Tablets for work

Who's using them? Specifically Droids. I've heard tell that pics can be sent directly to the tablet from the phone camera ......

Did I screw up w/ the Droid? Is Apple the answer? (tell me before I buy the tablet....I can always get a new phone!)

My wife LUVS her Iphone whilst I feel no special luv towards my razor

I use Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. It has a stylus pen. I can write down all my notes and never lose them. I also can do a search to find it.

I draw a sketch of the building and write down the measurements.

I can take a picture with the tablet. Put it on the screen, then write on the picture my measurements. Along with any notes. So I can send the picture to anyone that needs the information.

My estimating software is on the tablet. I can upload the picture to the customers file from the tablet.

I do all the figuring on the notepad then save it. If I want to know how I came up with my price. I just pull up my notes.

The wind does not blow the pages around. My tablet is always on the right page.

I only have it a couple of weeks. I have no idea what I can do yet.

I would not get one without the stylus.

I use Excel for my estimating Lefty. I've been under the impression that the tabs won't work for Excel or hooking up a printer.

I know almost nothing about tablets :(

I still use the old hand written estimate on a pre-printed double carbon copy form with company letterhead. I use my android tablet mainly as a camera. I take photo's of what's wrong with their roof so I can show them as I'm explaining it. Then I show them photo's of previous work I repaired that had the exact same problems. They get a visual of the problem and the solution.

Although this is very simple, (just the way I like it) it is very effective and saves me a lot of frustration trying to explain something to someone that has no understanding of it and with no visual in their minds.

I use the tablet to take the pics not my cell phone so they are on the tablet right away with nothing further required but to just take the pic. I use dropbox and when I pull up in my driveway at the end of each day, the pics are automatically uploaded onto my laptop before I can make it into the house. The tablet stays in the truck ensuring that I never leave without it.

Interesting, I've been thinking about getting one also this year. My brother uses his all the time, everyday.

I'll have to look into it some more.

Twill59,

I used the wrong word for our data base and how we print contracts. It does not figure out the price. I use stylus and tablet to do that. The rest of the company uses spread sheets. There is a spread sheet program on the tablet. It is not excel.

Here is a link to a picture that I wrote the measurements on so when I went to the lumber yard I could show the picture of what I wanted and the measurements were right there. No mistakes.

Like Willie said this was automatically uploaded and available to me anywhere in the world. Also can just get a link and send it to the customer or to the supply house to get a price. Then when you talk on the phone you are both looking at the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/d6c2lye2cvps3hv/eJUjsztHdN

thanks Lefty. Spread Sheet does not have to be excel, I am sure I could figure it out and convert my info. After all if I can manage Windows 8 (barely) and the new unimproved Excel program that came with it...... Anyway, I digress.

I like the stylus

Twill59,

Go into Best Buy they have a Samsung rep in the store. He does not work for Best Buy he works for Samsung. He will show you how everything works and how to use it.

The office program on the tablet is "Polaris Office 5". I do not know anything about spread sheets, so check it out.

You can get Polaris Office for free for you desktop to make sure you like it. Or Open Office is free too. I've been using Open Office, thinking of giving Polaris a shot.

I am also in the camp of buying a tablet this spring to improve & impress.

Seems like the phone and tablet are 2 separate things. I'll check out BBuy

I've had an ipad for 2 years. I still hate it.

I had an iPhone and hated it.

I have a Samsung Galaxy sIII phone and consider it a huge improvement over the iPhone.

I've had Windows 8 for six months, and have learned to use it.

The fact that a Windows laptop, Windows tablet and Windows phone all run the same programs and interface leads me to believe they will soon be back on top of the business use market.

I'm 99% certain my next pad and phone will be Windows. I am lost without my Excel.

Always something Mike.....used to be a bigger investment per unit. Now less per u it, but ya need more units

So how to get on line? Another internet account, or keep using my phone modem?

The tablets all have wifi, so if you're comfy using your phone as a wifi, that works.

But wifi has become so prevalent, that in your residential markets, you can probably tap into the owner, or some neihbor's wifi.

Otherwise, you need a seperate data plan to go with the tablet, you just need to make sure that it's cellular enabled.

The piece that lefty has may work as a phone and tablet. Samsung makes one like that. It was just too big for me to carry as my "always on me" piece.

Android is not standardized from one mfr to another.

Samsung sells more units than Apple.

For the sake of compatibility and app ion, if you go droid, at least go Samsung.

Yes,

Once you realize that Windows 8 has a traditional desktop behind all that "app" stuff, it's not bad at all.

I've been through two I used for enlarging the cell phone pix, but mostly, I just carry the necessary cable and just open them on the HO's puter which is even easier. :) The HO can create a desktop folder and copy all the pix onto their puter so they can even compare before and after pix more easily. :)