Windows Tablets For Fieldwork

[Randall Garrett]

FWIW, for those with MS Surface Tablets, Amazon is offering the excellent Surface Docks for between 37% and 46% off. No telling how long the sale will last. If you have a Surface device and want a dock (highly recommended), I suggest you look here as the prices are better than the current MS Store offers.

Surface Pro 1 & 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N3J9QCS/?tag=realestatappraat

Surface Pro 3: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N3J8NRW/?tag=realestatappraat

Surface 3: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VGJI1RS/?tag=realestatappraat



Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Mike Ault]

Just a quick update for folks that were curious about how Dragon is working on these tablets. I've been running Dragon 13 on a Lenovo TP-10 however, as I posted before, it appeared to be very resource intensive and I wasn't very pleased with the performance out in the field. I recently upgraded to Dragon 14 ( with a special promotion offered to current Dragon 13 users which doesn't appear to have been released to the general public yet) and the difference is like night and day. I am able to keep Apex V6, Microsoft Word 2013 and Microsoft OneNote 2013 all active and the Lenovo TP-10 cooks along quite well, it doesn't quite transcribe in real time, but close enough and unlike the prior version of Dragon you can just talk as you go and not have to worry about out-running the program, when you're done talking just look down and everything is transcribed quite nicely. I won't have to be upgrading to a new tablet anytime soon with this latest development, the speech recognition performance bottleneck was the only thing I was concerned with and that has been solved. I am fairly certain that when I get around to installing Windows 10 on the thing it will even run a little snappier. On the whole I am very pleased now with this tablet for field inspection purposes, if you see them running on sale I wouldn't hesitate to pick one of them up!

 

[Randall Garrett]

Awesome info, Mike - thanks for sharing. Previous versions of Dragon have always been resource hogs, so it's great to hear that they seem to have been busy performing optimization so, etc. I'd be interested to see how your exact setup runs on current Surfac 3 since its X7 Cherry Trail CPU and GPU are just a bit faster than the Bay Trail combo in the TP10. From a raw performance perspective, W10 is marginally more efficient/faster than W8.1, even it its current state, so nice Rhreshold 2 hits, you might want to upgrade (I would recommend waiting until then.)

Thanks again for sharing! When folks share things, w all benefit IMHO. Hope we can meet up soon as I'd love to change ideas, etc.

Regards,

-Randall Garrett-
@Apex Software@

/end/

 

[Mike Ault]

Awesome info, Mike - thanks for sharing. Previous versions of Dragon have always been resource hogs, so it's great to hear that they seem to have been busy performing optimization so, etc. I'd be net rested to see how your exact setup runs on current Surfac 3 since its X7 Cherry Trail CPU and GPU are just a bit faster than the Bay Trail combo in the TP10. From a raw performance perspective, W10 is marginally more efficient/faster than W8.1, even it its current state, so nice Rhreshold 2 hits, you might want to upgrade (I would recommend waiting until then.)

Thanks again for sharing! When folks share things, w all benefit IMHO. Hope we can meet up soon as I'd love to change ideas, etc.

Regards,

-Randall Garrett-
@Apex Software@

/end/

With as much time that you have expended on this thread keeping us informed I am happy to add my meager experiences to the knowledge base when possible. BTW, I sure appreciate you giving us a heads up on the advisability of waiting for the "official" Windows 10 update, I would've already taken the plunge since it seems to be running pretty well on my "non-mission critical" equipment however I do have some Bluetooth driver and other intermittent issues switching between tablet and laptop modes on a Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 convertible that I have been unable to solve which would have been quite irritating if I were using it to run my business. Maybe by the original projected release date all the appropriate Windows 10 drivers will be available from the manufacturers to make it a more seamless transition. If I do get down your way later in the season I would be honored if we could get together for lunch (if you will allow me to buy).

 

[Randall Garrett]

You'll certainly be hearing and seeing more on this device (and others) in the coming weeks, but for those who like the MS Surface line, we're starting to see other manufacturers bring their new Windows 10 devices to market which include a lot of the same/similar ("inspired by"?) design language. Lenovo, one of my favored manufacturers, announced & showed their upcoming Miix 700 today (along with some new ThinkPads, etc.) The new Miix is clearly inspired by the Surface 3 and Pro 3. In fact, some may even confuse it with a S3 or SP3, but unlike Apple, MS is not going to sue Lenovo for "copying"... As many correctly (IMHO) point out, this device is an example of WHY MS made the Surface - to encourage the various manufacturers into improving their designs and to use the Surface line as that inspiration when needed. Other (earlier) examples of a manufacturer collaborating closely with MS on a new device is the excellent HP Spectre 360 which came out earlier this year.

Basically, the Miix models shown/announced sort of sit between the S3 and the SP3 in terms of CPU power (Core M vs. Cherry Trail or Core i5/i7) but with otherwise very similar dimensions, weight, etc. I have not yet fondled one but, being a Lenovo, I'd expect the keyboard (included, BTW) to be at least slightly better than the MS Type keyboard. We'll have to see about the other stuff (looking at you, active pen!) One really revealing item is the fact that it is available with the awesome Intel RealSense camera system (for Windows Hello, which many of you will come to really like - more on that later, if interested.) Heretofore, I have been asked whether or not the SP4 will have a RealSense camera and some "pundits" have said definitely not since it (what THEY had seen) could not fit. Obviously, I can comment on what I know about the next Surface devices, but you can certainly see that the next Surface devices could house a RealSense camera. Maybe MS will even put theirs on the front side, LOL ;-)

Anyway, here is a link to a short article (with video link) which contains some facts I know to be true and also some conjecture which matches up with what I am told by folks I deem reliable. http://winsupersite.com/surface/why-microsoft-built-surface-lenovo-miix-700 The direct link to the video is here if you just want to see the device:

If you're hankering to get a new device, keep in mind that you'll start to see a mini-flurry of new device announcements this week, but remember that there will be more in October/November. Some really nice stuff coming... The "close collaboration" I mentioned earlier will lead to several exciting devices on the very near horizon (ex: the Acer Jade: see beginning at about the 20 minute mark of the video below to get a glimpse of where Acer - yes, even Acer, for goodness sake! - is heading.)

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software-

/end/

 

[Non Sequitur]

One really revealing item is the fact that it is available with the awesome Intel RealSense camera system (for Windows Hello, which many of you will come to really like - more on that later, if interested.)

I just listened to a review that said the RealSense camera will allow you to scan in objects and measure them. Pretty interesting from an appraiser's POV.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Dell will be selling Surface for MS now?

 

[Randall Garrett]

FWIW, I noticed that they are having a ONE DAY SALE at the Microsoft Store. There are several items on sale, but the one that struck me was the ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi Signature (aka no crapware!) Edition 2-in-1 for $497 (about 29% off.). This is a 12.5" Full HD device (with keyboard dock) with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The weight of the tablet is 1.6 lbs. (plus keyboard when attached, duh) I have not used this device myself in the field, but I looks nice in person... I just have not tested the screen in bright TX sun. Note that the predicted SP 4 announcement(s) are likely just 3 weeks away, so it appears to me that folks are trying to get rid of inventory ahead of the announcements for the new hardware by MS (and others)...

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...459594)(TnL5HPStwNw-yyxNPaA6vYejo6DcmPNUeQ)()


Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

Getting word that one of my favorite 8" tablets is getting a really nice (and meaningful) update for Windows 10. At present, the info is deemed reliable but not yet confirmed but I am hopeful that we'll see something official in early October. Most folks seem to initially purchase the more commonly seen +10" models or the larger +12" models but many of our more mobile customers have gravitated toward the 8" class devices as they get more comfortable with mobile. That said, many of us are not exactly "spring chickens" and thus we appreciate the added readability that can come with larger screens. Anyway, I am always interested to find that another 8" device is making the jump to Windows 10 and am pleased to hear that the hardware upgrades are meaningful (vs. just there for "paper specs.") That is, while "the numbers" (raw specs) look good enough, what makes a difference to our ability to get things done is many times the implementation of the right items... i.e. make the screen more readable in our work conditions vs. just higher resolution, enough RAM to allow for the mobile use of legacy software, practical ergonomics and durability factors along with a decent price, ready availability and convenient warranty/support policies.

Of course, this one won't be the "end all" - we always want more, and for a lower price, but the encouraging thing is to see that at least one +8" device that has proven to be popular with valuation types in the past is being modernized in good ways. I'd expect the handful of their direct competitors to have similar offerings, so having choices is good, too

I'll update you with more concrete info on this item as soon as I can. I am under NDA with this manufacturer, but I haven't even gotten word directly from them on this particular device. My info comes from a friend also under NDA with them, but in a different country. In the past, I'd worry more that this was going to be a non-North American model, but with the big hardware announcements due in October, I am seeing more and more security around new device announcements, and this manufacturer is a proven one that favors the North American markets...


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

Dell has finally gone public with Windows 10 refreshes of their popular Venue 8 Pro and Venue 10 Pro. The basic specs were leaked quite some time ago, but now they are public and for those who follow such things, you'll note that the improvements are meaningful, if not spectacular.


Basics for the Venue 8 Pro

• Handheld design for use on-the-go
• 8-inch HD (1280x800) & FHD (1920x1200) touch display
• Optional Wacom "Stylus" (sic. - should be "Active Pen")
• Optional NFC support for additional security
• USB Type C docking (2016)
• 2x2 AC WLAN and optional WWAN (i.e. 4G LTE)
• Starting at $299 in North America

Edit: I'm glad they are offering a 1280x800 screen option as this resolution is easily sufficient for our purposes at this screen size and should be easier on the battery than the 1920 x 1200. Additionally, this is one of the few 8" devices currently advertised to have a 4G LTE option.


Basics for the Venue 10 Pro

• 2-in-1 keyboard with support for Continuum
• 10.1-inch FHD (1920x1200) touch display
• Optional Wacom Active Pen
• High quality dual speakers and microphones for Cortana support
• USB Type C, USB Type A, microHDMI, headset jack, microSD slot, etc
• 2x2 AC WLAN and optional WWAN and NFC
• Starting at $429 in North America

Additionally, in their release document Dell specifies that both tablets feature

• Best-in-class security with the Dell Data Protection suite that encompasses comprehensive encryption, advanced authentication and leading-edge malware prevention.
• Speed, reliability and fanless design, built on Intel® Atom™ Quad Core processors.
• Advanced manageability through automated and streamlined system deployment, monitoring and updating, Dell Configuration Services and product lifecycle planning.
• Outstanding reliability with MIL-STD testing for real-life conditions, backed by the industry’s leading support and coverage with Dell ProSupport™ Plus.
• Unmatched Dell expertise as the Microsoft Partner of the Year, ranking No.1 in Windows deployment; built on the foundation of Windows 10.
• Active pen featuring Wacom technology for a true writing experience with accuracy and natural feel.
• 2x2 Wi-Fi, LTE and optional NFC so workers can stay connected.
• Accessories and imaging for specialized verticals.

I think these may well prove to be popular with some of our Enterprise customers and it would not surprise me that Fee Appraisers end up liking them, too. My sources tell me that Dell is already processing orders in the "tens of thousands" so that is a good sign and that the CPU is the x5-8500 "Cherry Trail variant with 4GB of RAM. Most users will be very happy that Dell has switched back to a Wacom digitizer system since their previous systems had a spotty track record. At this point, I don't have confirmation whether it is the "traditional" EMR system or the newer AES system but I suspect the latter. All this said, we can expect more announcements with competing models over the next few weeks, so I am recommending that folks wait just as bit to see what others announce so that they can better compare and thus select what works best for them. As usual, once I am able to put some actual, shipping retail units through some tests, I can better report on suitability factors., etc.

Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/