Can an iPad replace your laptop? Well, OnLive is trying to get iPad users one step closer to making that a reality. The OnLive Desktop mobile app has recently launched in Apple’s iTunes Store and the Google Play Store, bringing a cloud-based windows environment to the iPad and other tablets.  The OnLive servers allow users to edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents remotely via their Wi-Fi or broadband connection.
Users have more than one option. OnLive Desktop Standard offers 2GB of storage space for free. With all the features of the Standard service–plus a full flash browser, gigabit-speed cloud storage (i.e. Dropbox) and web mail attachments (think Gmail), OnLive Desktop Plus is available for $4.99. OnLive Desktop Pro, available for $9.99, provides users with 50GB of storage space. Desktop Plus feature will roll out soon.
Similar to iCloud, Dropbox and Box.net, OnLive can serve as your premier cloud storage option and be accessed from any mobile device. OnLive’s primary competitor is Google Docs, which allows users to create and modify documents and spreadsheets compatible with the Microsoft Office Suite.
“Launching a brand-new chapter for OnLive (and everyone), OnLive
Desktop gives users instant access to a seamless Windows desktop experience, with full-featured Microsoft Office applications and 2 GB of free cloud storage for secure file access anywhere,†said OnLive’s CEO and Founder Steve Perlman in a blog post.
While iPads are not flash enabled, OnLive’s Desktop Plus option provides users with the ability to access flash content when using the Internet Explorer browser.
The makers of OnLive are currently working on enterprise and collaboration tools that will increase the usefulness of one’s iPad. Â Â In the end, OnLive is making the case for tablet users to have an environment online that allows them to rely on their mobile device.For up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news, follow OnLive on Twitter at @OnLive.