Tablets

[Joe Flacco]

Phone is the best. Tablets too big.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

And you are wasting time by not utilizing technology.

Our actual quantified data does not support that opinion but ok.
It may work better for a one-man operation. I wouldn't presume to say it doesn't but I am still skeptical based on my own attempts as a just-me-fee-shop.

 

[kakarotto]

My company does tens of thousands of inspections every year. Time/money saving methods have been investigated on multiple occasions. We still use a pencil and paper.

there's a bit of getting used to with a tablet after using pen/paper. however, it is much, much faster and cheaper to do it on a tablet than pen and paper, in the long run.

 

[kakarotto]

I bought a Microsoft Surface Tablet and it does not work with Total Mobil. It is almost impossible to sketch with it. Instead, I use it as work laptop now and use a ipad mini. The mini works well, even in cold weather. I live in Colorado and we get some cold days. It is sometimes hard to see the screen and has a glare to it. The camera does not have a flash and I have to use my phones for dark pictures. It also sometimes turns total off as I am working and it is very frustrating. I am looking for a new tablet now.

I have tried using my samsung phone and found that I sometimes would accidentally hit the wrong number or the number would not work especially when it is cold. I found that using such a small screen did not save me time. I do still have Total mobile on my phone just in case something happens so I have a backup. I have had to use this once and it was a life saver.

If you find one that works well and has a great camera please share

IOS total mobile is very buggy, and the android version is much more stable. pick up a samsung tab s3 or wait for the upcoming tab s4. i hope the tab s4 is available with lte, because 45/month on tmobile (with existing family plan) gives me unlimited lte data and hotspot. i dont know why a la mode wont make an inspection ui for windows, considering we know have "always connected" windows computers now from asus, hp, lenovo, etc. even the surface pro is available with lte.

 

[Deleted member 128537]

I use the IPHONE 7 plus. A tablet is just too big for most houses. Also the IPHONE has a better camera. I will use my IPAD for really large homes. But 99% of the homes I do can be done on an IPHONE 7 Plus. I have been mobile since 2003. I used a PDA back in the day. I think Total Mobile works just fine as is. I wouldn’t want a full form at the home. And I don’t have any problem with “bugs” on the IPHONE. Plus I can stick the IPHONE in my pocket when it is raining. And I have no problem with responsiveness in cold weather, and I’ve done appraisals in -15 temps.

 

[Deleted member 128537]

in 2010-2011 i used a convertible notebook with wintotal. it had the full keyboard but could be folded into a touchscreen tablet. it was definitely nice having the information transfer into the report, including the sketch.

i dropped it down a flight of stairs and have been using pen and paper ever since. i prefer paper because its quicker for me to take notes in shorthand and quicker to make changes to the sketch while im walking around distracted by the appointment contact. also snow, rain, cold, sun glare, and flights of stairs are nicer to a good old fashioned piece of paper and clipboard. i still use a laser measure, $90 Bosch i found on ebay, 8 years and still going strong, ive been through 3 cameras in the same timeframe.

1. I have been mobile since 2003. Doing a sketch on paper is a hassle. For one thing I don’t know how many times when i was using paper and pencil when the walls didn’t meet up. And then there are those crazy angled houses. Love the fact I can do those angles in the field. Invest in a good angle measure.
2. When I take the pictures of the rooms I just tap the room, up pops the camera, shoot it, and it is put in the report with correct label. No hunting for photos on a disc. Plus I can take notes on the individual room.
3. I have dropped my IPHONE many times. No problem. Get a good case.
4. Most people give up on mobile because they take a full computer to the field. Bad idea. That’s really bulky. I used an IPAD for years. But when the IPHONE plus came out it was great and wonderful tool.
5. No double entry. Rule of thumb: Try not to do anything more than once. That only happens with mobile. Why draw the sketch twice?

 

[Alcrawfo]

Hello,
I've decided to get the Kindle HD10 and give mobile a whirl. I bought a case with a keyboard but now I'm thinking that is unneccesary. Can anyone tell me what type of case they prefer for their tablets? I'm assuming I almost want one similar to the kids' covers that will protect it when I drop it. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[Tom Woolford]

Hello,
I've decided to get the Kindle HD10 and give mobile a whirl. I bought a case with a keyboard but now I'm thinking that is unneccesary. Can anyone tell me what type of case they prefer for their tablets? I'm assuming I almost want one similar to the kids' covers that will protect it when I drop it. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

On an iPad, the builtin keyboard is sufficient even though I have Essential Tremors

 

[Tom Woolford]

1. I have been mobile since 2003. Doing a sketch on paper is a hassle. For one thing I don’t know how many times when i was using paper and pencil when the walls didn’t meet up. And then there are those crazy angled houses. Love the fact I can do those angles in the field. Invest in a good angle measure.
2. When I take the pictures of the rooms I just tap the room, up pops the camera, shoot it, and it is put in the report with correct label. No hunting for photos on a disc. Plus I can take notes on the individual room.
3. I have dropped my IPHONE many times. No problem. Get a good case.
4. Most people give up on mobile because they take a full computer to the field. Bad idea. That’s really bulky. I used an IPAD for years. But when the IPHONE plus came out it was great and wonderful tool.
5. No double entry. Rule of thumb: Try not to do anything more than once. That only happens with mobile. Why draw the sketch twice?

Taking notes with Total Mobile is simple: you mostly use your quick-list so having full developed one for each field is essential. On text fields, it learns your most common entries. You start to type "Screen" and after "SC" it gives you choices if you common responses for those letters and when you select a word, it gives you options of what usually follows "screen", like pool, porch, entry etc. Super fast with very little typing. I think the biggest problem people have with mobile is they don't learn how to use it. I bet what I just described very few users knew about.

 

[Tom Woolford]

IOS total mobile is very buggy, and the android version is much more stable. pick up a samsung tab s3 or wait for the upcoming tab s4. i hope the tab s4 is available with lte, because 45/month on tmobile (with existing family plan) gives me unlimited lte data and hotspot. i dont know why a la mode wont make an inspection ui for windows, considering we know have "always connected" windows computers now from asus, hp, lenovo, etc. even the surface pro is available with lte.

I have found iOS Total to be in fact very stable, but I don't load my phone up with a bunch of stuff, and do a power down reboot regularly just to clear out temp memory etc.