Tablet Fags

Goomer

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Frank Mendo
How many of you guys are also becoming aware of the potential value in being able to frequently manage TWO separate electronic devices, often at the dame time throughout the course of the day.

I think it's fair to assume to vast majority of operators that are heavily reliant on electronic information and correspondence would agree that a small, singular smartphone has it's limitations.

To anyone "plugged in" all day on the road e-mailing, invoicing, scheduling, logging customer info, or just Chavez'ing around, and trying to keep up solely on one very small device must obviously desire a better way.

The days of methodically hammering out one character at a time on a tiny keyboard with only one of your fat fooking sausage fingers must end if to anyone who desires to keep up.

The importance of having a mid-sized device capable of bridging the gap between ones base PC and their smartphone, and being all synced together is huge.

Any seasoned tablet-f*gs know what exactly what I mean.

So how are you fruitcakes physically managing tablet devices on a day-to-day operational basis?

Carrying and conveniently keeping a larger tablet on themselves as much as they can would likely require a belt holster, pouch, or non-feminine f*gbag of some sort, so what accessories are you using?
 

Shorty

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Shorty Glanville
K.I.S.S.

I have a Samsung, Gee, I dunno, think it could be a 6, cell phone.

I don't think it will hook up to the iPad, BUT I DON'T CARE.

I also take a mini iPad with me to take all bookings, and run my diary, as well as extra notes for things I'm likely to forget.
This also has a separate keyboard.

& I use a scribe??
You know, that little thing that looks like a pen but has a lump of soft rubber on one end.

When I need to take a booking, the iPad is always close at hand, so with the phone in my left hand, I'm easily able to take down any notes or bookings straight into the iPad.

All of my customers details go into the iPad, along with repeat scheduling for all jobs, for eternity, or until I stop them.

Most residential customers, I email an invoice so they can pay on-line, same as all of my commercial clients.

Occasionally, I will get that one in a hundred that want his invoice immediately & wants to pay cash or check.
For this, I do carry a laptop in my van which I connect to a Canon iP100 portable printer.

It means double entry, but my laptop also has a program (Quicken Customer Manager) to keep as a back-up of all work done & future work.

I know, still a lot of gear to carry around, but I AM NOT REALLY TECH SAVVY, LET ALONE COMPUTER LITERATE.

So for me, this is the easiest and best I have been able to come up with.

One other item that I keep in my van is a laser distance measuring meter, this is so I can measure up quotes & it converts into square yards/metres for me, which I also then enter into my iPad.

Like I say, I'm not the smartest tool in the shed, & the memory ain't that great anymore, so the above helps me tremendously.

:yoda:
 
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FFA

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... a desktop is used for storage capabilities, no? If you use a service like housecallpro, then you can get away with using a smartphone to take signatures but a tablet may be more professional and "clean". As in, you didnt just get done chowing down on a cheeseteak and yelling at your mom on the phone..

Ive never been a note sized phoone guy. I can do everything i need with just my phone.

I have notifications for everything.
Ex: there is a contact form on my website that the customer can fill out and as soon as they press submit, it goes straight to my aol account which is tied into the aol app which sends me a notification withen seconds.

All social media has apps now so you can configure everything on the fly. Even my website which is wordpress, allows me to configure with my phone too.

Dont fight it. Start using it to your advantage. Im only 34, but i remember where we were with technology back in the day. If you aint amazed then you are stuborn lol.
 
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Kellie Hiler

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Kellie Hiler
I use an iPad Pro and it's always with me...but I carry a ladies f@gbag! I also use my phone for the quick things.
At home I have my laptop...I am done with desktops.
I find that having the larger screen makes everything so much easier and of course faster.
Even though I have a computer on my desk at work I find myself using my devices 9 out of 10 times.
I got an iPad wallet from Amazon that has a pocket for business cards and papers along with a spot for my Apple Pencil.
 

FFA

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FFA
As far as a bag goes.. ive never used one. If i was going to carry it maybe i would put it in my clipboard. Ive only ever used a flip cover for my tab, to keep the screen clean and safe.
 
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Goomer

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Frank Mendo
K.I.S.S.

I have a Samsung, Gee, I dunno, think it could be a 6, cell phone.

I don't think it will hook up to the iPad, BUT I DON'T CARE.

I also take a mini iPad with me to take all bookings, and run my diary, as well as extra notes for things I'm likely to forget.
This also has a separate keyboard.

& I use a scribe??
You know, that little thing that looks like a pen but has a lump of soft rubber on one end.

When I need to take a booking, the iPad is always close at hand, so with the phone in my left hand, I'm easily able to take down any notes or bookings straight into the iPad.

All of my customers details go into the iPad, along with repeat scheduling for all jobs, for eternity, or until I stop them.

Most residential customers, I email an invoice so they can pay on-line, same as all of my commercial clients.

Occasionally, I will get that one in a hundred that want his invoice immediately & wants to pay cash or check.
For this, I do carry a laptop in my van which I connect to a Canon iP100 portable printer.

It means double entry, but my laptop also has a program (Quicken Customer Manager) to keep as a back-up of all work done & future work.

I know, still a lot of gear to carry around, but I AM NOT REALLY TECH SAVVY, LET ALONE COMPUTER LITERATE.

So for me, this is the easiest and best I have been able to come up with.

One other item that I keep in my van is a laser distance measuring meter, this is so I can measure up quotes & it converts into square yards/metres for me, which I also then enter into my iPad.

Like I say, I'm not the smartest tool in the shed, & the memory ain't that great anymore, so the above helps me tremendously.

:yoda:

I do things in a similar way.

All customer info and scheduling must eventually make it into my tablet and it all syncs with my other devices as soon as I connect to my home Wifi.

The ideal time to input customer info and schedule them electronically is while you have the customer on the phone, so having a second device to use makes it easier by letting the phone be just a phone during the conversation.
Sure it can be done with the phone on speaker or Bluetooth so it can be kept in hand to utilize other applications, but a having a second larger device makes it so much easier and faster, especially when in a vehicle with the phone in a holder where it should be for many obvious reasons.

On the road, I like to keep my phone in it's holder, and dedicated to only phone and GPS functions, and not engaged in a never-ending campaign slowly managing so many different apps on only one small device.

I can't stress enough how much faster and more efficient it is to use a larger secondary device and to be able to free up your phone.

The benefits from a LARGER keyboard and increased screen content alone should make it a no-brainer even without all the additional benefits.

A LARGER keyboard and the increased screen content of a larger device should make doubling or tripling data input rates and overall efficiency a breeze, making it something everyone should be looking to benefit from.

Surely with the demands of portable electronic devices steadily increasing every day, the days are numbered for anyone currently trying to keep pace with only one small-sized device.
 
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Louis

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Louis
I have a I pad mini. I only use it to look up information on SM or directions. I still have a black book. Someday I might change to a full tablet guy.
 

Kevin B

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Coeur D Alene ID
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Kevin Bunce
Whatever I am working on my phone, can be shared on my ipad. I cant live without them. Its our new clipboards. Take pics, etc etc
 

FFA

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FFA
I dont agree that typing with a tablet is quicker then with a phone. You would think, but i found it akward. Remember, typing was designed to work with the phone first then adapted to the tablet. Same functions, same input type just in a bigger format. Gets awkward sometimes.
 

Shorty

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Shorty Glanville
I first learned to use a keyboard on a typewriter back around 1960.

Notice how the keyboard of those old machines still correspond with today's latest gadgets.

As you get older, and/or fingers get bigger or stiffer, hands shaking, etc; you will appreciate the larger screens and keyboards. :arrrr:

Typewriter%20keyboard_zpsgxn6eibv.jpg

:yoda:
 
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Goomer

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Frank Mendo
I dont agree that typing with a tablet is quicker then with a phone. You would think, but i found it akward.

I find the fastest and most comfortable way to type on a tablet is with the double-thumb method.

A breeze once you get the hang of it.

Snazzier app market keyboards blow stock keyboards away also.

Stock keyboards blow.

P41728531.jpg
 
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FFA

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FFA
I find the fastest and most comfortable way to type on a tablet is with the double-thumb method.

A breeze once you get the hang of it.

Snazzier app market keyboards blow stock keyboards away also.

Stock keyboards blow.

View attachment 15356
Ill check out different keyboards. The stock one needs work.
 

Goomer

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Frank Mendo
Taking advantage of customize-able prediction texts is a big help too, as no one should be continually typing in basic stuffs like their basic business info and some common dialogues.
 
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