Flossmanuals released (already sometime ago) a manual to get started with Etherpad. It is handy for both people who want to run their own installation, or the users of an etherpad installation.
Etherpad is a real time collaborative editor. Etherpad can and has been used for the following:
Taking minutes for online or offline meetings, workshops or any event about which you wish to keep records.
Real time or asynchronous, text-based planning of projects
A tool for education and reflection
Collating resources, research and other forms of data
If you want to test out Etherpad there are may installations that are open to all. These include:http:/
/ beta.etherpad.org
https:// pad.riseup.net
http:// notes.occupy.net/
Find it here: http:/