laptop or tablet?

[harleyrider]

What is everyone carrying for manuals/flash upgrade in there service vehicle? Thanks

[Eric1968]

Re: laptop or tablet?

Laptop.

I'm using my laptop for manuals, firmware upgrades, testing of machines, surfing on the web etc. I haven't seen a tablet that can do all this.

[charm5496]

Re: laptop or tablet?

we are transitioning to tablets and you get them customized with options like parallel ports ir whatever you need. All of our documentation is stored in Google Docs so we do not need the the software applications or CD drives and things like that. Battery power is phenomenal and the techs love them because of the size.

now we still have network guys who have laptops because of all the applications they need to troubleshoot issues, but your normal techs don't need all of that.

[seansbar]

Re: laptop or tablet?

Laptop.
Work on Xerox. Need the PWS. That is on laptop only so far.

[Hopcomp]

Re: laptop or tablet?

I Use a Tablet for every day stuff and Still have a laptop to do the flashing. I think that the tablet is way better Much lighter to use and
and there is that coooool factor

[jonhiker]

Re: laptop or tablet?

the company still provides us with laptops. some of the techs who have personal ebook or tablets load the manuals on them becasue they are easier to carry into the customer location. i do a lot of networking, so a laptop is a more versatile tool for my usage.

[Hansoon]

Re: laptop or tablet?

Laptop cause I do networking too. Have on my smartphone also all regular manuals with me.

Hans

[NeoMatrix]

Re: laptop or tablet?

Laptop.

I'm using my laptop for manuals, firmware upgrades, testing of machines, surfing on the web etc. I haven't seen a tablet that can do all this.

Acer Android Tablet, can do all of the above except ROM flash the MFD. It does have USB support but I don't believe GOOGLE has the droid code functions uptodate.

I don't use my Tablet for direct Firmware or WIM into the MFD. I user the ACER to download the firmware onto an SD card an then use that. ACER Tablet has full internet capabilties on the fly, but no NIC cat5 cable output.

Tablets are absolutely brilliant for parts books on the go. Every tech should have one. I estimate I have about 4000 parts books on my system. Once you set up the PDF functions it becomes much easier to use. There is some ok PDF readers out there for tablet systems.
Copy and paste is not to bad for instant email back to workshop base.

[daveyball]

Re: laptop or tablet?

I'm interested in this thread, what about the storage size for manuals etc, with the current Ricoh TDC being about 10gb, and all the other manuals for Kyocera, being a few gig as well. We also service some OCe, and Canon stuff so the size of manual storage becomes an issue.

[mjarbar]

Re: laptop or tablet?

Neither!!!

I have everything I need on an 8Gb USB flash drive, which I find is OK for everyday use, but have a laptop if req.

The thing hasn't been out of it's case in 4 months - just not needed it!

On the USB drive I have the service manuals and parts catalogues for all the current machines we have in the field, a couple of test charts for print checks, the SST for Canon machines with selected machine service software (I usually get told ahead of time what machines I need to do this on and so adjust accordingly) and to round things off any paperwork forms for requisitioning cleaning materials, parts etc.

[montana]

Re: laptop or tablet?

hi.....most of the times using my flash memory...but the labtop is much better......good luck

[SalesServiceGuy]

Re: laptop or tablet?

I have both but you need a Laptop for the NIC card to do Cross Over Cables and burning CDs with the latest Print Drivers, etc. Plus every Tech web site you log into my not be mobile application compatible and not display properly. The Windows PC world is not going to go away anytime soon.

[charm5496]

Re: laptop or tablet?

I'm interested in this thread, what about the storage size for manuals etc, with the current Ricoh TDC being about 10gb, and all the other manuals for Kyocera, being a few gig as well. We also service some OCe, and Canon stuff so the size of manual storage becomes an issue.

with google docs all your information is stored out on the cloud and you never have to store them on the HDD. We have about 80 GB of information stored out there and our techs never have to worry about keeping updated. We download to our server folder and it synchs up automatically. This way they have no excuses either...

[NeoMatrix]

Re: laptop or tablet?

with google docs all your information is stored out on the cloud and you never have to store them on the HDD. We have about 80 GB of information stored out there and our techs never have to worry about keeping updated. We download to our server folder and it synchs up automatically. This way they have no excuses either...

I'm interested to know how you have set this up on GOOGLE Cloud. I would be interesting in doing something similar.

I have most of my Tablet parts files in PDF format.

The Tablet holds 32GB and I have a backup system on a 32GB external SD Card.
I have about 30GB of raw parts files. I intend to place them in a database not to far off in the future.

I have written a PDF viewer from the ground up which will convert parts PDF files into a mass database which will encompass all makes, models and machines types regardless.
I have my PDF reader reading the PDF files and converting them at present but its very very buggy. I'm staying with the DXF vector graphics format for lossless zoom. This format is a little bit of a twister to implement with all of it's anti-alaising algorithms.

Main advantage for Tablet verses PC is the Tablet is inside my toolcase and is running in standbye mode for quick access. This allows me to demo which parts I need to order directly with the customer viewing. The customer is paying for this ordering time directly. It's all logged as time on the job.

LapTop can't do this and boot up with any time that saves you or the customer money.

I still require my Laptop for cross over cable work. I can't deny that it's horses for coarses though; each has it's benefits.