Windows Tablets For Fieldwork

[Randall Garrett]

Would love to know more about your experience(s) with the Spectre x360. I have friends that have them and they like them - great build quality and available with no bloatware, too - that makes a difference in how they run. We don't have a lot of customers using them - our folks tend to go with the Spectre X2 or the Elite X2 - http://store.hp.com/us/en/mdp/business-solutions/elite-x2-1012--1#!&Tab=vao - (mostly the Business class Elite for various reasons) so please let us know more about your experiences.

TIA for your feedback.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

I have word from an overseas insider to keep your eyes open for the upcoming Acer Alpha Switch 12 for being a full core iX but not requiring a fan (uses an innovative closed loop liquid/vapor system.) [Edit] Here is a link to one of several video reviews on this device:

I'm more excited about the upcoming ASUS Transformer 3 Pro - which pretty much clones the good things from the SP4 and adds newer things like wider color gamut (for those who, like artist types, care about such things), an AES pen, USB-C 3.1 (supports external GPU, yea!), and a host of other things that we can expect to see in the next MS Surface devices. For a peek through the lens of the manufacturer's advertising lens (ha!), here is a link to their video:

There are a few reviews on these devices out there but I have not yet had the opportunity to use either of these machines myself as I've not been available in the locations where they are actually available. So, I have to rely on input from folks I trust to give me their early impressions. Once they are available here, I'll let you know how they compare to the SP4 and other upcoming (?) devices ;-) FWIW, I've never been too strong on later model Acer devices, but I'll give them a fair shake once I see them, but historically, ASUS has had a good track record for me and most of my contacts as a good value for the money, so I expect to like the ASUS T3P.


Hope this helps!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Bill Streep]

OK, Randall, I need your help. My iPad is starting to go south. You know I love Mobilesketch, right? And I love my iPad with my Lifeproof case.

Since we are married to y'all, I guess I'll need a Windows table. My needs in a tablet are this: Sketching with Apex, and secondarily, for navigation purposes and web browsing on our sailboat. Like Hillary, I only want 1 device. Suggestions? Price is always an issue, so I don't think a Toughbook is in my budget.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

ASUS has had a good track record for me and most of my contacts as a good value for the money, so I expect to like the ASUS T3P.

I have a big transformer - updated to 10 with some issues. The only thing I don't like about it is the WIFI is weak. My old netbook had more umph. My office is in the back of my garage and the Wireless is there, about 50' from my front door. But the transformer won't keep connected to the WIFI, drops out. This old Toshiba I am on in the living room is showing 5 bars. Even my 7" tablet can connect from the other end of the house- maybe 100' from the router. I'm using it as a scanner now.

 

[Randall Garrett]

OK, Randall, I need your help. My iPad is starting to go south. You know I love Mobilesketch, right? And I love my iPad with my Lifeproof case.

Since we are married to y'all, I guess I'll need a Windows table. My needs in a tablet are this: Sketching with Apex, and secondarily, for navigation purposes and web browsing on our sailboat. Like Hillary, I only want 1 device. Suggestions? Price is always an issue, so I don't think a Toughbook is in my budget.

Hi Bill,

Since you just need it for sketching with MobileSketch (vs. "full Apex") and GPS, I'm thinking a lightweight (vs. "heavy lifter") device will suffice, right? Any size requirements - 7", 8", 10", larger...? I'm not in San Antonio a lot, but I can arrange for you to meet up with Brian and fondle a few devices if that will help. I can have Brian show you MobileSketch for Windows 10, too. It is not available at retail yet - it was built as a tool for one of our partners, but we'll be pushing it out as a consumer app soon.

Let me know if this is a direction you want to go and I'll get Brian to reach out to you. I even have a few of my test tablets that I could let go of. They are kind of gathering dust - with rare exception, once I test a device sufficiently, it ends up on a shelf behind my desk, lonely and forgotten, ha ha.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[BRCJR]

Post 635 is a testament to the professional service Apex delivers, in my opinion.

 

[Bill Streep]

Hi Bill,

Since you just need it for sketching with MobileSketch (vs. "full Apex") and GPS, I'm thinking a lightweight (vs. "heavy lifter") device will suffice, right? Any size requirements - 7", 8", 10", larger...? I'm not in San Antonio a lot, but I can arrange for you to meet up with Brian and fondle a few devices if that will help. I can have Brian show you MobileSketch for Windows 10, too. It is not available at retail yet - it was built as a tool for one of our partners, but we'll be pushing it out as a consumer app soon.

Let me know if this is a direction you want to go and I'll get Brian to reach out to you. I even have a few of my test tablets that I could let go of. They are kind of gathering dust - with rare exception, once I test a device sufficiently, it ends up on a shelf behind my desk, lonely and forgotten, ha ha.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

Thanks Randall!

I think I need: Tablet with LTE (Verizon, preferably) and a rugged case. Splashproof at would be helpful. I need to be able to use it to get email, etc. as well as maps.

I also talked with Erick today, and he also offered to let me stop by and "play" with the software. I'll see if I can get by next week.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Post 635 is a testament to the professional service Apex delivers, in my opinion.

Thank you very much for your kind words!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Randall Garrett]

Thanks Randall!

I think I need: Tablet with LTE (Verizon, preferably) and a rugged case. Splashproof at would be helpful. I need to be able to use it to get email, etc. as well as maps.

I also talked with Erick today, and he also offered to let me stop by and "play" with the software. I'll see if I can get by next week.

Great, Bill - glad to help where I can!

FWIW, I have a couple of devices with factory rugged cases (and a few after-market examples, too.) I also have one unit which was made for potential immersion so it is more than "splashproof" Some time back I posted pictures of the unit stuck in the sand with ocean water rushing over it - salt water is considerably harsher on electronics than fresh water... I posted pix on stuff like this a while back and if I can find the links again, I'll update this post...

Anyway, I have a few example tablets like that left in my stash for you to play with. Only one of them has LTE - I still use that myself today, but I can make sure it is there. We might have a second one - I sent one to a programmer a while back, specifically for testing LTE functionality thingsf, but I'm not sure where that one is ATM...

Be sure to work with Brian Marino, though. Erick is a super nice guy, but he is a salesperson and is thus not able to show you anything not already available on our website. He is somewhat aware of MobileSketch and could show you the Android version (which is considerebly better than the old iOS version) but I believe you'd want to see what we call "MS10" which is a complete re-write and unpublished as of today, so only our technical staff have access to that software at this time. The same guy who wrote MSA (Android) wrote MS10, so it builds off that feature set and goes way beyond... Also, I can make sure Brian has access to the devices I have in mind whereas Erick would not have access to "my private stash", LOL... Just be sure to schedule a rough time in advance with Brian so he can make sure to have available what you want to see, etc. and is not otherwise tied up with regular tech support items.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Bill Streep]

Wow, Randall. Thanks, I'll hook up with Brian.

Bill