iPad Use for Business - My App Essentials

This is my list of Apps. Enough people have asked for my Apps list that I figured I'd keep it here. The list is what I'll call the "Essentials List." I have backups or fails for every category.

We use tools all day. One of my favorites is the iPad. Coupled with my iPhone, this multi-tool is always ready to help, or entertain. I find that I do more on the iPad, the more I use it.

I'll also admit to being an App junkie. I have been a technologist in the loose sense, since early on in my life. In 6th grade, I helped the Sussex County middle schools evaluate their first turtle graphics package on Commodore PCs. I puzzled over code in Byte magazine back in the day. Last week I helped someone at work make a laptop choice. Sooo, I'm not trying to change the world, but I do have an opinion. One built on real life usage. This is not what you often get in the breathless "Best Apps of 2012." I have stopped reading these lists, because there is little new under the sun.

Find what you like and stick with it. If it frustrates you because of a feature you want, either it is coming soon, or another App will do it for you.

In full disclosure, I have become somewhat of a MacAddict. I switched a few years ago after becoming disillusioned with PCs, WinTel. My friends even remember me evangelizing for Linux (Ubuntu is very close to being a true desktop alternative). Then I got a Mac, and like everyone says, it just works. Not without a few hairballs now and then, but with significantly less hand holding than PCs, which I still use at work, so I know the differences. I am a Fanboy. A Steve Jobs evangelist. Their stuff is markedly better. Worth every penny (if you can afford the pennies, it does get pricey in MacWorld).

So, You know who I am and why I am here. Now onto the lists. This is prioritized based on my workflows, and what I use the iPad for. Sorry for the lack of links and glitz, but it is just a list.
Hardware
11" Macbook air (MBA). 2.0 processor, 8MB ram, 256GB ssd hd.
Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000. Great mouse if you need one.
iPad (3rd Gen). 64gb. AT&T 3G. Black Cover. Not sure of 3G, you may be better off with a wifi hotspot that gives you 4g for both devices, but that is another thing to carry.
iPhone 4S. 64GB Black, AT&T.
MBA softwareMS Office 11 for Mac - Outlook really works, now.
Evernote. All the time. Always with me.
Mind node lite. Mind maps. Link to Drop box for cross-platform sharing.
Caffeine - Keeps screen from blanking during presentations.
Sophos antivirus. You never know.
iPad appsOmniFocus - I have all the omni apps but Omnifocus one me over for the many lists I have to keep, because it syncs desktop, phone and iPad. I always have my to dos. You can do a lot of this with the new Reminders app, but Reminders didn't quite work for me, and Omni has been doing it right since the original iPhone app.Google Chrome. Always good to have a backup browser. Some sites are better viewed in Google Evernote. Love it, live it. Get the paid $60 subscription. Never lose anything again.
FE Snap. Fast Photo entry to Evernote.
Fastever XL. Fast text entry to Evernote.
Mind node lite. Mindmapping. I also own OmniGraffle, and I think Mind Node is better.
Ever paint. Paint to Evernote.Dropbox. Next to iCloud, there are some files you want, and Apps that don't play with cloud well. Use Dropbox for Sync and backup.Facebook. Get used to it, You will now have somekind of personal social networking in your life.Goodreader.
Drafts. Text writer. This has become my go to writing platform on the iPad. Solid controls, minimalist.
Airplane apps. BA united, etc.
Pages, Keynote, Numbers. Yes, I have them. I rarely use them. I suppose if I were to really cut the PC cord, and not care what formats I create in, I could get by, but I am a PowerPoint Ninja, and Numbers is no Excel. I'll wait for native iPad apps from MS Office, rumored for next year.
Pulse newsreader. Best I have found, and aggregates many news feeds.Skype. Free video and voice calls.'nuff said.
Linked in. Keep personal and professional separate. Don't cross the streams.
53 Paper. A good notebook approximation. Still trying to get used to drawing on the iPad. Need a routine to improve. I have a Bamboo stylus and really like it. I keep going back to Penultimate. I also have the Bamboo app, but no particular love for any of them. All are adequate. This is the hardest part of using the iPad as a notebook, your brain doesn't think of it as pen on paper.
Dictamus. Dictation. Email voice recordings. Sometimes you need a recording.Netflix. Great app. 
OptimumIO. If you have Cablevision IO Optimum as your cable tv provider, and their DVR, you can control your world from this App. One of the few times that an add on App is worth it.
TED. View TED talks. 
NPR. Same NPR, more content.Adobe reader.Podcasts. I love the separate app. Podcasts are a great way to stay current on news and interests that you might not find elsewhere.
AppAdvice. Worth paying for, good update on Mac and iPAd news.
The Weather Channel. Perfect for iPad.
USA Today. Love free newspapers (are you listening New York Times?)
Bloomberg. Rarely used, but sometimes interesting to get their take on economic events.
iAnnotate, PDF. I haven't used it much, but these PDF tools allow annotation and form filling on the iPad. Compatibility is tough, I'll need to play more. Replaces PDF Pen.