Windows Tablets For Fieldwork

[Gregory Young]

Was just using that as an example of trying to adapt to mobile device use in the field. Not sure if anything yet is as convenient as a good ole clipboard for sketching. I don't measure too many ranch style houses. So, the ability to draw out multiple structures/areas/etc concurrently (multiple areas open at the same time) is needed. Once back in the office, I don't mind redrawing in Apex for the calculations.

That issue is not as important, tho, as getting feedback on timing of a hopefully near-future 'sweet spot' for cost/technological advances. For me, yes, that means a windows based 'field friendly' portable device robust enough for valuation related bells & whistles. Personally, I'd rather have a large screen vs. more compact/easier to carry. For example, right now I've bookmarked the ThinkPad Helix as possibly being the best choice. But, that may be outdated.

Your past posts & reviews, along with other research, led me to think the sweet spot might be coming shortly. Always appreciate the input from this forum, thx.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Gregory,

OK, I have a better picture now, thanks! FWIW, in testing various scenarios, I feel that an 8" Tablet is about the minimum size. Agreed that sketching is the most demanding for the UI/screen real estate battle. I am finding that my 8" tablets feel good in the hand but I can certainly appreciate that many (most?) may feel that 10" or larger simply works better for them. Fortunately, we are now starting to get good devices to choose from so that folks can select what works best for them. And with some decent stores around, folks can look forward to being able to fondle them for themselves - an important aspect IMHO. With so many options out there now (more, soon), I think I can best help by comparing & contrasting the various selections and helping folks make better decisions, including when to buy and when to wait. That said, I think there are some tough choices coming - some really pretty decent devices (for the money) are out now and a few more just days/weeks away, while there are even more due out in Q1/Q2 next year. Thank goodness most of them are far, far less expensive than they were just a short time back

As far as the "Helix" thing, I believe that would NOT be your wisest choice. For that level of device, one would be best waiting until early next year. The new models will be more powerful, lighter, longer lasting and some viable models will be substantially less expensive We will even see some that have larger screens for those that desire such things. The only way I could recommend a purchase between now and then is for the light weight "companion" type devices ($300 - $500) or if a "desktop replacement class" device one absolutely relied on were dying. In the latter case, there are a few decent devices out now and one or two just starting to ship that might be worth considering.


Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

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[Randall Garrett]

Looks like we have mostly sunny weather here for the next few days and I am feeling MUCH better, so I aim to get some pictures posted for your viewing pleasure over the Thanksgiving holidays. With the typical Turkey Day activities, it may be Friday or Saturday before I post things, but I'll put things up as soon as I can. Hopefully, a couple of accessories I ordered will come in today, so I can include these items in my mini-reviews as well.

Remember, if there any specific items you want covered, please let me know ASAP.

[Edit] - Unfortunately, the accessory pieces I mentioned earlier did not arrive today and tracking shows that they are not due here until late next week, so I'll have to put that off for later. In the meantime, I have posed a shot of a temporary work table I set up in my home office with the devices I brought home laid out. I had to "obscure" the 4 items on the left. Two are in cases and one still in a box under another device. At the lower left section is my iPad mini and regular iPad. The middle section consists of 4 Android 7" Pads and my trusty ASUS Transformer Infinity. The right section consists of various Windows 8 Tablets ranging from 8" to 11.6" Hope this helps for now. Hope to shoot more informative shots later today and tomorrow.


Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

Hey folks,

I am presently experiencing difficulty logging into this forum via my home desktop machine (am on a mobile device via 4G now.) I was updating a lengthy post on the new DISTO when things went sour (502 bad gateway, etc.). Maybe my posts are too long, LOL.

I have emailed the site admin and sent germane technical info in hopes that perhaps they clear up the problem on their end. Hopefully, someone there can resolve the issue by tomorrow, else I will have to put off uploading the materials I promised until Monday when I get to the office. Sorry about the repeated delays.


Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
@Apex Software@

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

[Update] - Got an email response to the site access issue reported last night, and thanks to their efforts I am able to get on the forum again via my home machine. With luck, I will be able to take some shots (hope it is sunny today) and upload some materials. Seems that my wife has designs on my time today - something about putting up a tree of some sort. Looks complicated and time-consuming ;-)


-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

/end/

 

[Wm. Hattaway]

Can tablets with the RT operating system be upgraded to run Windows 8.1? I would like a tablet running Windows 8.1 but I'm trying to stay under $350.

 

[Randall Garrett]

WH,

No, not really. The Windows RT OS runs on an ARM chipset, like what is found running almost every smartphone made today while "real" Windows 8.x runs on an X86/64 chipset like a traditional PC, usually made by Intel or AMD.

You can, however, get something like the Dell Venue Pro 8 or Lenovo Miix 2, both 8" Windows 8.1 Tablets, for under $300 today. I have both of these devices and each trade blows fighting for which is the better choice. Overall, the Dell comes out on top by a slight margin but YMMV, depending on your take when ranking the importance of various factors. I'll point these out in my (still) upcoming mini-review. Current plans look like that will be this Wednesday when it is sunny and I will spend some time at home with my bevy of Tablets/Pads.

If you really want/need something larger, say in the 10" - 11" size, you're looking in the $500+ range for a suitable device with the same specs (Bay Trail w/2 GB of RAM, 32 - 64 storage! etched.) If you need more oomph, you are looking in the $650 - $999 range for Core i3/i5/i7, more RAM, storage, etc. For most folks, I find the Bay Trail devices to be adequate for mobile scenarios, but if you want something that can run workloads like your desktop, you'll want to stick in that upper range for specs. It is unreasonable to expect a $300 device to run like a full desktop computer, have all-day battery life and weigh under 2 lbs. ;-)

If you let me know what programs you envision using and a little more about how you envision using a Tablet, I am happy to narrow things down a bit for you.


Regards,

-Randall Garrett-
@Apex Software@

/end/

 

[Wm. Hattaway]

My son is wanting one for high school work. His school uses Office (excel, publisher, word) as well as surfing the web for research. The iPad failed as it would not let him view certain videos. I assume it had to do with flash. He wanted the Windows RT but the reviews have not been good on that device. He likes the 10" screen but we may need to go to 8" from the devices you listed that run Windows 8.1.

 

[Randall Garrett]

WH,

Understood. If I were you, I would go to a local retailer (like Office Depot if there is one close to you) and take a look at the Venue 8 Pro just to get a feel for it and see if it might work for your son (take him along.) Failing that, perhaps the review link posted will help. The Venue 8 Pro comes with MS Office, so that is a plus and, yes, it can run Flash just fine... If you or he just must have something larger, it is worth the extra $200 IMHO for the Venue 11 Pro, especially since you can add some really nifty keyboard docks which are overall very similar to the ones available for the Surface Tablets. I also highly recommend getting the available accidental damage protection policy for only $39 (1 year) or $69 (2 years) for the Venue 8 Pro and $49/$79 for the Venue 11 Pro. The Venue Pro line is pretty much a "near-business class" device - not very flashy, but feels good in the hand and not something that seems like it would get beat up too bad in daily student (or appraiser, LOL) use.

[Edit] Here is a (corrected) link to a short write-up on the Venue 8 Pro from a well rounded and trusted source. There is a decent video embedded. http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=45699

I believe that, based on your description, that something like the Venue 11 Pro is a much better fit than the iPad (and costs less, too.) You might think about the Venue Pro 11 as a good base and then consider getting him one of the keyboard docks for Christmas... maybe even throw in the active pen which is fantastic for ad hoc note taking! The keyboards run $99.99 or $129.99 and the "active stylus" pen is $29.99:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=332-2366

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=332-2365

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=750-AADH

I should have pictures up showing the keyboard docks on Wednesday, but again, you can look at the Surface keyboards to get a very good idea of what they are like. They attach a little differently, but the overall effect is the same. They are both thin/light, the "Mobile" vs. "Slim" keyboard is a bit thicker and heavier due to the construction and additional battery in it, but it is not "heavy" by any means. That said, the real world battery life on the base Venue Pro 11 will pretty much see him through an entire day of classes, so unless he absolutely needs the extra battery, don't underestimate the usefulness of the "Slim" keyboard. A lot of folks take one look at the Surface Touch keyboard and dismiss it, but if you actually try typing on it, you'd likely be very surprised at how well it works. Both options make for a convenient "carry" or "back pack" situation - throw it in and forget about it (which pretty much summarizes the real world scenario of students and appraisers.)

If he liked the Surface RT (I assume that is what he looked at since very few people have actually seen the Nokia 2520, the only other real RT Tablet out now), the Venue Pro 11 is pretty similar is size/weight/cost - the big (huge for him?) is that it is running Windows 8.1 x86/64, so it will natively run all those "real Windows" programs I think you are thinking of. True, you'll end up spending more than the $350 you mentioned, but I honestly believe you'll find it a better value and will allow him to accomplish the tasks at hand vs. struggle to make do with lesser devices. Think about it...

And when he is not using it, you can sneak off with it and use it on your appraisals, LOL. I would even recommend that - you might just find that you like it, too, and IF you needed something with more oomph, you know you can get the same device with a Core i3 or Core i5. True, they run even more, but then they are more powerful - similar to the Surface Pro, but costing less, and overall perhaps a better fit for appraisers IMHO

Oh, don't forget to get a microSD card - get a good one like a SanDisk Extreme for about $25 or $30. The extra storage space that can be swapped out at will is well worth it IMHO. Just do it, LOL.

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
..Apex Software..

PS - Also, if $350 is the absolute max budget, don't forget to take a look at the ASUS T100 I linked to earlier. I don't think this device makes a good appraiser device (too fragile, no camera, etc., etc., etc.) but it might work for your son, though I still feel that spending the extra $ on the Venue Pro 11 is the better use of money overall.

/end/

 

[Wm. Hattaway]

Thank you Randall.