- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,126
As promised here is a review of the iPad based on my experiences over the last 6 weeks as a contractor. click here to go to the review
Peter
Peter
A review of the iPad geared towards contractors
- Thread starter peter halle
- Start date
Brice Burrell
Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 7,385
I'm surprised no one has responded yet. Nice job on the review. You make a convincing argument. I'm not into hand held electronics, I'd love to be able to forgo the cell phone if I could. Way of the future, probably and I'm already behind. I can't decide if a computer in your pocket is a blessing or a curse... I'd love to hear what others have to say to about your review.
Peter
Nice review. I've only had my iPad for a month but it's become an indispensable part of my workflow. Previously I always hand-wrote job notes in a Moleskine-type notebook, then try and decipher them later on to put together an estimate; now all my notes are typed with the virtual keyboard on my iPad, and notes sync wirelessly between my desktop and iPhone (and any other devices I choose to have in the loop) through a brilliant (and free) App called Simplenote. Contacts and calendars are synced through MobileMe, just as they are with my iPhone. PDFs of all my estimates and current invoices are also on the iPad courtesy of DropBox.
I also have Numbers templates for estimating and invoicing, though it's rare that I invoice directly 'in the field'. Hadn't thought of using Keynote for putting together 'work in progress' missives (I usually just email pictures to people) but I may give it a try. I have to say that the iPad fulfills all my business wants from a tablet - and I've tried all sorts over the years - but has also replaced my dedicated eBook reader and is absolutely my main internet & email machine.
Needles to say, I'm impressed with the device.
Cheers, Peter.
Nice review. I've only had my iPad for a month but it's become an indispensable part of my workflow. Previously I always hand-wrote job notes in a Moleskine-type notebook, then try and decipher them later on to put together an estimate; now all my notes are typed with the virtual keyboard on my iPad, and notes sync wirelessly between my desktop and iPhone (and any other devices I choose to have in the loop) through a brilliant (and free) App called Simplenote. Contacts and calendars are synced through MobileMe, just as they are with my iPhone. PDFs of all my estimates and current invoices are also on the iPad courtesy of DropBox.
I also have Numbers templates for estimating and invoicing, though it's rare that I invoice directly 'in the field'. Hadn't thought of using Keynote for putting together 'work in progress' missives (I usually just email pictures to people) but I may give it a try. I have to say that the iPad fulfills all my business wants from a tablet - and I've tried all sorts over the years - but has also replaced my dedicated eBook reader and is absolutely my main internet & email machine.
Needles to say, I'm impressed with the device.
Cheers, Peter.
Peter
Nice review. I have a 3G iPad and really enjoy it. I'm not in the contracting business but can see the benefits of instant access, use for estimating, proposals, invoicing, and showing your portfolio.
If you have an iPhone, there is a app out called 'Bump' that you run on the iPhone and the iPad. Take a photo with the iPhone. Bump it to the iPad and it transfers your photos directly - very easy way to get photos into the iPad without the camera connection kit.
There is a new app out called "Square" that will work on the iPad, iPhone, and Adroid devices that lets you take a credit card payment. It's basically a card reader that plugs into the audio port and lets you swipe a credit card and wirelessly take a payment and send a receipt to the customer. it would be a definite item for those who sell at craft shows and such. It might also speed up payment if you could finish a job and take a credit card payment at the completion. Forget mailing an invoice, worrying about bounced checks, etc. No setup of a merchant account is required. They charge around 2% if I recall, but that's better than delayed payments. They are just starting to ship the readers so it might take a few weeks to get it. But a great idea for those that want to take credit cards easily.
I'd still like to see some drawing apps. I use Omnigraffle which is an excellent program, but does not offer the dimensional drawing you might want for capturing field measurements, for example.
BTW, you can scroll in the forum input fields on the iPad - put two fingers in the field and drag and you'll see the box scroll.
Great review - thanks for sharing.
neil
Nice review. I have a 3G iPad and really enjoy it. I'm not in the contracting business but can see the benefits of instant access, use for estimating, proposals, invoicing, and showing your portfolio.
If you have an iPhone, there is a app out called 'Bump' that you run on the iPhone and the iPad. Take a photo with the iPhone. Bump it to the iPad and it transfers your photos directly - very easy way to get photos into the iPad without the camera connection kit.
There is a new app out called "Square" that will work on the iPad, iPhone, and Adroid devices that lets you take a credit card payment. It's basically a card reader that plugs into the audio port and lets you swipe a credit card and wirelessly take a payment and send a receipt to the customer. it would be a definite item for those who sell at craft shows and such. It might also speed up payment if you could finish a job and take a credit card payment at the completion. Forget mailing an invoice, worrying about bounced checks, etc. No setup of a merchant account is required. They charge around 2% if I recall, but that's better than delayed payments. They are just starting to ship the readers so it might take a few weeks to get it. But a great idea for those that want to take credit cards easily.
I'd still like to see some drawing apps. I use Omnigraffle which is an excellent program, but does not offer the dimensional drawing you might want for capturing field measurements, for example.
BTW, you can scroll in the forum input fields on the iPad - put two fingers in the field and drag and you'll see the box scroll.
Great review - thanks for sharing.
neil
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,126
Neil,
Thank you for the information! That will make my life easier and more interesting. This week has seen some bad Apple moments. Hey I think I'll start thread.
Peter
Thank you for the information! That will make my life easier and more interesting. This week has seen some bad Apple moments. Hey I think I'll start thread.
Peter
NuggyBuggy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2010
- Messages
- 419
While this was a very nice review, I have to ask: what exactly recommends the iPad over a normal notebook or netbook for contractor use ? The only application I saw mention of that is I have not heard of on other platforms is Quick Voice Pro, which seems of fairly limited utility to me. While you can use Readdle Docs to read a PDF file, every other platform has a freely available PDF reader. Evernote is a nice application but it's also available on a number of platforms - including Windows and Blackberry.
It also seems that a typically netbook or notebook would be much more likely to withstand the kinds of stresses that a contractor's device would face.
I have several Apple devices at home, including 2 MacBook Pros, an older Macbook, and a desktop, so I appreciate a lot of Apple's products. I don't, however, understand how most people could get more utility out of one of these than a notebook/netbook, and I resent Apple's intentional crippling of the device. As a Mac user and iPod owner, I really wanted to like the iPhone and demoed one for a few weeks, but found that for me, anyways, a Blackberry was a far superior data entry device. And at the time, I was looking for productivity apps and I found that the iPhone had a ton of them but they were all extremely light duty (I ended up settling on IdeaMatrix and ToDo Matrix on the Blackberry).
My disappointing experience with the iPhone has guided much of how I view the iPad. If it wasn't so crippled, I might be more interested. I just don't get it, though I'd consider trying one from a store with a liberal return policy to see if the proof is in the pudding.
It also seems that a typically netbook or notebook would be much more likely to withstand the kinds of stresses that a contractor's device would face.
I have several Apple devices at home, including 2 MacBook Pros, an older Macbook, and a desktop, so I appreciate a lot of Apple's products. I don't, however, understand how most people could get more utility out of one of these than a notebook/netbook, and I resent Apple's intentional crippling of the device. As a Mac user and iPod owner, I really wanted to like the iPhone and demoed one for a few weeks, but found that for me, anyways, a Blackberry was a far superior data entry device. And at the time, I was looking for productivity apps and I found that the iPhone had a ton of them but they were all extremely light duty (I ended up settling on IdeaMatrix and ToDo Matrix on the Blackberry).
My disappointing experience with the iPhone has guided much of how I view the iPad. If it wasn't so crippled, I might be more interested. I just don't get it, though I'd consider trying one from a store with a liberal return policy to see if the proof is in the pudding.
chris mann
Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Messages
- 39
Did you make that template for your estimate/invoice or is it available somewhere. Much nicer than my cobbled together one.
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,126
chris mann said:
Chris,
The invoice template is in the numbers application and can be customized with your logo, etc.
Peter
Nice review Peter. I have most all the apps you mentioned except Quick Voice, I hadn't heard of that one.
Nuggybuggy, I think one large advantage the iPad has over a netbook or notebook is the 3G connection. You don't have to find a wi-fi hotspot or pay to tether a cell phone to your computer. Some lesser advantages, in my opinion, is it is much faster scrolling using your finger than a trackpad, it is smaller and has a great display for showing off your work. But you're right, if the operating system would allow access to flash websites it would be much better (although there is an app for that called CloudBrowse - I've used it on my phone and it works).
Tom.
Nuggybuggy, I think one large advantage the iPad has over a netbook or notebook is the 3G connection. You don't have to find a wi-fi hotspot or pay to tether a cell phone to your computer. Some lesser advantages, in my opinion, is it is much faster scrolling using your finger than a trackpad, it is smaller and has a great display for showing off your work. But you're right, if the operating system would allow access to flash websites it would be much better (although there is an app for that called CloudBrowse - I've used it on my phone and it works).
Tom.
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
- Messages
- 13,126
Tom,
I hadn't heard of cloudbrowse. It is installed now.
Thanks,
Peter
I hadn't heard of cloudbrowse. It is installed now.
Thanks,
Peter
NuggyBuggy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2010
- Messages
- 419
Tom - my provider does not charge me to tether to my Blackberry, and I'm not stuck paying AGAIN for more data (though tethering over Bluetooth is pretty slow). I'm already paying for home phone service, internet to my house, cell phone service, cell phone data, 3g wireless stick and I'm tired of it. I'd have to be blown away to pay for 3g for another device, and in this case I wasn't. The first company that offers me a consolidated phone/data plan will have my business.tvgordon said:
The iPad is also not much smaller - if at all - than smaller netbooks.
The screen is beautiful, I admit, but it'd be nicer if it was available in matte.
jmbfestool
Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2009
- Messages
- 6,646
Why can I not find this cloud browser? I can find it on google but not in the app store?
Jmb
Jmb
jmbfestool
Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2009
- Messages
- 6,646
fidelfs said:
That sucks!
GhostFist
Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2010
- Messages
- 1,551
See this is what miffs me about apple lately. I use a mac at home and no viruses which is great but every now and then they like to shut down stuff just to keep everything under their thumb. What's with the whole Flash thing?? why would they go out and say they refuse to continue to support it? just baffles the mind really. Anyways, I upgraded my old Blackberry to a new Android phone, it's pretty much the same thing as the iphone except, expandable memory, open source software, I can replace my own damn battery should the need arise. the display is large and fast enough to show pictures clearly, I'll admit the screen on an ipad would be a lot nicer to show off but this does the job in an instant, no fumbling around to get your ipad out on the site as my phone is always on me. As far as a mobile version of sketchup there's no news on that that i've heard but if it comes anywhere you can bet your arse it'll be on android first. I'd be happy with just a sketchup model veiwer that allows myself or a client to manipulate a sketchup model in 3d as well as useability of layout. Best thing i like my new phone for is free gps navigation with turn by turn directions.......hey Festool should make a cell phone....
Ken Nagrod
Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2010
- Messages
- 3,431
Adobe makes "bloatware" like flash and their pdf reader. Their stuff causes issues with Microsoft's OS and they are usually a high security risk leaving their software vulnerable to intruders. They also fail to provide timely updates/fixes. This is not my personal opinion as I would have a lot worse to say. This is well documented info on the net.