Tablet: Convertible vs. Slate

[Greg davenport]

To get this back on track, I'll re vist the original question.

What are the differences between a convertible tablet (like a laptop) versus a slate tablet?

I have touched on this before, but in a brief way.
A convertible tablet is simply a laptop that has extra features added to it that will allow you to rotate the screen lay it on top of the keyboard and use a pen as the input device.
General they are full featured machines and are close to being a desktop replacement.
The biggest downside to this type of setup is the weight. while 4 lbs does not seem to be a big deal, try walking around for 45 minutes with a 4lbs weight on one arm and see just how that feels. (this is one of the reasons we retired our Acer TMC314)

A Slate on the other hand is nothing more then a screen. Most do even have CD/DVD drives.
This can cause a little bit of an issue when it comes to loading software, but we use a ext. DVD drive, and also have ours networked.

How do you type on a slate say out in the field, without using a wireless keyboard? Like, if you wanted to get into ACI Research (for comps) in the field, could you do this with the pen or do you need a keyboard and mouse?

A slate is setup to allow the full functionality of a laptop with just the pen. The pen replaces your mouse and keyboard while giving you a much lighter and smaller package to work on.

In the real world, a USB keyboard is nice to have when you are back in the car looking for comps. :icon_mrgreen:
Keep in mind that anything you do now with a mouse/keyboard in ACI can be done with the pen. thats the key to getting the most out of your tablet investment. You can and should do as much in the field as possible.

If with a pen, would you write the address on the screen instead of typing it and find it that way?

Since I use wintotal, and not ACI, Im not sure how that works, but I will say that with the TIP(tablet input panel) that can be the way it is done.

What else can you tell me about tablets?

Since we have started to use tablets, we find new ways to use it both in the field, and in "real life".
The biggest surprise for us was the amount of money we saved with the tablet.
Since we use OneNote for note taking, we no longer have the expense of paper and toner that we had before. We were printing the 2 pages of the 1004 to use on site, as well as extra paper for notes. Now when we leave the home, we will simply print OneNote to PDF and since you are now dual monitor, you will not even have to use paper to read you notes.

We us Nexus for sketching now. Since the sketch is done on site, you will know if you mis measured something before you leave, and will not have to drive back to a home if you missed something. (We did that one pre tablet)

We also use MS Streets and Trips with the GPS unit for mapping. I have not bought a paper map in 4 years, and that includes when we go on Vacation.

Who is using which kind and is it saving you time in the appraisal process?

We have used 3 so far. We were getting about 2 years out of one before the swivel wore out. That is why we now use a slate.

Our first was a Toshiba M14. we wore out the swivel in 2 years.
our second was an Acer TMC 314. This one taught us that bigger is NOT better when it comes to tablets. Size=weight, and weight is not your friend when it comes to tablets. Again the swivel lasted 2 years.
We now use a Motion Computing LE1600. Our first slate. I hate to say it, but I'm looking at a 2 year replacement on this one also, not due to hardware issues, but to Moore's Law.

I have heard from a source that I trust that the new generation of convertibles do NOT have the swivel issues I have had, but I have been burned twice, and I like the slate to much to look back now.

While I can not answer ACI specific questions, I can and will be glade to try to help any way possible.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Preston:

Thanks for sharing your experiences! There is obviously a lot of confusion "out there" about Tablets and the way things are heading. "Going mobile" and what that means to each appraiser obviously varies a bit depending on their individual situation(s.) Regardless of what one uses, it is great to hear feedback from real world users! Thanks again for sharing! I'd bet that there are plenty of appraisers who would like to keep hearing how you are faring with your X61, as well.

...

 

[BlueDog007]

Preston-

Yes. Give us an update on how your X61 is working out.

Greg-

Thanks so much for your comments as well. Yes, I am using ACI and have for 14 years. My system is tweaked out and is streamlined. It's tight. But, I want to get even faster to free up more personal time.

So with a slate, you would just use the pen to get to internet explorer in the field? And instead of using a mouse, just use the pen?

Prices always change with techology items.....so should I wait until Spring/Summer to buy a tablet? Are there any new major changes that are expected from now until then? How do I check to make sure my phone carrier can provide an "air card" or whatever for internet access? They asked me to bring my laptop into them before buying the hardware...

Another note.......I would MUCH rather type than write. Would come into play when deciding between a convertible vs. slate?

Do tablet sellers (including Randall) offer a 30 day period of use? Meaning, can I buy one and try it for say 30 days and return it if I'm not happy? Or not......

 

[Anthem]

Davinci is a tablet application, but Wintotal Aurora is not. Don't confuse the matter.
I agree, but it would be nice for a two person office to be able to get some work done while driving from the office to the appointment.
Hopefully Alamode with do something good with Armstrong, but I doubt it.

With the X61 (which is getting back on topic) you can swing open the keyboard while riding in the passenger seat and type all you want.

To answer Ric Biggers about my x61 update :

The X61 is great. I boot it up in the morning, open WinTOTAL .. then go to sleep mode. I lose about 1% of the battery per hour in sleep mode but it fires up instantly with a swipe of my fingerprint when arriving at each property.

I have not had any trouble completing my sketch in the direct sunlight and the overall quality of the display is great with 1400 X 1050 res - I am amazed at how easy text is read on a small 12.1" screen.

It stays attached to my left hand (via the sleeve bump case) while at the inspection and is comfortable. I am almost familiar enough with this unit to be spending the same amount of time at the inspection as I would with clipboard and graph paper.

The unit runs all of my applications (WinTOTAL, Streets and trips, Word, Outlook, Snag it, Jing, internet, media player, Sticky Notes etc) smoothly and quickly.

The hand recognition is in learn mode and is learning better each day with minimal re writes during the note taking process.

While drawing floorplans I have encountered archs, bay windows, multi wall nested areas and half circles , They are easier to draw with the X61 then they were with the Q1 I was using.

I have a power inverter mounted in my car so that I can charge the battery in between inspections, but it can easily do 3 to 4 inspections of 4000 SF homes on one charge of the 8 Cell extended life battery - Keep in mind the screen brightness is set to high and I am in performance mode for battery life.

That pretty much sums it up

 

[Greg davenport]

So with a slate, you would just use the pen to get to internet explorer in the field? And instead of using a mouse, just use the pen?

Yes. you have to rethink the way you work a little, but the pen is all that you need.

Prices always change with techology items.....so should I wait until Spring/Summer to buy a tablet?

Every couple of months something new comes out. If you wait for the "perfect" tablet, you will always hear about a better one coming "soon". The best time to buy one is when the next generations are coming out. Then just buy last years model for less.
I've spent about $2000 for each of our tablets. but even at that price, to us they are worth every penny. I don't buy the most expensive units, I look for the one that will run the software I need, and increase the Ram to the most I can get.

Are there any new major changes that are expected from now until then?

I have not heard (read) about I would be willing to pay for.

How do I check to make sure my phone carrier can provide an "air card" or whatever for internet access? They asked me to bring my laptop into them before buying the hardware...

Most tablets will come with USB and/or a Type II card slot.
I work in an area where 50% of the time I have no cell service, no MLS or online county records, so I have not found a valid reason for the expense of a aircard and data plan. As such I have never look into it.

Another note.......I would MUCH rather type than write. Would come into play when deciding between a convertible vs. slate?

While is seems that way, once you start to use a pen on a regular bases, it starts to just "feel right". give it a try, you just might like it.

Do tablet sellers (including Randall) offer a 30 day period of use? Meaning, can I buy one and try it for say 30 days and return it if I'm not happy? Or not......

While not 30 days, Allegiance Technology Partners (http://www.alltp.com/) does offer a 48 hour demo that might be worth looking into.
http://www.alltp.com/content.aspx/c/48hourdemo
Of the tablets listed, I would recommend the Lenovo X61 (convertible) or the Motion Computing LE1700 (slate).

To see a slate (the LE1600) in use with Nexus check out http://tinyurl.com/2ta2xp
At the start of the video he is using the TIP (tablet Input Panel) to add the address.

when you asked about ACI Research, this is how I think it would work. And yes, Nexus does everything they show in the video.

 

[Laughing Heir]

I tried to read as much as possible in the prior 3 pages. Do any of the tablet field data programs populate wintotal forms when they are synced? OR, is the set-up with dual monitors the ideal for using a tablet in the field?

Apex's software for this seems truly impressive and intuitive, kudos Randall.

 

[Doug in NC]

So, for those of you who have made the switch to paperless in the field, how much time do you estimate this saves you per report (vs. clipboard in the field and re-typing & re-drawing sketch in the office)?

 

[Greg davenport]

So, for those of you who have made the switch to paperless in the field, how much time do you estimate this saves you per report (vs. clipboard in the field and re-typing & re-drawing sketch in the office)?

Around 30 minutes per report.
The biggest time saver for us is the sketch. Do it once, and you are done.
It really show when you get one of the "Drunk architect" homes, you know, the ones with all the angled walls, nothing but bay windows (all a different size), and the dormers. It also gives you the peace of mind knowing you measured everything correct and wrote it all down right.

But...
don't discount everything else you can and should be using your tablet for.

(As I've said, I use Wintotal, and the EULA allows me to have a copy of it on both my network and my tablet. So I'm going to assume all form software will allow the same thing.)

We have seen savings from out tablet in both office cost and GAS.
The office savings come from the lack of paper and toner we now use. Pre tablet our SOP was to print a copy of the form that the client order to use for note taking (with even more paper as needed). We no longer need to do this. we simply use OneNote for ALL our note taking. When we are finished at the site, we will simply print OneNote to PDF, and attach it to the digital work file. So we have cut our toner and paper expense way down. We now only use about a ream of paper every two months, not a case every 3 months. This also eliminates the possibility of lost note pages.

Gas savings are based on the ability to have our comps and photo database with us in the field. Most of the area we cover is rural, and slow. This way I'm not chasing my tail all over the county just to get a photo I already have.

The time savings per report is nice, but is only a small part of the benefit to using a tablet in the field.

 

[Greg davenport]

I tried to read as much as possible in the prior 3 pages. Do any of the tablet field data programs populate wintotal forms when they are synced? OR, is the set-up with dual monitors the ideal for using a tablet in the field?

I take this to mean like room count, floor coverings, condition, ect... I don't know of any that would ,and even if the did I'm not sure I would use that function.

I just don't want to give that kind of control over such a big (and important) part of the report over to my software.

Apex's software for this seems truly impressive and intuitive, kudos Randall.

It is very nice.

If anyone is ever in Central Arkansas, look me up. I'll be glad to show you what can be done with a tablet.

 

[Laughing Heir]

Greg -

The mantra in your signature is VERY funny.

I was a pretty good baseball player in my college years, in my dorm room I had a plaque that read: What lies behind us and lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. This inspired me then.

Your version inspires me now!

On topic. You have it right, I meant the physical attributes like room count, flooring, heating system, etc.

I'm thinking back to when I had an IPAQ (PDA type device by HP that was WinTotal Mobile capable). You could eliminate redundancy by doing everything in the field and then syncing it to wherever you had the full version of WinTotal. Of course, I never stuck to it for two reasons:

A) The hardware was difficult to work with. The IPAQ was an inferior product (at least the two that I quickly went through were). The battery life was atrocious when using robust software. The screen was difficult to see. I have a laundry list with this...

B) I didn't find the software to be particularly user-friendly and therefore abandoned it after a short time.

That's the basis for my post. The hardware is evidently at a stage where it can be utilized by the appraiser in the field. I am imagining software that operates exactly like the once Apex Nexus provides right now, however, with the ability to highlight and populate a field on, say, a 1004. It would behave exactly the way Nexus does and provide the capability to manipulate the 1004 'on the fly' (writing with the stylus on the screen similar to OneNote).

Maybe the simple solution is that a market exists for Apex to begin offering a form package once tablet PCs have proliferated the appraising ranks.