Does anyone take all their drawings, specs, etc. to the jobsite in one of these? If you do, how does it work for you?
I don’t own a laptop, and so was thinking a tablet PC might make sense as one to use on the jobsite.
My job build file has all the geometry and drawings in a combination of Sketchup and Cadkey files, material lists all in Excel, including millwork and hardware schedules, and the supplier drawings for the floorframe, roof trusses, cabinets, etc. are all in .pdf. Add to that the specs and drawings for the heating system, plus all the catalog cut sheets for plumbingware and appliances, and it is a lot of stuff to have on paper. Since it is all in my desktop PC, why not carry it to the job in one of these?
Replies
Works for me. I have a Gateway that functions as much like a laptop as a tablet. The one I have has a glass screen and is pretty heavy, but it isn't like I walk around with the thing that much on a jobsite. Seemed like the glass screen made sense because, if you use the tablet function, you're pressing on the screen with a stylus. A regular laptop is usually kind of soft-screened.
Mine lasts about 2 hours or so on battery, so for me it made sense to use a power inverter a lot. The reason for that is that I tweaked the power settings for when its on battery to be pretty much full power instead of slow and dim which were factory settings (the older I get, the less patient and more blind I get).
I've been pretty happy with it so far (about 6 months). I think I'm going to bump it from 1 gig of memory to 2, but that's all I'd change. The other upside is that a lot of homeowners either don't care or don't know about wireless security so I can keep up with emails for free.
Edit to add this: The Gateway I use has a screen that flips open, twists around and then closes back up. Then, it is a tablet, otherwise its a laptop with a keyboard, mouse, etc.
Edit again to add: It also works well to show clients what their project will look like using Chief Architect.
Edited 3/18/2007 1:17 pm by Greg
Edited 3/18/2007 1:18 pm by Greg
Never messed with a tablet but...
One concept that I've got running through my head is that since I like working out of vans is to set up a mobile office in the front with a laptop and a real printer (maybe 11x17?). Run the laptop off the cigarette lighter when there's no 110v around but use 110v to power the printer and the laptop when it's handy which is most job sites I've dealt with. Synching my PDA to the laptop would allow updates to order lists & other files on the fly while moving through the job & keeping the laptop in a better environment. If subs need clarification on issues, the printer can solve that & then some. And for really suping it up maybe a Verizon (or whomever) wireless phone card to connect to the internet.
i have the dell ultraportable w. verizon built in (really fast) and extended battery. pretty sweet. there is a hp printer that runs on batteries also...
Which dell is it? I'm looking at an upgrade soon and have been looking but want something with decent graphics capabilities.
Your the 1st to tell me the built in Verizon (or whomever) is really fast, but how fast? in comparison to cable? to dial up?
I use a d420 @ 3.0 lbs... it has a magnesium shell ($1500, no cd rom built in). I just wanted something light weight, with long battery life, and verizon. The d620 is nice too (much faster at 4.5 lbs) and the d630 will be out in a few months. Verizon is 2.4 mbps (Half the speed of my road runner).
Edited 3/18/2007 9:00 pm ET by bc
If you regularly need to communicate electronically with others while you are in the field, you might consider this option: http://www.field2base.com/. I have not used it personally but have heard good things about it.
Rich
I think if you check back issues of JLC from 2006 there is an entire article on tablet PC's. Sorry I could not find/remember what month it was published.
i use the stylistic pic'd in yr post for everything including
this response to yr post/
the graphic capabilities are the main benefit for me. this includes being
able to take notes in my own handwriting w/ sketches.
it has a sd card reader for my dslr which facilitates presentations.
its cool to hand a slide show to a client. the slide show is the size
of a legal pad. not much thicker or heavier.
can't say enough good stuff about the form factor.
sold a macbook pro to get this tablet. never could get into apple.
fujitsu is the best customer service anywhere.
real spendy. you almost have to buy a keyboard and xternal optical drive.
i've been into putors since a 8086 in the '80's...
the slate works best for me of anything.