DaVinci and Motion Tablet PC

[Todd Ruhl]

I'm considering trying the DaVinci with a Motion 1700 Tablet. Anybody using this combination? I'm hoping to use it for both residential and commercial data collection in the field. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[Metamorphic]

Tag. I'm interested too.

The amount of redundant data transferring and analyzing and inputing that I find myself doing is really getting annoying.

 

[BlueDog007]

I just purchased a Lenovo X61 and have installed both the Apex Nexus and ACI Sketching programs. I will be working with both over the next week or so and will fill you in. As far as data entry is concerned, I can see it being a huge time saver. I have used the Dell Axim for years, and that was a great option as well. I am hoping the Tablet will also reduce time with the sketch in the field. I will update next week with more field experience.

 

[josephdifranco]

I had a couple of years experience with a tablet in the field, I had Wintotal and Apex at that time. I think because tablet sketching takes longer than hand sketching, and because I was quick with the software at the office, there was no time saved in that regard. Also, the data re-typing was saved, but other new tablet tasks caused the time to be eaten up, like opening the file on the tablet, and downloading the file at the office. Further, a lot of the re-typing we are talking about can be done super quickly on todays software, so your really spending a lot of money to save only a little time.

To be fair, others think its saves a lot of time, maybe they will chime in.

In my opinion, if you are going to do it, the real benefits would be the ability to keep working when you get stuck out in the field between two appointments, and to pull comparable data from the field (at the additional cost of internet access).

 

[Tom Woolford]

I use a tablet for data collection and do my sketching on it. I am a little unconventional in that I just do data entry directly into WinTotal, and using the built in Davinci Sketch. Freeform comments/ observations go into microsoft journal and sent to the Total workfile. It is fast for me by heavily using quicklists, and a lot of practice with the sketch program. My inspections take no longer than they did with a clip board, and the entire first page and sketch is complete when I get back to the office. There is a learning curve, and unless you are willing to suffer for a couple weeks, you will never get the hang of using a tablet. I had the same curve using pocket total. It took a couple weeks to really get competent with but once the learning curve was over, I never went back to pen / paper. The disto is the same way. It takes a while to get used to it, but once you do, you will never go back.

I Think the biggest problem with new technology is that people expect instant gratification. It does not work that way. Stick with it and you will be rewarded. Be impatient, and you will never advance.

I never use the tablet in the field to do research or "work". I keep a very tight schedule with no down time, and all research is done before I leave the office, so there is no benifit in that area for me. But there is substantial time savings in data collection, and final report prep.

 

[Joan McNew]

I am using a Motion F5 in the field for research of comparables and staying in touch with my email, websites, etc. I have used it for sketching a few times, but need to fashion or find a "holster" to hold the tablet to my waist after taking a measurement with the tape. I actually made a pattern for such a holster using a quilted placemat, but haven't lugged out the sewing machine yet- and haven't figured out how to configure the straps. It slows me down too much to put the tablet down and pick it back up, etc. The built in broadband (Sprint) is really fast and so far I have been able to access the internet every place I've tried - with one exception.

 

[Anthem]

I have not used a clipboard and pen on an inspection for a long time. When I first started using DaVinci sketch in the field I thought that large homes would be more difficult. What I have found is now that I am acquainted with my tablet and DaVinci I actually sketch faster onsite then before, especially with larger homes!. Hitting pop points for bay windows etc is a great time saver. Cloning similar floors and or basements onsite is also a time saver. I rarely have to edit the sketch back at the office, the sketch completed onsite is the sketch sent to the client.

 

[woodyva]

I have to tell you after looking at Chris Low's Lenovo, i am more intereste din it than in the Motion. I have a motion the Labs lets me use, and it really is nice, but I would not pay that much. Unless Motion gets down to the 1200-1500 dollar range, Lenovo convertables with a reflective screen.

 

[Anthem]

I have to tell you after looking at Chris Low's Lenovo, i am more intereste din it than in the Motion. I have a motion the Labs lets me use, and it really is nice, but I would not pay that much. Unless Motion gets down to the 1200-1500 dollar range, Lenovo convertables with a reflective screen.

I love my Lenovo X61 and yes it is viewable in direct sunlight !

 

[Brian Rosenthal]

just bought a motion computing le1600,,will put DaVinci on it for field use once the case arrives. I have used DaVinci a bit and it seems to have a few bugs with short measurements (or) maybe I don;t know what I'm doing yet. I picked up the LE1600 for less than $700 and plan to buy a blue tooth disto i the future. looking forward to using these new toys. The LE1600 with 1.5 gigs of ram seems to run the software well