Labtop or ipad
- Thread starter Cameron
- Start date
- Location
- Longmont, CO
Well, I have only sampled tablets at a Verizon store... I think they are going to be a great tool.
If, however, you have to do a lot of typing I think the laptop would be ideal.
I did a 1 hour consult last week with my laptop. I did 2 pages of notes. It would have taken much longer to do on a tablet.
But, that is just one example of why a laptop may be better.
I don't think there are any other real advantages using a laptop.
Tablets are light weight, compact, fast processing, have plenty of storage, etc...
I think the pro's for getting a tablet may outweigh a laptop.
If, however, you have to do a lot of typing I think the laptop would be ideal.
I did a 1 hour consult last week with my laptop. I did 2 pages of notes. It would have taken much longer to do on a tablet.
But, that is just one example of why a laptop may be better.
I don't think there are any other real advantages using a laptop.
Tablets are light weight, compact, fast processing, have plenty of storage, etc...
I think the pro's for getting a tablet may outweigh a laptop.
- Location
- Norway, Telemark
Well, you certainly will feel lame if you break out a windows laptop to show some pictures. Dam di dam di dam ti da (just waiting for the machine to start) dam ti da, nice car by the way, .... oh, the machine is updating some software, just a couple of more minutes... tam ti da... Ah, lets see, oh yes, the virus protection program needs to start first, da ti tam tam etc.
Im not really a fan of apple, as their customer service sucks and you pay a lot for the image. But for showing pictures to customers, i think the Ipad is the right tool.
Im not really a fan of apple, as their customer service sucks and you pay a lot for the image. But for showing pictures to customers, i think the Ipad is the right tool.
- Location
- North of Seattle
My wife just got a new laptop... so I have inherited the 6 yr old Dell. I was thinking of putting all my tree pics (picasso?) onto the laptop to show @ estimates.
I thought of alphabetizing trees, then quickly showing the prospective customer how the 'beech' or 'willow' tree could look if they hire us. Also some before/after of our process and clean up, etc.
Let me know your thoughts, is the old laptop worth it?
I just got a taste of the IPad and it is cool. Perfect size for showing a client... you can hand it to 'em!
Cameron, I would buy the IPad!
I thought of alphabetizing trees, then quickly showing the prospective customer how the 'beech' or 'willow' tree could look if they hire us. Also some before/after of our process and clean up, etc.
Let me know your thoughts, is the old laptop worth it?
I just got a taste of the IPad and it is cool. Perfect size for showing a client... you can hand it to 'em!
Cameron, I would buy the IPad!
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
If I was in your position I would have an iPad in a heartbeat!
There is so much that you can do with them.
I've seen some slings that hold a tablet in front of you like a tray or mobile desk. The pic is along the lines of what I'm thinking...or...google 'cigarette girl tray' and you'll see what I mean. YOu can walk around and type as you go.
Besides the work that you do and time you save using one you'll blow the boots off of any other estimator that comes out to write up a proposal!
There is so much that you can do with them.
I've seen some slings that hold a tablet in front of you like a tray or mobile desk. The pic is along the lines of what I'm thinking...or...google 'cigarette girl tray' and you'll see what I mean. YOu can walk around and type as you go.
Besides the work that you do and time you save using one you'll blow the boots off of any other estimator that comes out to write up a proposal!
I do not have an Ipad and never really looked into them, but from my understanding if you do not have a mac computer the ipad is not real useful. You need the mac to get data files on and off of the ipad, and without a mac the ipad is just a glorified iphone without the phone capabilities.
- Location
- Bay Area, California
Go for the laptop! Way more useful then the iPad for day to day business stuff. I do have an iPad, but have not really found a way to make it work for me on a daily basis.
I am in front of Peets coffee right now, in my truck. I have already done a bunch of emails, did a few quotes on quickbooks and sent them out, did some scheduling, etc.
My laptop comes with me every day. In between appointments, or during lunch, I can bang out some office work that I would otherwise have to take care of once I get back to the office.
As much as I would love to make the iPad my day to day computer, it is just not there yet, as far as capabilities are concerned.
I am in front of Peets coffee right now, in my truck. I have already done a bunch of emails, did a few quotes on quickbooks and sent them out, did some scheduling, etc.
My laptop comes with me every day. In between appointments, or during lunch, I can bang out some office work that I would otherwise have to take care of once I get back to the office.
As much as I would love to make the iPad my day to day computer, it is just not there yet, as far as capabilities are concerned.
- Location
- Longmont, CO
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Well, you certainly will feel lame if you break out a windows laptop to show some pictures. Dam di dam di dam ti da (just waiting for the machine to start)...
[/ QUOTE ]
Na. Those are days of old. My Dell Laptop boots fast. It has Windows 7 on it. It is super stable and fast.
Besides, if one were to use a laptop, it would already be booted on. Then all you'd have to do is open it up and it is ready to display.
Well, you certainly will feel lame if you break out a windows laptop to show some pictures. Dam di dam di dam ti da (just waiting for the machine to start)...
[/ QUOTE ]
Na. Those are days of old. My Dell Laptop boots fast. It has Windows 7 on it. It is super stable and fast.
Besides, if one were to use a laptop, it would already be booted on. Then all you'd have to do is open it up and it is ready to display.
- Location
- under grace
I have a tablet pc with my arborist package on it,type quotes in the truck print etc....can take clients on the web site show pics etc been doing it this way for a few years now!! There is NO perfect system....you just need to find one that will work for you and then refine as you go!! folks love that i have a mobile office...I can email etc i have the verizon card in it, i have internet anywhere you can get phone. also say im one a job.....I can do a search in my data base by street to see what other clients i have on that street or the next block etc.It will also tell me what work i did and when it was done. Then i can buzz them or go do a site "visit" great tool!!
- Location
- Longmont, CO
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... but would also like to have quickbooks on my laptop.
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I wanted to do the same but my accountant convinced me not to have our accounting data on a laptop. Too much added risk with security.
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...I feel so lame when I break out my phone to show pictures.
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I can see what you are saying there.
In that case, I wonder if you asked a repeat customer (or friends) of their impression of a presentation done on a tablet or a laptop.
What would look more professional?
Would either be seen as equally professional?
... but would also like to have quickbooks on my laptop.
[/ QUOTE ]
I wanted to do the same but my accountant convinced me not to have our accounting data on a laptop. Too much added risk with security.
[ QUOTE ]
...I feel so lame when I break out my phone to show pictures.
[/ QUOTE ]
I can see what you are saying there.
In that case, I wonder if you asked a repeat customer (or friends) of their impression of a presentation done on a tablet or a laptop.
What would look more professional?
Would either be seen as equally professional?
- Location
- Sioux Falls, SD
We can start a new thread but this is on the same line...
What portable wireless printers do you use to print invoices/estimates from the truck? I'm thinking of getting an iPad or at least start with my iPhone and do paperless (unless the customer requests paper, then I need to print).
Thanks!
What portable wireless printers do you use to print invoices/estimates from the truck? I'm thinking of getting an iPad or at least start with my iPhone and do paperless (unless the customer requests paper, then I need to print).
Thanks!
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
So i have a hybrid of the ipad with a laptop. Sort of. it still is a windows based pc but the screen flips to tablet style. If i was just showing pictures to clients, it would work well but the tablet function is not even close to an ipad. (http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/touchsmart/#/TouchSmart-Tm2) i don't even use the tablet feature really.
also i use the hp officejet mobile printer (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...pe=product_detail&product_code=CB028A#B1H) and i'm not all that impressed with it. The wireless connecting feature is a pain, it disconnects and reconnects unpredictably depending on battery life and proximity to the computer. I just use a usb cable now. Also, the thing costs like $400!
My system works but not nearly as slickly as i would like.
If i could buy all new stuff, i'm not sure what would be the best. Not sure that I can do much better.
I do find that the laptop is a good way to go. I can meet with a client, go over the work and then go back to my car, produce the estimate and print it then bring it back to them. It gives a bit of extra time to make sure that the bid is correct and not 50% under or something dumb.
What do the big companies do, like Davey with 100000+ salespeople?
also i use the hp officejet mobile printer (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...pe=product_detail&product_code=CB028A#B1H) and i'm not all that impressed with it. The wireless connecting feature is a pain, it disconnects and reconnects unpredictably depending on battery life and proximity to the computer. I just use a usb cable now. Also, the thing costs like $400!
My system works but not nearly as slickly as i would like.
If i could buy all new stuff, i'm not sure what would be the best. Not sure that I can do much better.
I do find that the laptop is a good way to go. I can meet with a client, go over the work and then go back to my car, produce the estimate and print it then bring it back to them. It gives a bit of extra time to make sure that the bid is correct and not 50% under or something dumb.
What do the big companies do, like Davey with 100000+ salespeople?
- Location
- Overland Park, Kansas
Planning on ordering a couple of the Ipad 2 next week but thought i'd check back before doing so...Any new opinions on the use?
Also have a couple questions....
Has anyone tried using their's to log onto quickbooks Enterprise (online) ? Thoughts?
Also have a couple questions....
Has anyone tried using their's to log onto quickbooks Enterprise (online) ? Thoughts?
- Location
- Overland Park, Kansas
Lastly i'm looking for input on my plan...
My vision of the usage is something along these lines:
Sales persons use the estimating app while onsite, then email client with the estimate, then salesperson saves the estimate to one of two folders (unconfirmed, confirmed), upon return to the office the salesperson can wirelessly print any confirmed estimates and put them into the offices scheduled work folder....
Will this work? Is it possible to easily save each individual estimate and created folders like this?
Also is it possible to setup prefilled out item desciptions in the estimating app? similar to quickbooks.? ( if not it could be a lengthy process writing estimates) my fear...
Thank you very much to anyone who has advice..
My vision of the usage is something along these lines:
Sales persons use the estimating app while onsite, then email client with the estimate, then salesperson saves the estimate to one of two folders (unconfirmed, confirmed), upon return to the office the salesperson can wirelessly print any confirmed estimates and put them into the offices scheduled work folder....
Will this work? Is it possible to easily save each individual estimate and created folders like this?
Also is it possible to setup prefilled out item desciptions in the estimating app? similar to quickbooks.? ( if not it could be a lengthy process writing estimates) my fear...
Thank you very much to anyone who has advice..
- Location
- Sioux Falls, SD
I kind of like the invoice2go app for the estimates and invoices, although they don't have a desktop version for Mac users yet (they say they are working on it...). Download the free version and see how you like it, it has folders to save the invoices and estimates too and you can add your logo. If you have a PC then you can upload your own invoice and estimate sheets to use from the desktop version (free). There are custom fields you can create, but you have to set a price for those so I don't so that.
- Location
- Overland Park, Kansas
Ordered 2 of the Ipad 2 last week along with the wireless keyboards, and airprint printer...Hope it works out the way i'm anticipating...
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
Let us know how it works out! Im thinking about the same set up for in the truck
