Windows Tablets For Fieldwork

[Randall Garrett]

Hi Bob,

IF I read your comments correctly, you actually have a more palatable choice - wait just a bit

Basically, the 4G "module" is about a $200 - $250 option in parts of the world where the device is already shipping. I paid about $350 due to exchange rates and the fact that the first place I could get my hands on one already has prices which exceed the basic currency exchange rate calculations anyway. It was worth it to me to get things early, and I do not recommend this approach ;-) (My "foreign device" thing is but one reason I cannot show MY unit in comparison pictures and am waiting for my "regular US model to arrive before posting comparison pictures. Even if I were to get it today, I can't show it until it is officially released as a consumer product here.)

I believe that in most cases, the device you mentioned which is otherwise identical to the current $588 model are simply early ones that some shops got their hands on and are trying to sell at a higher price while they can. I believe (but do not have direct confirmation from Lenovo) you'll be seeing 4G-equipped models available directly from Lenovo at more reasonable prices this month. More than likely, the on-line retailers will follow suit with their price drops soon thereafter. For reference, see my earlier comments about Amazon (for example) still showing the 32-bit, 2GB RAM, 64GB storage model listed for more than what Lenovo is charging for the better model...


Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

Rlong,

I understand your meaning and thoughts on the pro/cons of a 10" device. I still recommend that you investigate the Note Pro 12.2" device. If you can locate a suitable "bump case" for the SP3, there is that option, as well. The OneNote thing on the SP3 is unsurpassed IMHO. I'm still searching for a simple-yet-effective bump case for the SP3 and have not found one yet, but I've not really been looking hard, either. I'll check with some friends and other Tablet PC haunts this weekend to see if anyone else has found something... A SP3 with a Core i3 is more powerful than the ARM devices, but I suspect you'd end up going with a Core i5 model for some additional headroom and larger storage space options (128 GB and 256 GB.) FWIW, I find the 128 GB version to be more than sufficient as I carry a 64 GB microSD card in mine. I'd recommend purchasing a car charger just as a "security blanket" thing as I can usually count on about 6.5 - 7+ hours of regular work on my Core i5 SP3s.

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

FWIW, and for you that are interested in the SP3, yesterday we received several Surface Pro 3 Docks for our crew. The retail units are visually identical to the engineering sample but there was a "feature" added which I was not aware was to be included - a magnetic holder for the pen on the left side. I had read about it in a couple of articles over the past week or so, but had not seen it myself... Very handy, but for the life of me, I don't know why it is on the left instead of the right... should have been on both sides IMHO, but maybe there is a "shielding" issue on the right since that is where the primary interface connector is...

Anyway, it functions much the same as the previous dock for the SP2, etc., except that the connection is a higher speed interface. I've been able to connect it to multiple monitors with no issue at all (DP handles higher resolution than HDMI, which is a video interface, not so much a computer interface), up to and including 4K and the more common UHD.) The basic operation is the same, just with a few tweaks. Existing SP3 owners are recommended to apply the latest OS update to get full functionality. I'd take pictures but there are plenty all over the web of this item. I am generally a fan of using docks for tablets as it makes "syncing", charging, and connecting them to other peripherals much more convenient and the official dock for the SP3 is one of the better ones IMHO. Most wouldn't need to do this, but I now keep one in my office and one at home.

I also received my replacement TPT2 earlier this week. Iain got it all updated to W8.1+ and applied all the pertinent Lenovo drivers, etc. I am still impressed with this "old" device - if it just had 4GB of RAM, it might still be on my "recommended" list today. As it is, for the mainstay of our Enterprise users, the newer units with better CPU/GPU, more RAM, etc. it still the better choice, IMHO.


Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

FWIW and for those interested in the SP3, Lisa Gade of MobileTechReview has put up a short article with embedded video of her review on the SP3 dock that I mentioned in my previous post. As usual, she does a well rounded review which covers the most salient factors. I want to reiterate that I do not feel that the SP3 is the best device for most appraisers, but that I generally like the devices (various configurations.) The main issue which keeps me from recommending this otherwise excellent device is that it is not fan-less, and thus is susceptible to dirt/dust getting inside while on inspections. Is this a deal killer? In a word, "No but..." You just need to know this and take adequate (and common sense) precautions if you're going to use one in the field. In real world conditions, it will likely survive light rain, etc. but if any of you have ever opened up your desktop, you can appreciate how dirt/dust can accumulate in a device with a cooling fan which beings in "outside" air for cooling and ejects it. The tighter the tolerances, the more restrictive the "choke points" are for moving air, hence the SP3 is more likely to get clogged up than a honking desktop system. Laptops are also susceptible to this but they generally are bulkier and have larger "air channels." I doubt many of you have ever opened up your laptop and I imagine you might be surprised (and disgusted) at what they look like inside - and you've likely not exposed them to actual "traverse the subject" conditions that you imagine using an SP3 in...

All that said, you should note that the fan on an SP3 doesn't kick in all that often - MS has done an admirable job of managing the thermals on this device and (generally speaking) unless you push it hard, the fans won't kick in. Mostly, the fan kicks in when folks try to hook thing like external monitors up incorrectly, out of ignorance. One example is folks running external monitors via USB (which works, but is NOT recommended.) USB was never meant for things like video, and while you CAN do this, it overloads the system bus and causes devices to work harder than needed. You can get better performance across the board by simply using the proper connection - i.e. the on-board mini Display Port connector. If your existing monitor(s) uses HDMI (blah!) you can use an adaptor, but remember HDMI is a video standard, not a computer standard. DisplayPort is simply better in every way for computer stuff, so if you are getting a new monitor(s), get one(s) with a Display Port connector (many also have HDMI, DVI, etc., too.) But, I understand some of you already have "1080p" monitors, so just know you can use an adaptor for now and get perfectly adequate (albeit diminished to HDMI or "VGA" specs) performance.

As Lisa shows, you can easily use a regular SP3 to connect up to external monitors while using the existing panel on the SP3 as an auxiliary. I routinely do this with my SP3s and is a "no muss, no fuss" affair - it simply works like you'd expect Note, for those with existing SP3s, you absolutely should apply the latest OS update before connecting your SP3 dock in order to get the best performance. This should not be an issue since these updates are automatic...

The SP3 dock is so nice that all I can do is "nit pick":
the charge indicator would be better positioned if it were on the front right (or left) surface instead of the top,
there should be a magnetic pen feature on the right and left vs. left only,
connecting a USB keyboard via the dock should automatically disable the SP3 Type keyboard. Woe is me - I have to detach the SP3 keyboard before putting it into the SP3 dock - life is so unfair! (Just being silly here, but I've actually read an article someone wrote which uses this as a reason why they feel that "M$ is clueless" - gimme a break, really? Sheesh!)

Adding the SP3 dock makes the SP3 a more viable solution for many of you IMHO, and thus might be a reason to "up" your model specs as it can be a desktop replacement class device which CAN conveniently be used on the go. Normally, I recommend the $999 MSRP model as the "sweet spot", but IF you plan on the SP3 being more of a desktop replacement type device, I would consider bumping it up to the $1,299 version and get the 256GB SSD and 8 GB of RAM. IF you're going to use it more as a "mainly companion device, sometimes desktop replacement in a pinch" type device, then the $999 Core i5 model with 128GB SSD and 4 GB of RAM might be the better choice, saving you $300. YMMV on that - these are just my personal observations. I don't feel that the Core i7 version offers enough real world performance gain to be worth the premium. If you think you really NEED 512GB of SSD while out of the dock, most of you simply need to organize your stuff better ;-) With the dock, you have plenty of connections for larger external drives, network drives, "cloud", etc. and you don't really NEED half a terabyte of data in the field... I understand being willing to pay a premium because you don't want to take the time to get organized (really!) but I'm talking need... Your resistance to get better organized is a personal thing...;-) (OK, I am a pack rat, too, LOL)

Link to article: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=46851

Direct link to 7 minute video review: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Docking Station Review - YouTube


Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

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[Randall Garrett]

As an "interim FYI", I helps a customer configure their Lenovo TP10 yesterday, and while she added some options I don't think she really needs, it ran out to $833 (rounded 588 + 120 + 45 + 55 + 25) for the top model. I disagreed with her need to the $45 Quickshot Cover and $25 extra Active Pen items, but hey - she wanted them for whatever reason. I would have eliminated the Quickshot cover and gotten an extra AC/DC charger if I just had money burning a hole in my pocket. I don't think she'd really need the charger, but I think it would be a better use of less money Anyway, it should have run out to closer to $763...

What I DID agree with her on, though, is that since she could not wait for the 4G version (already shipping elsewhere) was the addition of the Gobi 5000 4G "card" and antennas (all internal) which ran $194 + $128. These are the same parts that are simply installed at the factory when the 4G model is built. Her tech guy will put them in (5 minute thing + driver download) and the parts were sourced from Amazon (card) and Lenovo (antennas) - the same 4G card is available at Lenovo - Amazon just had it for $5 cheaper... She chose AT&T for her own reasons, but I noted that Verizon is listed, too - didn't look for Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.

Point of this is, to help folks get an idea of what the TP10 with 4G should cost when available here. As previously noted, I paid a premium because I needed (wanted, really) it fast... It really should be about a $200 option (maybe less?) here, once the devices are shipping here. That said, with my WP8.1U1 phone, BT4 "tethering" is a no hassle substitute and doesn't have hard battery drain like most see when trying to tether by Wi-Fi hotspot, etc.

Hope this helps. I'll report back if her unit shows any appreciable difference in performance, etc. compared to a factory built model.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

For those of you who work in more extreme conditions than "the norm", I am reviewing a moderately-priced 10" Win 8.1+ Tablet with decent specs (Bay Trail, 4GB RAM, etc.) that costs considerably less than the typical "ruggedized" tablets of yesteryear. This is a newly available piece from a manufacturer who has been in this business for a long time and who has an excellent reputation. Basically, this is the first tablet of its kind which has dropped well below the $1,000 mark - the starting price is $695. I'm taking a look at it for a particular client who is more interested in the drop protection than the weather aspects, but I'll be comparing it to the "business class" devices I currently favor (i.e. EP1000, TP10, etc.) with respect to its suitability for fee appraisers. Once I receive the unit and put it through its paces, I'll report back here. In the interim, if any of you have specific questions, please let me know.


Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

PM messaging

A little off topic, but I think this is still a good place to write this...

A member here sent me a PM earlier today, asking for Tablet advice. I tried to reply but his account is market not to receive PMs...

Folks, I am happy to help, but please make sure you can get replies - otherwise I can't respond to you and I don't want you to think I am ignoring you...

If you don't want me to reply via PM, be sure to give me an email address.


Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

For those interested in the idea of my favored Lenovo ThinkPad 10, but want something with "big boy specs", I am posting renders of the upcoming Lenovo Helix 2. I cannot officially comment on this device since it has not been officially announced, but I expect to see the information embargo lifted in conjunction with IFA September 5 -10, 2014. There are leaked specs and pictures beginning to be floated and I am surprised how many folks seem to have just made up specs...

Much like the ThinkPad Tablet 2 ("TPT2") was upgraded to the ThinkPad 10 ("TP10"), the (rumored) Helix 2 is (said to be) the up-spec'ed successor to the original Helix, another one of my personal favorite devices last year. The changes bring this device into a sweet spot IMHO.

I'll post official specs here once I am able to do so. I'm still trying to get a reliable shipping date. For now, the best I can offer are the leaked images below, which are representative of the facts I am given.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Rob Bodkin]

Randall,

Any time spent with the larger HP tablet, the Pro X2 612?

Thanks

 

[Randall Garrett]

Rob,

Sorry to just now be seeing your post - I've been out of pocket most of the day.
Yes I have. What questions do you have?

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/