Can I syn two iPads on the same apple I'd and keep apps different on each.

Yes and Yes. You can sync as many iOS devices as you want to one iTunes account and you can decide which apps you want on each device. You can share Apps as well as long they are tied to the same account.

Even if you choose to auto sync - it is still possible to do this as rbrylawski has stated. I sync four iDevices to the same iTunes library, using one Apple ID and each device has it's own content on it. I do not auto sync. If you care to try this yourself ....

Launch iTunes on your computer and go to Edit>Preferecnes>Devices - check the box at the bottom - Prevent iPods, iPods, and iPads from syncing automatically. Click OK, close the window and quit iTunes.

Now when you connect the iPad to the computer - iTunes will not sync until you tell it to do so. I also use the Sync only Checked songs and Videos option in the Summary tab of iTunes. I go into each tab in iTunes - apps, music, books, movies, music - and select the precise content that I want to transfer to each device.

I have two devices and I always sync automatically. I'm lazy and it saves me the labor of one mouse click! Since the devices have unique names, there is no difficulty in setting up different sync characteristics for each device.

rbrylawski wrote:

You can share Apps as well as long they are tied to the same account.

App sharing is possible without regard to whether or not they are tied to the same account. Once they're on the computer, iTunes is oblivious to the Apple ID for sync purposes. (You do need to pay attention to the ID when updating apps.)

This is not meant as a knock on anybody but merely my opinion on the way that Apple sells the "it just works" experience. And I think that it does relate to the OP's question here so if I may ......

Philly_Phan wrote:

I have two devices and I always sync automatically. I'm lazy and it saves me the labor of one mouse click! Since the devices have unique names, there is no difficulty in setting up different sync characteristics for each device.

Obviously you are correct - but do most users know how to set up each device for their own unique content? If iTunes starts up when you connect the iPad and it syncs before you know what hit you - its no wonder to me why users erase content and mess up settings on their devices.

As long as a user can auto sync, auto start, and not have to think about what they are doing - it discourages users from finding viable alternatives for syncing other ways, and it encourages panic when they see that dreaded "this device is synced with another iTunes library" message and then have no clue as to what to do or how to deal with anything that requires any thought or experimentation. They run into any little thing out of the ordinary and have no idea where to begin.

And the reason for that is - "it always worked for me in the past and I never really thought about it" because Apple says it just works.

If the user had to think about what they were doing when they sync, there might not be so much stress involved in situations like - "Can I sync my iPad with a new iTunes library" - can I use two iPads with one Apple ID? and the list goes on and on .....

I love Apple products and have bunches of them. I just received a new MacBook for Christmas and I adore it. i'm getting the hang of Lion and I think it has some really sweet features. But I want to be able to control my experience on my own to a large degree and I think in many ways - Apple does people a disservice by not stressing the fact that they have many options at their disposal.

I could be wrong - but this is just my opinion ..... 🙂

Demo wrote:

If iTunes starts up when you connect the iPad and it syncs before you know what hit you - its no wonder to me why users erase content and mess up settings on their devices.

I have a philosophical disagreement with my learned colleague. IF the users connect to the computer's iTunes BEFORE doing anythng else, the worst thing that will happen is that they may end up with MORE apps, music, etc. on the iPod that they wish. Nothing will be lost because nothing was there to begin with and certainly the extra items can be easily removed in the future. Before you mentally prepare your response, be aware that the procedure that I've just described is detailed in the chapter entitled "Getting Started" in this silly little document.

Cheers!

I'll make this real easy - you win.

It's not how you play the game; it's who wins and who loses! 😁

LOL - leave it to a Philly_Phan! 😁

And for the record, I did say that the content of my post was my opinion - misguided perhaps - but just my opinion.

I have an iPod touch and an iPad and they have different apps. I had the Touch first then the iPad and when I first sync'd the iPad, all of the touch's apps crossed over. I then went through and uninstalled the ones I didn't want, put on iPad specific ones etc and I was able to figure out how to have separate apps, on two different devices, on the same Apple ID. And i'm far from a genius nor did I memorize the manual.

One thing I'd suggest is to definitely have different names for each of your devices, just so you can keep straight what has what on it. and turn off the auto sync as others have suggested.

I like you, don't have my devices auto sync when connected. I'd rather they sync when I want them to sync.

How do you choose different names for your devices? thanks