KD247
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- California
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New Entry on my Wish List
- Thread starter KD247
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Mountain Man
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- Georgia
Neat toy, but I wonder how fast and reliable is the wireless internet connection. I have also learned that if they won't say how much $$$$ on their site, it is wayyy too much for me.
How would you use this in the field? As a wireless network to your office computer?
How would you use this in the field? As a wireless network to your office computer?
KD247
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- California
It's a little under $2,000 - not too bad when you consider that, until recently, this was about the standard price for a new computer.
I'm thinking that this would become the "main" computer and that I would use the wireless network to share and backup files with my desktop.
When I used to do complete appraisals with my laptop in my car, it sure made for a no-stress day when I could put the finishing touches on an appraisal before doing the next inspection. I like the idea of using the stylus for the sketch and most of the form, and there's a wireless keyboard for adding comments while still in the car.
The lenders would love it if I could send the electronic report 30 minutes after the inspection, but I'm not sure if that's practical with the cost of a "cell-phone" internet connection.
I'm thinking that this would become the "main" computer and that I would use the wireless network to share and backup files with my desktop.
When I used to do complete appraisals with my laptop in my car, it sure made for a no-stress day when I could put the finishing touches on an appraisal before doing the next inspection. I like the idea of using the stylus for the sketch and most of the form, and there's a wireless keyboard for adding comments while still in the car.
The lenders would love it if I could send the electronic report 30 minutes after the inspection, but I'm not sure if that's practical with the cost of a "cell-phone" internet connection.
graindart
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Montana
The problem with most of these computer screens is that they aren't very readable in sunlight. I've been through about 3 different touch-screen computers that I thought would work good for doing the sketch portion on site, but end up going back to pen/paper every time. There are a couple of good choices that I'd like to try out. They have "reflective" lcd screens that actually look brighter in sunlight, however the prices are still in the $3000+ range. (There are a couple of models of PDA's that have reflective screens, but PDA's are pretty limited.) I figure in a couple of years, the reflective screens should be affordable enough for me to try, but until then, stuck with the pen/paper in the house, and notebook computer in the car.......
As for the camera integrated with the computer, I tried a Sony Picturebook (notebook computer with built-in digital camera) for a few appraisals, but have gone back to a regular digital camera again. In theory, having the integrated camera would be nice, in that you have one less thing to carry and it automatically saves to the computer you'd be using to create the report. However, the problems that I had outweighed the gains. The sunlight makes the screen hard to see, and the screen is what you use as the viewfinder. Another thing is that you have to wait for the computer to boot up, and that minute can seem like an eternity sometimes. The only other problem I remember......computers drain batteries pretty quick.
As for the camera integrated with the computer, I tried a Sony Picturebook (notebook computer with built-in digital camera) for a few appraisals, but have gone back to a regular digital camera again. In theory, having the integrated camera would be nice, in that you have one less thing to carry and it automatically saves to the computer you'd be using to create the report. However, the problems that I had outweighed the gains. The sunlight makes the screen hard to see, and the screen is what you use as the viewfinder. Another thing is that you have to wait for the computer to boot up, and that minute can seem like an eternity sometimes. The only other problem I remember......computers drain batteries pretty quick.
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