Going All Apple

[fidelfs]

In my line of business (consultor) I need to present receipts for expenses, I had a lot of paper to scan to send for payment at the end of the week.

There are apps that allow you to use the camera in your phone to take a picture, and convert the file into PDF.  It looks identically as it was scanned.

I use dropbox (cloud) to store those files so when I go home they are automatically in my home computer (dropbox), so I don't need to transfer to my laptop.
It saves a lot of time. 

Iphone Genius Scan+ for scanning anything.
Dropbox or any other cloud storing solution.  Dropbox is free, if you  want give me your email, and I can send you an invite.
If you take the invite from the email I sent I get 250 MB free of storage, so let me know. 

 

[jjhomes]

In my line of business (consultor) I need to present receipts for expenses, I had a lot of paper to scan to send for payment at the end of the week.

There are apps that allow you to use the camera in your phone to take a picture, and convert the file into PDF.  It looks identically as it was scanned.

I use dropbox (cloud) to store those files so when I go home they are automatically in my home computer (dropbox), so I don't need to transfer to my laptop.
It saves a lot of time. 

Iphone Genius Scan+ for scanning anything.
Dropbox or any other cloud storing solution.  Dropbox is free, if you  want give me your email, and I can send you an invite.
If you take the invite from the email I sent I get 250 MB free of storage, so let me know. 

I will let you know.
What you are doing sounds exactly like what I want to do.  I love the fact that something I do in the field will be on my computer when I get home.  I love it!

Here is my concern.  Dropbox, cloud, etc.  I do not want to have a bunch of things that do the same thing.  Not that I am worried about space, I just don't want to have to learn different programs.  I really want to keep it simple.  These computers and gadgets will do way more things then I will ever ask them to do.  I do not play games, I don't watch t.v. or movies on these, I do estimates, I go on the internet, I do my ipod, I use the flashlight on my phone, that thing is great, I use the calculator on the phone.  I do however watch You Tube to learn about some things or listen to music. 

 

[jjhomes]

I thought tethering was done via Bluetooth?

The thing I like about the AccountEdge is that it is iPad compatible.

I am going to go play with the 11" MacBook and compare to the iPad.
If money was not an object (which of coarse it is) would you go MacBook or iPad?
Is the 11" about the same size as the iPad?
I like the ease of size of the iPad as well as the price.
But I like the keyboard of the Mac as well as the fullblown computer.
But with the cloud coming is a laptop needed.

About Festool.  I am treating the office part of my business like a tool for the first time.
I want to get everything set up and as close to "perfect" as possible.  So that my office makes me money like my tools.
When all is complete, I will of coarse have to treat the construction part of the business to a new Festool.  Don't want it to get jealous.

 

[fidelfs]

Tethering is wifi, bluetooth and wired. It is as you want it to be.

I normally used wifi because it is more convenient.  Wifi works with your jailbroken iphone and standard.  I think Bluetooth and wired work only with a jailbroke iphone.

Dropbox is very simple or any cloud software, for that matter.  When you install it, becomes like an extra folder in your hard drive.  You need to install it in all the devices you want to have the files replicated.

When you drop a file into your dropbox directory (you can add subdirectories to make more organized), Dropbox or any cloud services will store your file locally, on their server (to be used in case you don't have any of your devices with you.  You use a webbrowser and then go to their website - log on -a then you see all your files), and it will replicate them into all your other devices.
Dropbox keeps different versions of your files, so you could recover a earlier file, in case you updated a proposal and want to get an earlier version.

The files are encrypted so only you can open it and read them.

I have also another software that makes my life easier, it is very simple to use.  It is called 1password. This software keeps all your passwords in one repository, so every time, you try to log on into a web site, you let 1password to enter the password for you.  It also can keep your creditcards, bank information, etc.
It used the highest encryption available so it is pretty safe, you will hear people saying that is not safe, hackers can get your files, etc.
If you use internet, you are exposed, period, no matter if you don't' store the files or you do, you are exposed. It is more if you are willing to do it then you know the risks.

i.e. When you provide your info SS, driver license number, etc to a government agency you expect the best security in place.  Well, here in Texas, the government left one server exposed to the internet without any safe guarding, wide open and thousands of SS and other numbers were accessed and they were stolen.  [eek] [scared]   I have the occasional credit card number used by a thief, and I have to call the business, my credit card company and get a new card.  This is happening after the mess with the State agency. In other words, you are in internet you are exposed, just try it to keep difficult to people to steal your information.

 

[Swingman]

I like the way you are approaching this problem.

Bruce

I agree with all you've said. I'm a GC and use an iPad as the device of choice in the field, along with the aforementioned DropBox. I don't know how the Airbook is on battery life, but I've yet to come close to having to shutdown the iPad for low battery despite long days onsite. I do highly recommend the 3G option for a contractor. My first iPad for field use was Wifi only, so I've been that route and would not go without the versatility again.

 

[jjhomes]

Tethering is wifi, bluetooth and wired. It is as you want it to be.

I normally used wifi because it is more convenient.  Wifi works with your jailbroken iphone and standard.  I think Bluetooth and wired work only with a jailbroke iphone.

Dropbox is very simple or any cloud software, for that matter.  When you install it, becomes like an extra folder in your hard drive.  You need to install it in all the devices you want to have the files replicated.

When you drop a file into your dropbox directory (you can add subdirectories to make more organized), Dropbox or any cloud services will store your file locally, on their server (to be used in case you don't have any of your devices with you.  You use a webbrowser and then go to their website - log on -a then you see all your files), and it will replicate them into all your other devices.
Dropbox keeps different versions of your files, so you could recover a earlier file, in case you updated a proposal and want to get an earlier version.

The files are encrypted so only you can open it and read them.

I have also another software that makes my life easier, it is very simple to use.  It is called 1password. This software keeps all your passwords in one repository, so every time, you try to log on into a web site, you let 1password to enter the password for you.  It also can keep your creditcards, bank information, etc.
It used the highest encryption available so it is pretty safe, you will hear people saying that is not safe, hackers can get your files, etc.
If you use internet, you are exposed, period, no matter if you don't' store the files or you do, you are exposed. It is more if you are willing to do it then you know the risks.

i.e. When you provide your info SS, driver license number, etc to a government agency you expect the best security in place.  Well, here in Texas, the government left one server exposed to the internet without any safe guarding, wide open and thousands of SS and other numbers were accessed and they were stolen.  [eek] [scared]   I have the occasional credit card number used by a thief, and I have to call the business, my credit card company and get a new card.  This is happening after the mess with the State agency. In other words, you are in internet you are exposed, just try it to keep difficult to people to steal your information.

I have to look into what you are saying here.  I had to read this 3 times.  Basically what I am looking for is for me to enter something in my calender, contacts, email, job folders, etc. on one device and have it appear on all of the devices without having to do anything extra.  Sort of like my email.  If I reply to an email on my phone, I can see it on my computer.  No syncing or anything.  I realize job folders are folders that are in the computer.  But by putting them into a cloud I can get to them and whatever changes I make in the field will be the same as I would see it on the computer.  Because it changed the file.  And that file is able to be retrieved by any of my devices.  What is the best for this, Dropbox?  Or does the Apple have something already built in? 

By the way, reading, rereading and then typing this all out is really helping me to understand this better.  Or at least help me to understand what I think I want better.
I kind of feel like I am back in college.  Less the drinking. 

I really thank all of you for your help, I feel a bit like an idiot.  How did I get so behind on technology.  I appreciate your patience.
Thanks!

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks for asking the questions JJ. I'm sure a lot of us are learning from this thread.

 

[fidelfs]

Apple has something to replicate emails, calendars, notes, etc it is called mobile me.  Apple is fading out mobile me and will start a cloud service this fall or so.

You are getting the concept, a cloud lets you Remove the complexity where you store your file, it is in the cloud.

Wiki has a good explanation at the beginning, but later goes a litle deep.  

 Cloud computing provides computation, software, data access, and storage services that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services. Parallels to this concept can be drawn with the electricity grid, wherein end-users consume power without needing to understand the component devices or infrastructure required to provide the service.

 

[fidelfs]

One reason you will see more tablets and small laptops on the news is because you won't need all the computing power in your personal device, it will be provided from the cloud.

With an Ipad or any other tablet or smart phones, you could have a small subset of excel, word, etc and have those files replicated using the cloud.  Some providers go one step further into the cloud that allows you to work your files, using the software in the cloud, so you don't need to have a copy of excel in your laptop, ipad, etc.

Google docs is one good example that allows you to fully use the cloud. Google Docs whats new?

The weakest link is the internet access and there are some time when the service is not available, Google had a bad week when their system was down.  This don't happen very often, in the mean time you might save your file locally and when the service is restored, then just copy the file to the cloud (in my case dropbox).

I cannot say Dropbox is the best cloud system, it is the one that works for me.  See this video

 

[jjhomes]

One reason you will see more tablets and small laptops on the news is because you won't need all the computing power in your personal device, it will be provided from the cloud.

With an Ipad or any other tablet or smart phones, you could have a small subset of excel, word, etc and have those files replicated using the cloud.  Some providers go one step further into the cloud that allows you to work your files, using the software in the cloud, so you don't need to have a copy of excel in your laptop, ipad, etc.

Google docs is one good example that allows you to fully use the cloud. Google Docs whats new?

The weakest link is the internet access and there are some time when the service is not available, Google had a bad week when their system was down.  This don't happen very often, in the mean time you might save your file locally and when the service is restored, then just copy the file to the cloud (in my case dropbox).

I cannot say Dropbox is the best cloud system, it is the one that works for me.  See this video

That Dropbox is awesome.  How well does it work, is it easy?  How does it compare to the google and will the apple cloud be better? 

 

[woodguy7]

That dropbox looks the biz. Is it worth installing it now or waiting for cloud ?

Nice thread by the way

Woodguy.

 

[tiralie]

That dropbox looks the biz. Is it worth installing it now or waiting for cloud ?

Nice thread by the way

Woodguy.

My wife uses dropbox for transferring files from her workplace computer to her laptop, I think it's dead simple.
Tim

 

[woodguy7]

That's good enough for me, cheers Tim  [big grin]

 

[Holzhacker]

A couple of comments ...
- Drogbox works very well. I don't use it a lot but when I do it has always worked well without any issues.
- The 3G iPad is the way to go instead of just wifi; extra money but worth it. I recently picked up the wireless keyboard and an Origami stand to go along with the iPad. The keyboard comes in very handy in the vehicle after looking at something. The Origami stand seems a little odd but it is a really neat little thing. Picked it up at the Apple store. It's a sturdy plastic thing that has two very useful purposes. Folded it acts as a full cover for the wireless keyboard; open it up and it acts as a stand for the iPad.

 

[woodguy7]

Yup, i concur with getting the 3G Ipad 2, fantastic bit of kit, cant put it down  ;D

Marcus, any links for that stand ?

 

[fidelfs]

With dropbox also you can have public folders, so your customer might see it in a web browser (let's say you want to show a pre-proposal or something like that).
Also if you are working with sub-contractors and they are providing their own prices, then you can have share a folder with another user using dropbox so they can add their part and everybody will have the latest document on the dropbox.

This Youtube explains what I am talking about

 

[jjhomes]

I like that dropbox works with a pc and mac.

 

[jjhomes]

Are you guys suggesting I get a iPad 3g and get a seperate data plan for it or is tethering ok?

 

[tiralie]

That's good enough for me, cheers Tim  [big grin]

Well if you don't like it I will let her know.
My wife's really not keen on computers, I figure anything she insists on using gotta be easy to use and simple.
Tim

 

[fidelfs]

Are you guys suggesting I get a iPad 3g and get a seperate data plan for it or is tethering ok?

My point with tethering is that it is more probable that you will have your iphone and Ipad together (so iphone will tether) than your Ipad and laptop (both are too big to be together).
So if you have only the tether in your phone, you could use it with ipad and notebook. 
Another thing is that you pay extra to get 3G with the ipad, you don't with your iphone, it is included.
I am a Software consultant traveling around the country and I am happy with my configuration (Iphone, Ipad wifi and Laptop).  Get what works to you, if you have a laptop get the iphone and try the tethering, see if it works for you and it is not cumbersome.  If you don't like it then buy the Ipad with 3G.

Have Fun