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Windows Tablets For Fieldwork

Not a "Tablet-only" thing, but it does relate to some tablets so I'm posting it here in hopes that it is helpful to a segment of the readers here.

Nice article here for those of you who are more security conscious. The article it titled as "Intel's vs. AMD's" implementation/performance of their business line of CPUS, and that is fine, but I believe the wide appeal here is the high level explanation of what's the deal on these business chips (vs. "consumer chips"), who needs them & why. I agree that most people don't need them, but FWIW, we always recommend this line to our commercial customers, and I always get them myself (at personal, not business, expense) for my own personal use because I believe in the technology, especially travelling as much as I do internationally. This is about a 5 or 6 minute read, not so in-depth that it'll make your brain implode, LOL. If you want more technical detail, it's pretty easy to find articles on this ;-)

Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+
/end/
 
Today I belatedly noticed that Mobile Demand, a long time favorite in the rugged Tablet PC industry, is marketing rugged accessories for the Surface Pro and the Surface Go 1 & 2. I spent more time looking at the SG2 items and observed that at $79 & $109, (standard vs. premium) the prices are in line with other ruggedized offerings (e.g. UAG, etc.) I believe them to be a little overkill for casual users, but for those who really desire (or need!) more protection, their items are work your consideration IMHO. I also noticed that they offer a anti-glare screen protector kit. I do not own any of these, nor have I seen/used them. Nevertheless, I am familiar with items by Mobile Demand in years past and they have always made a superior product. I would expect that these items are a cut above the run-of-the-mill cases, etc. I dod note, however, that none of the cases feature a strap, which I believe to be a very handy item. Upon looking closer at the way the cases are made, I don't see any reason why a regular camera (or guitar?) stap would not be easily attached...

Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-

PS - BTW, I will be out of the country from mid-July through the first of August but will have mostly reliable internet connection while away.

/end/
 
My Surface Pro 3 finally has bit the dust. I'm looking for a replacement but not sure I want to spend $1,000 for a new Pro 7 with keyboard (similar config). I use the tablet to run office programs mainly so it needs to have the full windows operating system. Any thoughts on a better way to go? I've looked online and the options are endless but I have been out of the shopping game for long enough that I'd like some guidance. Thanks
 
Bill S said:
My Surface Pro 3 finally has bit the dust. I'm looking for a replacement but not sure I want to spend $1,000 for a new Pro 7 with keyboard (similar config). I use the tablet to run office programs mainly so it needs to have the full windows operating system. Any thoughts on a better way to go? I've looked online and the options are endless but I have been out of the shopping game for long enough that I'd like some guidance. Thanks
Click to expand...
I found good prices on used newer Surface Pro's. Way less than new. Last one I bought was close to 2 years ago I think and its working perfectly. I think I paid $600 and it was basically new.
 
Bill, Leon makes a good point. I don't mind a certified refurb unit :)

FWIW, we expect to see new Surface devices announced tomorrow. That generally means that the previous year models will go on sale, and with some places offering trade-ins, some used (and certified refurb) units are sure to start being advertised pretty soon.

My main question revolving around a recommendation involves how much performance do you want/need? The answer usually involves ranking your features/functionality priorities vs. price. As an example, for MY needs, I have found that I rarely do any "heavy lifting" on my Surface devices anymore. I generally do things in a browser but I still need occasional access to some necessary/cherished legacy Windows applications, and it is a major convenience to have 4G capability. Hence, for ME, I can do very well using my Surface Go Business Edition (Core m3, 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD and 4G. It outperforms a Surface 3 for grunt work unless it had 16GB of RAM (legacy Appraisal Suites are memory hogs.) It has a ~2" smaller screen but works well for my field where size/weight are a major factor to me. Look back at some posts a couple of years ago and you'll see some pics I posted showing the lowest powered Gen 1 device running a 30" monitor and a 4K Monitor with several apps running. My much newer SG2 Business version totally smokes the previous generation devices. FWIW, the update to the Surface Go line is not expected to provide a major performance boost, so if a SG2 Business version will suffice, I would at least give that device (new or used) some consideration...

Failing that, and assuming you really want/need something in the traditional tablet form factor, I would look into what Leon suggests - a good, certified used SP7. I also carry an Surface Pro X (Gen 1) and it is more "svelte" than the regular Surface Pro. That said, I'm not convinced that this device is superior to a regular Surface Pro. I looked at getting a Gen 2 SPX (speed bump and available in silver, which is better than black IMHO) but it ended up going to a developer. We should see a minor bump to an SPX G3, but I am still not sure it beats out a regular SP6 or SP7 in good condition with an available warranty.

I no longer get direct info on upcoming MS stuff and have to rely on a small group of insiders I've known for 20 years, so all I can report on today are what is likely to be announced tomorrow. What IS virtually certain due to history, however, is that we should see some compelling deals on SP6 and SP7 devices as soon as the new (SP8?) is announced, so stay tuned :)

Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+
/end/
 
Bill S said:
My Surface Pro 3 finally has bit the dust. I'm looking for a replacement but not sure I want to spend $1,000 for a new Pro 7 with keyboard (similar config). I use the tablet to run office programs mainly so it needs to have the full windows operating system. Any thoughts on a better way to go? I've looked online and the options are endless but I have been out of the shopping game for long enough that I'd like some guidance. Thanks
Click to expand...
I got the Surface 6 i5 (fanless) 1.8GHz. 8 GB Ram. I have a rubber cover that fully covers the ports in case its raining or snowing and it has strap loops so i can use straps to just let it hang. It easily runs my software but I dont like using the software when I am out. I just do my notes and sketch on one note since its just like a sketch pad and it saves everything to an SD card in case something does happen to the surface everything is on the sd card. In the winter I have to use an I pad cover meant for water (so its really bulky but keeps the surface warm). With this I dont use paper, everything is on onenote and an SD card. Apex works perfect with it and the Disto sends the measurments to Apex by way of Bluetooth.
 
Bill,

You should really pay attention to the fact that Leon got the fan-less version - a very wise move IMHO! You really want to limit the amount of contaminants being circulated through all the little ventilation openings and narrow cooling passageways in any device you routinely expose to "less than pristine" environments. With desktops, and even laptops, many appraisers seem to opt for a Core i7 but the fan-less Core i5 variants with sufficient RAM are capable of running even hoggy legacy appraisal suite programs. I have experimented with several covers for my various Surface devices over the years and FWIW, if you can find one with an available neck strap, it'll come in handy. Alternately, just get a slim case and jerry-rig a strap to it. Hanging it around your neck will prevent dropping, so the case doesn't need to be "MIL-spec", and being able to just release the tablet on a whim and use both hands really aids in productivity/efficiency in the field. Generally, I find that the beefier-looking cases like a UAG case end up being too bulky/heavy.

Hope this helps. I aim to give some feedback on the new Surface updates later today. FWIW, mainly what I hear is that there will be a CPU/GPU spec bump and the screen may jump to 13 inches and a faster refresh - neither of which is a game changer for running typical applications, especially when in the field, but the possibility of MS adding Thunderbolt ports could add some significant advantages to users who plan to use their Surface Pro tablets as their main machine while docked back at their home/office.

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+
/end/
 
Randall Garrett said:
Bill,

You should really pay attention to the fact that Leon got the fan-less version - a very wise move IMHO! You really want to limit the amount of contaminants being circulated through all the little ventilation openings and narrow cooling passageways in any device you routinely expose to "less than pristine" environments. With desktops, and even laptops, many appraisers seem to opt for a Core i7 but the fan-less Core i5 variants with sufficient RAM are capable of running even hoggy legacy appraisal suite programs. I have experimented with several covers for my various Surface devices over the years and FWIW, if you can find one with an available neck strap, it'll come in handy. Alternately, just get a slim case and jerry-rig a strap to it. Hanging it around your neck will prevent dropping, so the case doesn't need to be "MIL-spec", and being able to just release the tablet on a whim and use both hands really aids in productivity/efficiency in the field. Generally, I find that the beefier-looking cases like a UAG case end up being too bulky/heavy.

Hope this helps. I aim to give some feedback on the new Surface updates later today. FWIW, mainly what I hear is that there will be a CPU/GPU spec bump and the screen may jump to 13 inches and a faster refresh - neither of which is a game changer for running typical applications, especially when in the field, but the possibility of MS adding Thunderbolt ports could add some significant advantages to users who plan to use their Surface Pro tablets as their main machine while docked back at their home/office.

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+
/end/
Click to expand...
YES!! It MUST be fanless. In order to protect the tablet while using, so it lasts more than a year, you must have a really good and completely sealed cover to protect it. Having a fan would not allow this and it would be usless in rain or bad weather. Having a fan run would greatly shorten the life of the tablet. I get years use out of mine. The last one I had finally came out of the cover when I was done using it and it looked brad new but had a great deal of on site use and because I use straps to hang it around my neck I never dropped it. It was an i3 so the software I was using was getting to be too much for the processor. The new i5 is working like a dream. I am in Illinois/Chicago so I see all the extreme weather and temps. Fanless is a MUST for me.
 
Early "hands on" reports from people I trust are saying that the Core m3 CPU upgrade on the SG3 has very noticeable performance bump for most (if not all?) applications and adds about an hour to the battery life. I'm noting, however that there is no business version available as of today, so I am waiting for that to happen before I get one because the built-in LTE and 256GB SSD is important to me. It would be fair to remark, however, that I've never even come close to needing the more "pedestrian" 128 GB in the consumer level and that I've never had a real issue with using my phone as a secure hot spot, so the word "need" in my case is really questionable, LOL. As far as I can tell, the pricing for "consumer" SG2 and SG3 is virtually identical. On the MS business site, the SG2 w/128GB and LTE is about $775 but the 256GB version is on sale for the same price. I would expect that the business version of the SG3 will be about $775 and $875 depending on 128GB vs 256GB. For me the size/weight with adequate performance of the SG2 was a compelling reason to pay a little extra per sq. inch of screen real estate vs. the bulkier but higher spec SP7. YMMV on that. Maybe Mike Ault or someone else here can comment on the performance of his SG2 running his appraisal suite and note how often he needs to do that, why, etc.

I can appreciate the increased screen size and other performance increases on the SP8 and I will take a look at them in person soon (I have an "after hours" invite to a local event) and I'll let you know my impressions. I'm sure I will be tempted to get one, but honestly, I'm more intrigued by the Surface Laptop Studio. I passed along the Surface Books I owned to project managers and developers along the way as they had more pressing need for using them in their daily lives. That said, as I slide into formal retirement this year, I believe there may be a place for a Surface Laptop Studio on my desk and in my travel gear. I fear I'll just buy one because I can imagine my "need" for such a device, LOL

Hope this helps for now!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software-
/end/
 
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