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Windows Tablets For Fieldwork

Randall Garrett said:
Noted a great price drop on the Lenovo site for the Lenovo ThinkPad 10. Prices range from $350.60 to a high of $491.40. The model with 4GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage run $419.40 and $491.40 if you want the 4G LTE (Verizon or AT&T) version. /end/
Click to expand...

Hey Randall, Thanks for posting this as you may remember this is was what I was inquiring about, back when the 4G was hard/expensive to get. I searched but could not find your input on the Dell Warranty options? (is it the same LTE Sierra EM7345 integrated broadband "card" for both ATT and Verizon?)

Thanks,
Bob in CO
(I decided the night you posted I could wait, but ancient ipad is driving me nuts)
 
Hi Bob,

I don't have a lot to say (good or bad) with respect to Dell Warranty - regular or Drop Protection - as we've not had to use it. I have some feedback from users who are occasionally upset on some relatively minor item or another, but I expect that, and it is/was in the minority as a percentage. I have seen Dell "step up to the plate" with regard to the crappy pen they foisted on users earlier in the VP5K and 7K runs, so that is a plus. Still, while the efforts were appreciated, their choice of pen tech is second-tier IMHO... That said, for most of our purposes - sketching, note taking, etc. (definitely not "artsy" stuff where pen pressure sensitivity is a big thing), the current systems seems to work well enough.

Also, note that we've not seen or had reported a lot of breakage reports on the VP series, so that is a good (no, a great!) thing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Edit] - Just realized that you may have meant that I did not discuss pricing for the Accidental Drop Protection policy. I ganked this directly from the Dell VP 5000 (non-4G model) order page (http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...el_id=dell-venue-11-pro&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04):
  • 1 Year Accidental Damage Service with 1 Year NBD Limited Onsite Service [add $34.07]
  • 2 Year Accidental Damage Service with 2 Year NBD Limited Onsite Service [add $98.04]
  • 3 Year Accidental Damage Service with 3 Year NBD Limited Onsite Service [add $159.92]
(For comparison, the ADP on the TP10 runs $49 for the first year.)

Seems to me that at the minimum, the 1 Year policy is a no-brainer on either machine!

IF you are getting a Dell with 4G, then the first year of ADP is included. Optional years 2 & 3 run $21 and $35, respectively. Seems inexpensive, making the Dell the better buy, but remember - the 4G Dell is running $778.99 for a device with 64GB of storage vs. the TP10 with 128 GB of storage which at $491.40 is running some $287 less... I'm not saying the Dell is a bad device, nor not worth the money - I'm trying to say that right now, the Lenovo is the more wallet-friendly of these two decent devices. I like elements of one over another, but FWIW, I choose to use the TP10 as my daily driver... YMMV
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On the LTE chip, yes, it is the EM7345 in both. When you order either one (Verizon or AT&T) you get the exact same Tablet - they just include a different SIM card in the box. Case in point - I ordered one for me (AT&T) and one for a developer (Verizon) - When they came in, both had Verizon SIMs in the box. I simply popped out the SIM in my iPad and put it in the TP10, went through the auto-new hardware sequence and got back to work. I think I waited a couple of weeks before calling AT&T to report the change in machines...


Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/
 
Last edited:
Yes i was seeking the term "accidental drop protection.". I was just seeing acronyms on the website to choose from. I am typically infamously cheap about warranty purchase; but as i said long ago in this thread, all of my purchases over prior 5+ years were dirt cheap second hand thinkpads and latitudes... You just buy another (if you can manage to break them!!)

I never saw where to select ATT/Verizon, when I selected and put in shopping cart (but knew I had chosen for prior tablet (also used!). I'll confirm both items and call them before purchasing if needed.

I think I have been waiting 18 months since you foretold these level of full Windows devices, and then for them to ratchet down the first run of price drops. It takes allot of patience to be this cheap!!

Thanks!!
Bob in CO




,
 
Bob,

Are you leaning toward the Dell or the Lenovo? Knowing which one (and a summary of "why") would help me in making a recommendation for the sweet spot.
Generally speaking, I don't find regular "extended warranties" to be a good buy, but the one year Accidental Damage thing is money well spent IMHO.

To summarize my earlier comment
  • configuring a Dell Venue 11 Pro with 4G, 64GB of storage, and 1 year of ADP, it would run $778.99 (plus tax, accessories, etc.)
  • configuring a Lenovo ThinkPad 10 with 4G, 64GB of storage and 1 year of ADP, it would run $419.40 + $49.00 = $468.40 (plus tax, accessories, etc.)

The Dell has a 10.8" screen at 1920 x 1080 (16:9) vs. the Lenovo's 10.1" screen at 1920 x 1200 (16:10)
The Dell V11P 5000 is not available with 128 GB of storage, only 64 GB.
The Dell has two optional keyboard options vs. one for the Lenovo. Both of the Dell Keyboards are good pieces.
Dell also has a more powerful model - the 7000 with Core M CPU which is faster all the way around (but no 4G option), ranging from $699 to $1,199
Lenovo offers a heavy duty "ruggedized" case (tablet portion only) for about $55 and a handy "Snapshot" cover for about $50. Depending on your working conditions, the rugged case may be something to look into. I owe the forum here some pictures of both of these options...

BTW, the Lenovo site appears to be "borked" ATM - can't get it to show the 4 models. Hope this does not mean they are revamping the price back upward...

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

P.S. - I don't see any particularly strong advancements in this class machine for several months - likely aligned with the general availability of Windows 10. I may be proven wrong on this, but my general feeling is that at the "under $500" mark, you should be looking at this class machine as "good enough" and worthy to jump on for the coming heavier business season. IF/when the next gen hits, one could evaluate whether or not the advancements are compelling enough to spend extra to upgrade. My guess is that either of these two machines would hold their value well enough and that by the time the next gen hits, one would wait it out and look again at about the Spring/summer 2016 time frame...

/end/
 
I missed this "Deal of the Day" yesterday, but I just checked the site (linked below) and the deal is still good. This is NOT a device I would recommend for appraisal field app use in the field (full appraisal programs are just too bloated) but could be used for simple sketching apps, etc. You may remember me mentioning similar devices I purchased for the purpose of testing code when running on a device below the recommended minimums... Anyway, while something like our own Apex v6 will run on it, the load up time feels long to me (compared to, say, MobileSketch 8) and remember, Apex v6 is pretty efficient, unlike the much larger, complicated/full featured (and bloated) full appraisal suites... At the price (and spec), you didn't really expect a device like this to run like your desktop (or even laptop), right?

So, this is a pretty decent device for the money if you just want to use Win 8.1+ (or the free upgrade to Windows 10) for a companion device. It ends up being only $80 (plus tax) and includes a 1 year MS Office 365 Personal, which is a $70 retail item by itself. Upon checkout, you'll also see the $39 Complete Care (Accidental Damage Protection) option and when reviewing, an offer for 100 Free Skype minutes. Oh, and since this is a MS "Signature" device, it has been stripped of bloatware, etc. :-) I have been using the 8" version of this tablet for "plinking around" and am pretty pleased with it. Readers may remember me posting about the version with free wireless a while back. I still feel that the 8" version with 3G/4G is the better device, due to the wireless capability (and larger screen - for our aging eyes, LOL) but it is running about $179 now, so perhaps the extra $100 makes it too expensive for you (?) and/or you just prefer a 7" device...

In any case, hey - it is $80... Just get it - you'll find a use for it ;-)
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...-Signature-Edition-Tablet/productID.308781500


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/
 
Hello Randall, is there a significant difference in your opinion to the SP2 with i5 versus the SP3 with i5? I am really taken with the 3 but might not be able to afford one for some time. I love the iPad mini for portability but can't work on it worth a darn. It's a toy at this point
 
Michigander said:
Hello Randall, is there a significant difference in your opinion to the SP2 with i5 versus the SP3 with i5? I am really taken with the 3 but might not be able to afford one for some time. I love the iPad mini for portability but can't work on it worth a darn. It's a toy at this point
Click to expand...
Hi Michigander,

Great question. I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but my guess is that you mean with regard to outright performance since the size/weight, etc. differences are well known... If I am on the right track here, then I can tell you basically that some (self-described) "power users" feel that the Core i5 in the SP2 is more powerful (faster in certain tasks) than the one in the SP3. That said, unless you are doing things that are super demanding in some very specific ways (unlikely), you would not notice a significant difference in performance unless someone pointed it out ;-) For most everybody here (again, exceptions exist), the SP3 is the superior device all the way around (per size/weight, battery life, screen, etc.) Of course, the SP3 (being newer, etc.) costs more, so getting a similarly spec'd SP2 would cost less - and I think that is where you were going? Getting a used SP2 would require that you locate one that was in good shape and was sold by someone you trust (personally, by reputation, whatever) so that may require some extra work on your end, but the payoff could be worthwhile in terms of dollars, etc. :)

[Edit] I can't remember if I posted this here, or on another thread, but IF you get a Surface Pro 2, I highly recommend the SP2 Dock by MS. Works well - much better than the cheesy 3rd party things. I have an extra IF you decide you want one. Also, FWIW, when we've sold our extra SP1s and SP2s to services like Gazelle, we've been getting around $450~ish for fully decked out ones in excellent shape. I don't know how that translated into what you can buy one for, but my guess would be around $600, including a dock, keyboard, etc. - maybe $500 without the extras (?) Usually, ours end up going to employees or that odd, lucky forum member who just happens to be at the right place at the right time, so I don't have much personal experience to report with regard to "market" prices for used equipment.

IF you plan on using it in the field, I also strongly suggest getting an Anti-Glare screen protector (NuShield's Triple A at about $25 is my favorite, DayVue is second) and a good car charger to keep in the glove box.


Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/
 
Last edited:
Thanks Randall. I am just dreaming as I know the way I want it will be $1,300 or so. Just looking at alternatives, or will simply keep waiting. Good info all around. Thanks!
 
No problem - glad to help. If an SP2 will cut the mustard for now, let me know and I'll ask around...

You know, the SP2 & SP3 are "full fledged computers" vs. (mostly) "companion" devices like the Lenovo TP10 I mentioned a few posts back. If you are happy with your desktop/laptop and need something in the field to run Windows apps, the models with 4GB or RAM & 127 GB of storage might be of interest. Even with the 4G option, they are well under $500 and the device weighs only 1.3 lbs... I use one as my "daily driver" when just needing a companion device (like right now, while I am out and about.)

Regards,


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/
 
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