The Apple iPad as a tool for Contractors - A tool review

[chrisrosenb]

Just my $.02 and I don't want to hi-Jack Peters review...(I'm very interested in his feedback to us).  I have one of the 3G ipads.  I don't go anywhere without it!  I certainly don't use it to the fullest capability, simply because I don't know how to yet or don't relize everything available [embarassed].  I can say this much, I have never had an easier way of staying in touch with people through email, research material costs online, locate addresses ( business/supplier/client), manage client database or send estimates and invoices I have created in the "pages" program!  I'm sure there is more, I just need time to learn and find the stuff out there!  I haven't yet tried to add the program many of you use, sketch up?  If I can, I'll report on that! I still hand draw[smile]. The 3G allows me to use it anywhere there is cellular service, though there is an additional monthly cost.  The smallest plan may work for many of you, as you can usually save your minutes by jumping on wifi hotspots all over the place and at home!  It will automatically do that for you if you tell it to.  Side note, the battery lasts forever!, or certainly all day until you can plug in at night again.  Even when I use the most battery draining functions, I've  never run out (  YouTube videos).  FYI, this and all of my posts have been from my ipad [big grin].  Yes, that means I, and you can read FOG all day, everyday from anywhere...  Probably not a good thing....  I think this has cost me more money on Festool than anything!
Hope this can help some of you out there make decisions and thanks to all of you that help me do the same with Festool purchases and building projects!  

 

Is AT&T the only choice for a 3G provider?

 

[peter halle]

Scribs,

I don't think that there is a Sketchup app out there yet.  I think that Navicad has a sketchup file viewer.

Chris,

AT&T is the only service provider right now in the US.

Peter

 

[GhostFist]

i'd be surprised if you see a version of Sketchup for ipad/ipone as it's a google property and more likely to premier on one of their Android machines

 

[fidelfs]

Scribs,

I don't think that there is a Sketchup app out there yet.  I think that Navicad has a sketchup file viewer.

Chris,

AT&T is the only service provider right now in the US.

Peter

You cuould get a wifi Ipad and get a broadband from verizon or sprint (better networks) and you also could use a hot spot such as restaurants, coffe shops, etc.

 

[honeydoman]

Peter finally read your review thanks and
Good help

I would NOT go with Verizon and the Mifi. I did and wish I had not get it built in with 3G. It is another device to charge up. Goes on sometimes by it's self and runs down the charge. Easy to lose and stutters

I had to go
That way cuz of my laptop connection. For wifi.

So stick with Att. But get the built in. Pay the extra bucks

I use my I pad at presentations all the time people love it

 

[Swingman]

Good review!

Been carrying an iPad (WiFi only/tethered to a smartphone hotspot when necessary) as a business device for about a month now (GC in new residential construction/cabinetmaker). Despite my initial reservations, I'm finding it has quickly become my preferred device, taking the place of a laptop for most onsite and shop use. For my purposes the ease of carrying and long battery life has more than balanced the few limitations in business oriented software (a SketchUp viewer would be icing on the cake at this point).

An increasingly important tool for me lately has been universal access to meeting notes across devices, particularly handy for sharing notes in those frequent client meetings. In that regard, one of the tasks I wanted a tablet device to accomplish, and without fuss, was the ability to take handwritten notes that could be instantly synced with laptop, office desktop, and smartphone.  After purchasing/trying just about every handwriting application available, I personally settled on "NoteShelf", used with a BoxWave stylus - an excellent combination for either print or cursive for someone who finds a pencil handier and faster than a mobile keyboard.

Used in conjunction with a ubiquitous cross platform app, "DropBox", my handwritten notes are immediately available as pdf's in the office, on the laptop, my phone, and best of all, to clients and helpers, almost all of whom are equipped with mobile access these days.

With the table market on the verge of exploding this year, I'd bet that this particular genre of devices are going to find a home in many more contractor's trucks. (not to mention that the ability to carry a photographic portfolio, and view it on that gorgeous screen, leverages the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" to the max).

 

[peter halle]

Another application to look at if you have an iphone and a windows computer at home is Splashtop.  This app allows you to control your windows computer from your ipad.  I was running quickbooks earlier today and browsed the web including flash sites.  $1.99.

Peter

 

[woodguy7]

Welcome to the FOG swingman

Woodguy