours. Such things sometimes go by the boards when you find yourself working on large numbers of submissions.

Assuming your question is more along the lines of, "In which ways is the iPad not a computer?", then the primary difference to me is the absence of any accessible directory structure and an associated file handling system. Add such things as limited I/O options, limited ability to expand or modify the system, severe restrictions on when and how data can be moved around, and so on and so forth. For those reasons, among others, I don't view the iPad as a computer.

Gail,

Absolutely YES, you CAN create and edit MS Word docs on an iPad. It is a computer (not designed to be primary computer, but definitely a computer) and works great at creating and editing content. It works even better at creating content with the addition of a bluetooth keyboard.

I personally use a combination of Dropbox and Documents to Go. There are many other apps and combinations, but I like Dropbox as 1) it's free and 2) Docs To Go connects natively to Dropbox.

Docs to Go also supports Google Docs and iDisk, among other network file storage folders.

-Mike

I'm curious. What does "recursive" mean?

re·cur·sive [ri-kur-siv]
-adjective
1. pertaining to or using a rule or procedure that can be applied repeatedly.
2. Mathematics, Computers. pertaining to or using the mathematical process of recursion: a recursive function; a recursive procedure.
Origin: 1935–40; recurs(ion) + -ive

recursive definition
-noun Logic.
1. a definition consisting of a set of rules such that by repeated application of the rules the meaning of the definiendum is uniquely determined in terms of ideas that are already familiar.
Origin: 1935–40

Message was edited by: David M Brewer

Although recursive was not exactly wrong in this case (it would have made more sense if your first two sentences had been separated by a colon), I think redundant would have worked a bit better. Of course, repetition for the sake of emphasis does have a place in rhetoric.

😉

I use Docs to Go on both my iPhone and iPad and it works very well with Word. I can write on either iPhone or iPad in Docs and it will open up in Word and vice versa. Well with it!

Nancy

OK, that provides a reasonable, modern, definition.