Braulio Baptista, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects When he first ordered his iPad (3G, 32GB, $599), Braulio Baptista, AIA, a partner at Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF) in Portland, Ore., was motivated by entertainment: watching Netflix movies and reading magazines such as The New Yorker or Edition29. “I was surprised to find out, however, that with some specific apps I can stay productive when I’m away without having to carry around my bulky PC laptop,” Baptista says.

He uses Autodesk’s SketchBook Pro to draw and AutoCAD WS for viewing drawings. “Most of what I do on the iPad is review and critique,” Baptista says, adding that the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen off ers “a fair amount of real estate” with which to work. “While I’m on the road,” he continues, “I can review drawings and other in-progress work such as renderings and diagrams. Then I can send the drawings back with comments and markups. It was like having to relearn how to finger paint.”

Baptista says the iPad’s portability means he carries it to more places than he would a laptop, allowing him to increasingly overlap work and leisure. “I also have a PDF library with ZGF’s portfolios by building type so that I can use it as a marketing and presentation tool,” Baptista adds. And not only is the iPad lighter than his laptop, but it relieves the need to pack heavy, space-consuming magazines and books when traveling.