we use a web-based system designed by the company owner. I can use a smart phone or a laptop but I almost exclusively use the ipad. with it, I have the company database, everyone's schedules, and the ability to write bids or send invoices. I can use a separate app to take photos, navigate to the job site (i have it set up in the truck so I can see the nice, large screen at all times and access it to type or switch between apps for other tasks--not while driving, of course), look up diagnoses or IDs, or show clients info on the web such as treesaregood.com.
i do find some areas are problematic because of weak signals. sometimes I can use the sprint phone to tether the att ipad and get a signal where there was none. usually it is just slower when the signal is bad, but occasionally I have to make notes (on another app) and post to the web later. of course, I can stop in at libraries, starbucks, or any number of other places for free wifi.
sometimes a client will decline to use email and we have to print and mail documents (or we could use an onboard printer, as was mentioned in OP), but it's quite rare these days. sometimes they just view it on my ipad, give me verbal approval, and I can process it for them on the spot. save a tree! ditch the forms.
typing/editing is not as easy as with a full keyboard, but you get used to it pretty fast. I still curse autocorrect sometimes, but mostly it helps bunches because when I know I missed a key I just keep typing and the gadget figures out what I mean most of the time. often I only have to type half a word and AC lets me know I can just hit space to have it finished for me. I have set it up so specific shortcuts insert some of the common phrases I use (such as "p1" for "prune trees for deadwood at least one inch in diameter," "clr" for "clear roof to . . . etc.," and similar shortcuts to insert my email addresses)
Thankfully, I have not broken it, but obviously that would suck. I am careful and the risk is worth not toting boxes of forms, pens, clipboard, etc.
to me, this is the clear way to go. everything in one hand, bigger screen for reading and typing than a phone, no need to open and close a laptop all day, normally no need to tether, no keeping up with company copies of forms. even before I came to this company, I was able to do most of the same stuff with distinct apps as opposed to the system I use now (Pages word processor let me do estimates and other apps did invoicing, etc.), but I was a one-man show so scheduling multiple crews, etc., was not needed.
in short, it takes time to get the right apps to work with your system, but then it's easy-peasy to keep things going, all with far less clutter to lug around everywhere.
What version do you have? Mine is the Enterprise version, which I thought was the best.
