G Martin
Level 1 (79 points)
Mac App Store

Q: File Transfers between Mac & iPad?

Can I connect an iPad to one of my computers and transfer PDFs, Text files, eBooks, etc from one to the other.

I know I can transfer books. music & pictures through iTunes, but what about other types of files.

 

I used to use the original barnes & noble color nook but have recently lost it. The new Samsung Note Tablets seem to have major transfer issues between mac & android so I can't use them. I don't want to lose the ability I had with the old Nook but am worried Apple products won't allow me the same functions.

 

Can the ipad be set up like an external drive?

Is the another way to accomplish this?

 

I could use some advice before I give up or go Windows.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), MAC G5

Posted on Oct 12, 2015 1:56 PM

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G Martin

Q: File Transfers between Mac & iPad?

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  • by SergZak,

    SergZak SergZak Oct 12, 2015 2:18 PM in response to G Martin
    Level 5 (7,368 points)
    iPad
    Oct 12, 2015 2:18 PM in response to G Martin

    G Martin wrote:

    Can the ipad be set up like an external drive?

    No.

     

    You have the option to email the actual file from the Mac to your iPad as an attachment, then use the "Open In" feature to choose the app to open the file (attachment) in.

    You can also use an online storage drive such as Dropbox or Google drive to do the same thing.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Oct 12, 2015 3:09 PM in response to G Martin
    Level 8 (41,017 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 3:09 PM in response to G Martin

    Please realize an iPad is a tablet.  It should not be thought of as a file-based or folder-file organized device like a computer.  Rather it is a one-user tablet.

     

    Having said that, and noting it appears you have a Mac, you can do some sharing using AirDrop which is described here (assuming your Mac is not as old as suggested in the profile displayed at the bottom of your original post).

     

    Use AirDrop to send content from your Mac - Apple Support

  • by G Martin,

    G Martin G Martin Oct 12, 2015 4:32 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (79 points)
    Mac App Store
    Oct 12, 2015 4:32 PM in response to sberman

    unfortunately my OS's are that old. I may have 10.7 on my G5. I'm not there at the moment and can't remember.

    i have a second drive with yosemite loaded but have been having trouble with it and am hesitant to replace 10.7 completely .

    in any case. i assumed that since i could do this on an old, old Nook and even though it's buggy, it is even possible on the Android that the Mac would be able to replicate the function.

    I remember when the iPod came out and we were told it couldn't be used as a drive but I have been doing so for years.

    I just hoped there would be a work around that i didn't know about.

    I guess I will learn to do without.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Oct 12, 2015 8:41 PM in response to G Martin
    Level 8 (41,017 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 8:41 PM in response to G Martin

    G Martin wrote:

     

    I guess I will learn to do without.

    Part of the growth we can experience as I see it is the ability to modernize as our equipment changes.

     

    I'm a retired programmer.  Years ago, I used such tools as a mouse, a telephone modem, a teletype (to a computer service bureau), magnetic tapes, even a keypunch.  Technology advances.  We move on.