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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
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    Mississippi
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    101

    Default Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    Good day to you all.

    In todays fast paced world we live in, we are all in danger of becoming dinasours overnight if we resist the concept of keeping up with the technological Jones'. I personally gain a certain amount of comfort in sticking with what I know, but am pragmatic enough to realize the need to step out of that comfort zone from time to time. I am quickly realizing that 2013 is one of those times. I am looking to upgrade one of the most important tools todays inspectors have in thier arsenal. The personal computer. I invite you all to chime in with what style of computer you use and why. I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions.

    Thanks,

    Similar Threads:
    Last edited by George Hallaron; 01-05-2013 at 11:19 AM.
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    George Hallaron: Owner primary inspector
    Bienvenue Home Inspections LLC
    www.bienvenuehomeinspections.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    Quote Originally Posted by George Hallaron View Post
    Good day to you all.

    In todays fast paced world we live in, we are all in danger of becoming dinasours overnight if we resist the concept of keeping up with the technological Jones'. I personally gain a certain amount of comfort in sticking with what I know, but am pragmatic enough to realize the need to step out of that comfort zone from time to time. I am quickly realizing that 2013 is one of those times. I am looking to upgrade one of the most important tools todays inspectors have in thier arsenal. The personal computer. I invite you all to chime in with what style of computer you use and why. I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions.

    Thanks,
    I use a PC desktop for office work. In the field I use an iPad that I keep in the kitchen to collect the data from the inspection. I then sync the iPad to the desktop and produce the report.

    I also have IRC codes on the iPad which is helpful.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Central Arkansas
    Posts
    32

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    I like my Asus Transformer on the job. I will walk around with it for most of the inpection, and if I need to add major notes I can add the keyboard. When I get home I can sync it to my laptop (no room for a desktop in my home) and add the pictures and refine any notes before sending the report out. For me, it works better than using paper.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    North Central Texas
    Posts
    491

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    GH:

    Good to see that you have entered the 21st century, albeit a dozen or so years late . . .

    I personally use a desktop only in the office. Years ago I tried laptops, and more recently epads, and smartphones on site, but found them more trouble than they were worth for inspection data complication or storage. One simply cannot focus on the job at hand while wrestling with the need to play with yet another electronic device during an inspection.

    Until such time that someone can come up with a computer capable of accurately recording visual, auditory, olfactory, kinesthetic, gustatory, proprioceptive, somatosensory, et al. data and then assembling it into a reasonably understandable report regarding property condition, I will just have to fall back on the wetware I came equipped with.

    Last edited by Aaron Miller; 01-06-2013 at 12:45 PM. Reason: Typo
    Texas Inspector
    http://www.texasinspector.com
    What the plainspoken man lacks in subtlety, he makes up in clarity.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    Quote Originally Posted by Aaron Miller View Post
    Until such time that someone can come up with a computer capable of accurately recording visual, auditory, olfactory, kinesthetic, gustatory, proprioceptive, somatosensory, et al. data and then assembling it into a reasonable understandable report regarding property condition, I will just have to fall back on the wetware I came equipped with.
    To which I must add another condition - survival of nuclear attack.
    This is why I am sticking to the ENIAC for the time being.

    This from Antique Radio Supply Sale Flawless Gemstones
    For Release: Dec 30, 2009
    Antique Tube Radios Survive Nuclear Attack
    Early in 1960s both USA & then USSR found, during upper atmosphere (edge of space) nuclear tests, that on the ground tube radios survive and transistors do not.


    If anyone wants to place an order for a nuke neutral tube radio, remember, your iPhone will be dead before the dust starts to fall.

    Seriously, notebook (laptop) at jobsite, PC at home. I like a full keyboard.

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    Last edited by John Kogel; 01-07-2013 at 10:20 PM.
    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Posts
    1,088

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    To which I must add another condition - survival of nuclear attack.
    This is why I am sticking to the ENIAC for the time being.

    This from Antique Radio Supply Sale Flawless Gemstones

    For Release: Dec 30, 2009

    Antique Tube Radios Survive Nuclear Attack


    Early in 1960s both USA & then USSR found, during upper atmosphere (edge of space) nuclear tests, that on the ground tube radios survive and transistors do not.

    Ah, the concern of a EMP or Electro Magnetic Pulse attack. The high altitude nuclear blast produces an EMP which destroys transistors and many of the transformers in the power grid. Once the power grid transformers go, it is estimated it will take 1-2 YEARS before the power grid is fully back online.

    So even if you have your old style tube radios, tvs, etc, there will be no power to run them. If you want to protect your transistor based equipment, store them in a Faraday cage.

    "The Code is not a peak to reach but a foundation to build from."

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    101

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    Or,... You could go much lower tech. And simply store them in a lead box with the lead being at a minimum of one inch thick or a half inch thick lead box lined with tungsten. In my years as a industrial radiographer, I learned that using high levels of electromagnetic radiation to test thick steel bulkheads would fry certain electronic equipment unless it was stored in that manner. When speaking of any intensity of electromagnetic radiation and the resulting negative effects, ie; e.m.p. It comes down to three simple factors, Time-Distance-Shielding. The amounts of each of the three factors are in direct corolation to one another. But all of that aside, Desktop, Laptop, Tablet or any combination there of???

    George Hallaron: Owner primary inspector
    Bienvenue Home Inspections LLC
    www.bienvenuehomeinspections.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Zeeland Michigan
    Posts
    143

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    George, it's a matter of personal preference. I use PalmTech software on my desktop PC, laptop, Ipad, and Iphone.
    Lots of duplication of effort. I will probably lose the desk top PC on the next need to upgrade, keep a laptop, Ipad and Iphone because they all cloud sync (so does the PC but..) reports, photo's and calenders.
    Ive tried using the phone and Ipad on inspections but like Aaron "One simply cannot focus on the job at hand while wrestling with the need to play with yet another electronic device during an inspection."
    Until I can use the Ipad and Phone quickly on inspections I will continue to use the laptop.

    If a man empties his purse into his head no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest
    Benjamin Franklin

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    101

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    Thanks for all of the input fellas, right now I still do the paper in field with a desktop at the office but as I stated in my o p, I am smart enough to realize the need to adapt to the times. I really like having my desktop in the office however, I'm torn between a tablet or laptop for on the go situations. I seem to type a whole lot faster on a keyboard rather than a touch screen.

    George Hallaron: Owner primary inspector
    Bienvenue Home Inspections LLC
    www.bienvenuehomeinspections.com

  10. #10
    Timothy M. Barr's Avatar
    Timothy M. Barr Guest

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    I use desk top at home ,and voice recorder,pad of paper out at the inspection site fingers to fat to push all those buttons


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Bennett (Denver metro), Colorado
    Posts
    1,461

    Default Re: Desktops, Laptops or tablets?

    For years I used a paper report that I created. I still use that report during the inspection and then put together the illustrated report on my desktop PC in my home office to email out.

    I've considered laptops and pads for onsite reports, but see no way that I can provide the same comprehensive report on site with those. It takes me almost two hours to assemble a quality written report. I know many HIs do onsite illustrated reports, and all I can say is, that they must be better at it than me.

    If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

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