iPad work essentials

[wozz]

I have invested in a iPad, I want to use it at work mainly to replace the laptop in the van. This is for a few reasons, starting the laptop to do a minor works takes longer than actually completing it, I don't like doing certs twice and off site, also a laptop is bet used at a decent height sometimes end up laying on floor completing certs!

I'm a easy cert user so will have this on there and dropbox, but what other apps would be good for work use? Invoicing and quoting will done using sliq on windows back home.

I'm after a case and or screen protector looking at the survivor case but are there any other decent ones? For my iPhone I have a silicon case and screen protector and I think that is pretty good protection.

I have a 3G model and will be getting a data plan for it. Any recommendations? I'm on O2 and think the coverage is very good but haven't been on a different network for years. Is it worth looking at vodafone? For a bit of redundancy a different network would be good but not if it doesn't work most of the time.

Some may think its a bit flash but I got it cheap and think it will make life a bit easier so I'm all for it!

Thanks for any input.

 

[Bacon]

I've got easy cert on I-pad it works ok but i have a problem in that it doesn't save all the info i put on the certs,.

Only draw back i find with it is that when doing a large EICR on it can be time consuming when doing the circuits especially with large 3ph boards.

So i tend to get the apprentice to write them down an the do them on pc at home then transfer back to I-pad to take into the office.

But a part from that it's ok.

Case wise i have one of these on it very good and rugged.

GRIFFIN GB02480 SURVIVOR MILITARY DUTY CASE STAND IPAD2 | eBay

 

[Ray4438]

Griffin or other box for iPad also if you have an broadband account with BT you can opt into there BT Fon which let you use many wifi points up and down the country.

Have had one for a couple of years now and great bit of kit to work with.

I personally have the griffin iPad case which is a good all round case but pricey.

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You can get the griffin cases from

 

[NozSpark]

I have a Marware EcoVue case and it does the job quite nicely, however I don't mistreat my iPad.

As for apps,,,

Pages - word processor

Numbers - spread sheet

Magic Plan (just been shown this) - create plans using iPad camera

Goodreader - have all my manuals etc on this

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Also

Dropbox

 

[husky2013]

We also use our iPad whilst on site instead of scribbling notes on paper I use the following

I used drop box to transfer certs etc onto iPad from my laptop

I have PDF lite which contains all certs and u can save filled on certs on there aswell. Also copy of my letterhead and the big red book as not got round to sorting out a digital copy of big green.

I also have notebook on there fore any notes I do need to record!

I only have the wifi iPad, but I use my iPhone as a personal hotspot shud I need to connect to the Internet! I also use ICloud as backup so when I get bk home all my work automatically is saved on there as backup!

Case wise, I have a hello kitty all round case! I had a griffin leather case but it did not fit the iPad very well an allowed it to move about too much for my liking. Ther was a case on gadget show for the iPad, they dropped a bowling ball on the iPad in this case and there wasn't a mark on it! It's called a GForm case

 

[wozz]

Cheers for the ideas lads.

Got drop box will have to request my password though! Just got that magic plan blown away it!

Been to car phone warehouse they recommend the network 3, apparently to 3G coverage is very good even through their mobile network is crap. About

 

[jakecameron]

Icertifi is a great programme and can save to Dropbox.

 

[Steve3948]

I've been trying to find a reason why I should have an iPad, I have iPhone and the screen at my age is a bit on the small side for reading, and I have always found that the laptop offers far more than the iPad can, except that the iPad is much easier to carry around than the laptop.

I use the NICEIC click software for certs and I don't think its available for iPad, but if and when they do, then maybe that's my reason.

On excel spreadsheets I have found that formulas do not always display correctly on iPhone, has anyone else found this on iPhone or iPad.

 

[Alwyn]

If you got an I-phone 4 or above save yourself

 

[NozSpark]

Cheers for the ideas lads.Got drop box will have to request my password though! Just got that magic plan blown away it!

Been to car phone warehouse they recommend the network 3, apparently to 3G coverage is very good even through their mobile network is crap. About

 

[CTID]

My Measures Pro, think its

 

[wozz]

It is good, but I haven't found a way to add electrical accessories or print out the plans yet

that would be ideal to have electrical symbols! they have furniture and appliances but its a bit limited.

Decided on case, got a few apps will look forward to getting to grips with it over the next few weeks. Downloaded a crap dog game for the bird kept her quiet for ages while i was watching football so its all worth it!

 

[Ash]

Get a netbook, save couple hundred, do certs faster using a mouse and keyboard.

iPads are all hype. My little netbook looks more professional and does it faster.

 

[johninlondon1]

If you need Mobile Broadband, use Three, you can buy a year 12Gb dongle for 99.99, as long as you don't download Films it should last well and at the end of the year you just top it up. The internet is good all around the country and I recommend it.

 

[Steve3948]

Printing - that's where iPad fails, I've yet to find a way of sending stuff to my HP multifunction networked printer which is not airprint compatible.

So if anyone know's how to do it then I would welcome your help.

 

[PeterWitrigs]

that's where iPad isn't able, I've yet to discover a way of submitting things to my HP multi-function networked printing device which is not airprint suitable.

So if anyone know's how to do it then I would welcome your help.

 

[Steve3948]

that's where iPad isn't able, I've yet to discover a way of submitting things to my HP multi-function networked printing device which is not airprint suitable.So if anyone know's how to do it then I would welcome your help.

Well I managed it with FingerPrint 2.0

However you have to have a PC/Laptop switched on that is connected to you network, also assuming your printer is also on the network and the printer must be installed on these PC's/Laptops.

You install FingerPrint on the PC's/Laptops and then using a program on the iPad that you want to print from you select printer.

It will or should then show you your printer (your pc laptop is now acting like an airprint printer and sends on to the printer) you select the printer and print.

I've tried it a few times and it works well, not sure what the limitations are yet.

 

[Sidewinder]

Steve, tried to find fingerprint 2.0 & failed in the AppStore any suggestions please?

 

[Steve3948]

Steve, tried to find fingerprint 2.0 & failed in the AppStore any suggestions please?

Its not an app, its software you put on your pc or laptop, I've put it on all machines so providing one is on, which my laptop is almost all the time, the iPad or iPhone prints through it.

It has try before buy, and the print has a watermark saying fingerprint, so you test before you buy.

 

[Sidewinder]

Tried to find it but, can't!

Any links/search suggestions please?