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I’ve been looking into a PDA (I think thats what their called. You know.. Palm Pilots etc) & I was wondering if anyone else uses them.
I have date book but quite frankly my writing (when in a hurry,, which is almost always) is terrible & the other problem I find with paper is that I use it to doodle when Im on the phone. By the time Im done I cant find the information on the paper I started with.
Also the most usual writing pad I have on me is the top of my cigarette package. Which seems like a good idea at the time but I toss the pack when its empty loosing what I wrote. I cant tell you how many times I’ve gotten customers phone numbers when they’ve showed up at a site wanting a quote only to toss the package out OR have the scrap piece of wood tossed at the end of the day.
I think with a Palm Pilot I would respect the $$$ I spent on it & NOT toss it out. Also I could see it excellent for lists of materials & even, depending on how high cost I go, use it for price lists of various work & even contracts for work that customers could sign right there.
I do finish carpentry in a rather large subdivision & the builder has given me many extras including deck building, changing windows in man doors etc etc but I don’t get them on any invoices till the end of the month. In December I found out I hadnt billed for a 8′ wide solid maple mantle I had built for a builder (not a very organized one) & now 2 months later theres no money left & I may not get paid with out a hassle.
I really think one of those little computer things could help me out.
Anyone else use one? What should I look for? I looked at the low end ones for around $100.00 but after looking at the higher end ones there are many more functions like smaller versions of Excel & Word. That could be handy.
Thanks for the input
Ted Rowell
ps. I only started the business in Sept of 2001 & doing FANTASTIC! Just need to work on the organizational skills.
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I use one for e-mails, but what I really got it for is stock trading.
I type in an order ticket on my home computer early in the morning, the handheld lets me edit or cancel the order if I change my mind about something,most of the time I hammer away , and if I get a fill, an e-mail alert goes to my phone, when I get a spare moment, I'll adjust a stop order.
I think you can do all this with a phone now, but I think the PDA is better because of the screen size.
Get a hard case if you bring it on a jobsite.
*I have one of the palm pilots. I tried to use is but it was a hassle for me. when I was on the phone and someone gave me there number or other information I was fighting the hand writing recognition or trying to type (tap is more like it) it in on the little keyboard. the biggest hassle was that I had a bunch of phone numbers and addresses on it and the batteries died and I lost all the information. I can't use the cradle with my home computer because it creates conflict with the USB post that I have the digital camera connection on. these are the reasons why I am sticking with my paper planner. to each their own but for me it was more hassle than it was worth. BTW ever try to sketch an idea on one of those things... HA! lots of luck.
*I've been considering it lately, but finally decided to stay with the paper- I like a med. sized month-at-a-glance. It's just easier and faster for me to write. Whatever you choose to do, it's largely a matter of establishing a habit.......Hey, Ted, maybe you should disguise it as a cigarette pack, or keep it always right there next to your smokes. -Ken
*I tried one. It was a hassle. Gave it to the wife and she loves it. I use a small micro cassette recorder now. This things great. I use it and check it several times a day and at the end of the day I play the tape back which is usually quick reminders and phone numbers. It's amazing how many "Oh yeah, I gotta do that" or "Wow, I need to call him" I forget about during the day. Primarily I use it when somebody calls me and I'm up to my elbows in work or driving and can't write it down. I keep a small laptop in the truck too.
*I bought a Palm about a year ago with the idea of just seeing what it could do. I got the modem and keyboard at the same time and an aluminium shell case for it a little later. The learning curve was pretty steep. But now I don't know how I would live without it.Having everything in one spot without having to track down scraps of paper is great. Bringing home notes to be uploaded to the PC is great. Being able to check emails from whereever there is a phone is great. Just be sure to use a program that lets you check the email without automatically downloading it.Being able to get all the numbers in the field then bring them back to the PC and putting them in the spreadsheet easily is great.In other words I can't think of a downside to a Palm except one. If you can't handle the learning curve or the idea of a machine imposing discipline on you a Palm isn't for you.Just be sure you get one that uses the Palm operating system and not one of the Windows miniatures.Sonny, as I remember you bought one about the same time. How did it work out for you?
*Hi Howard:Try a BlackBerry from Rim. Research in Motion. They are fantastic. You can e-mail suppliers and customers. I currently have 6 costomers who I keep in touch with using mine. One of my subtrades was told by his client that he could have the job on the condition that he bought one. check them out
*I also have one, because my problem was as mentioned before, lists and more lists; I was constantly trying to consolidate, reorganize, and rewrite stuff. Now don't get me wrong, the Palm doesn't replace a pad of paper, and you're not going to be doing quick sketches on it (particularly with the catcher's mitts I've got for hands), but I can keep all of my jobs organized, reprioritize, keep mileage and expenses in one place, track jobs, and download project information to it. I couldn't live without mine...but it's only another tool; it's the process behind using it that make it work. And yeah...mine has a voice recorder to...so no paper or writing for a lot of stuff!
*Ted, I have been using a PDA for several years ,Handy tool for keeping track of information, phone numbers and such. My most used application on mine is an older version of Punch List.We do 120-150 Townhomes/Condos a year,this application makes it easy to track the subs,along with address, permits, inspections,buyer options etc. You can buy a Palm M100 for less then $90.00 its a good basic unit. If it works for you Money well spent. If not, Go to http://www.Download.com and load it up with Games like subhunt, hangman,Blackjack,minehunt& Dopewars .Great for passing time when the building inspector is running late.
*Download the software "Bugme!" It lets you write and draw as if you had a pencil.
*For those of you who the palm now works well for, what software are you using /find best for what tasks.thanksJohn
*Hey Terd:Nice to see another Canadian address out there! I have always used a big spiral notebook that everything goes into when I'm on the phone, but I am certainly intrigued by the possibiities of these PDA things. One possible downside is that your clients may find it too easy to keep peppering you with little e-mail questions all day. Let me know how it works outAndy, in Pickering
*I use the stuff that came with the new operating system(4.?), Tiny Sheet and a couple of specialized programs that replace pocket reference books. But the beauty of a Palm is that there is so much stuff out there for almost every purpose you can tailor it to your needs. Plus, the Hotlink lets you move data back and forth to your PC.As for email, I've just started using it. But I control it the same way I control all email. I check it on my schedule and don't answer every time the chime rings. Just like returning phone calls I set aside time to do that task.
*Ted:I just logged in to check on another response and found that I had misspelled your name terribly-my apologies.Andy
*I have used one for several years. I can't live with out it. I do back up to the office computer as much as possible, never more than a day of two so if I lose it I do not lose the info, like a paper organizer.I also use it with a thing called a "smart Pad" made by seiko. It cost about $200. It looks like an portfolio, the palm goes on the left and a writing pad is on the right, but if you use their pen the notes you write on the pad get transferred as an image to the palm. Grreeat for not losing notes, estimates, drawings, etc. It backs up to the computer so nothing is ever lost.