Handheld Pocket PC Use

[Russell J. Hensel]

I use a pocket PC and have used them for the past 10 years and would use nothing else. But then again, I am a multi inspector firm and there are always 2 of us on the site and we can MERGE information into one inspection. I am big on technology and saving time. Saving time leads to more money. I think its wall what you are accustomed to.

[George A. H. Luck]

I use 3D and a Dell PDA and have done so for the last six years. I wouldn't be without the PDA. Great for taking notes, inputing into the PDA mobile version of the 3D programme, making sure that every observation is noted and organizing my inspection process so I am not running around like a chicken! It takes a second to download to my laptop ( Acer Aspire Emachine) and then to print.

Besides, it gives me a second chance to correct my spilling

Highly recommended.

[mruffing]

I have used a Dell AXIM for with 3D inspection for years. It has taken a beating and keeps on going. droped,snow, rain, mud but keeps on going.
It will hold as many inspection as you can put in it also it has a GPS nav system avalable. It will get you there and do your report check your spelling and get you home.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by gluck

Besides, it gives me a second chance to correct my spilling

Too funny!

[Brian E. Kelly]

I used a Dell Axiom for a while, it is now a paper weight.
You could not pay me enough to use a Q1.
I still use a laptop in set in the kitchen. Do most of the inspection with a few tools and a camera, and enter most of the data at the end of the report. Takes about twenty minutes to enter all the pictures, data, proof read and add any new comments.

[kweiss]

I have been using a PPC for input onsite for 3 or 4 years. First with a local report program called inspectionwise and for the last year with Homegauge and its PPC addon.

Personally, I really like the process of entering items as I find them during the inspection. The PPC sits in a PPC case on my belt unless I am entering something. The process is simple - see problem, note problem, take picture if needed, done. Yes you do have to upload the report from the PPC to the computer. That part is painless.

My only complaint with HG on this part is that if you modify the template, you have to download the modified version to the PPC. So if you did two inspections that day and compile the reports in the office after, the second report comes up fine but you cannot save any modification you might want to make on the template.

Otherwise it works great. I have on occassion taken my laptop and run HG on it to do the inspection. That is fine too, but I think it adds alot of time to have to keep hiking back to the laptop to enter things. Unfortunately, I find there are always things that do not require a picture, or do not show up well in a picture, so I dislike depending on photos for all issues.

I persoanlly figure that the PPC's are probably going to fade away, so will seriously look into an ultra compact type device for my next purchase. It would be nice to have the full version on hand all the time. But I have real concerns about durability and carrying it around, as I do not want to change my process of entering things as I find them.

The bigesst thing I would like to see improve in software is the picture importation. My reports are basically done onsite in the PPC from a text standpoint, but entering all of the regular and IR photos is what takes time. I haven't found HG's photo "jump" feature to really work well for me. I think about it alot but have not come up with a way to improve that process.

But as far as the PPC goes, I find it works excellently for me. I know it has saved me loads of time on reports and do not have any desire to change.

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by kweiss

I persoanlly figure that the PPC's are probably going to fade away...

You're probably right but rather than just fade away, we'll probably see phones like the blackberry morph with the PPC and have a phone/full computer device. We're already pretty close.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Kevin W., Which PPC do you use (or recommend)?

[Wayne Cole]

I use a new tablet PC with the touch screen. I can download pic"s right off a camera card into the program. I am using Vista and I can tell you this works quick. But, I only use ir for input and cheching all my inspection area data before I leave. I don't send the report till I print it out at home and do a recheck.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by wcole

I use a new tablet PC with the touch screen. I can download pic"s right off a camera card into the program. I am using Vista and I can tell you this works quick. But, I only use ir for input and cheching all my inspection area data before I leave. I don't send the report till I print it out at home and do a recheck.

Which tablet are you using?

[Jack R. Robnett]

Kevin W

Do you like HG better than Inspectionwise? I have used IW for years, but would like one I own instead of a per report charge.

Thanks
Jack

[John Shishilla]

I am using HP touchsmart tablet with Home Gauge and it is great. I also do insurance inspections that need signatures. No paper, just sign the screen using adobe acrobat. Pull memory card form camera and attach.

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by jshishilla

I am using HP touchsmart tablet with Home Gauge and it is great. I also do insurance inspections that need signatures. No paper, just sign the screen using adobe acrobat. Pull memory card form camera and attach.

I have my clients sign my PIA on the screen too. However, do you find that signing in Acrobat isn't very responsive and the signature looks horrible? I have them sign my PIA in Microsoft Word (much more responsive) then convert to PDF and attach to the report.

[Wayne Cole]

The HP touch tablet series 2525 is the one I picked up during a special sale at Best Buy. Mine came with a lot of memory so it does'nt slow dow when loading pic's.

[John Shishilla]

I use Adobe with a plug-in, that lets me choose pen, highlighter, text or eraser. It is not perfect, but I turned off the "touchscreen" and only use the pen. It has 4gigs of memory and really does not have any real issues. The signature will sometimes, disappear if they lift the pen, I tell them not to worry and just keep going. When I "flatten" the ink the signature reappears. The eraser allows me to decide if it needs to be redone. I do lots of four-points and can easily do a report in less than an hour and be ready for emailing to the agent. NO PAPERWORK or time after leaving the property. I use MS onenote for notes and Google calendar for online scheduling. The competition can not keep up. Quicker, better service. I have not used it with Home Gauge in the field yet.