Just curious... *thinking* about getting a new laptop.... and wondering some of the ways you've used a laptop to enhance your ability to do business....verses a desktop computer.
Some are obvious, but wondering what creative ways you've used your laptop in a fashion that makes it indispensable to you.
Also, have you found any legitimate business benefits to owning a tablet computer?
Thanks good people! Have a great day.
(edited for *spellink*)
[ August 04, 2011, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Todd Gill ]
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
My laptop is a MUST when doing historical RR equipment restoration. On the newer equipment, like a boxcar, all that gets done is the minimum required by the FRA. Which makes sense, as it could be a graffiti target at any time.The historical stuff is looked after more closely. It has lots of small lettering about interior height, width, and length; destinations, and even the bank that loaned the money for the equipment purchase. No matter how well I try to include every measurement for letter and logo placement before leaving to the jobsite; there's always something I overlooked. So with the laptop open at the job, I can check any measurement. I usually do it by having a picture or scale drawing on layer one of a vector editing program, then on layer two I make a rectangle that fits between the edge of the lettering and the edge of the car. Then I check the size of the rectangle against whatever scaling method I'm using.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
My laptop often has a grandkid in it, which generally cuts down on my productivity.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
My lap's top supports my belly, which in turn holds food to support the rest of me while sitting in front of the desktop.
Productivity often starts with Start>Turn off Computer>shutdown ! (on the Internet PC, that is, not the work ones...)
[ August 04, 2011, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
I was recently promoted at work and put together a proposal for a desktop and a laptop system. Since I am expected to do some travel for my job we decided a laptop makes the most sense. I am trying to find a New 21" Cintiq monitor to go along with the system while at work but they are next to impossible to find right now. I will be running OSX and Windows 7 on a Macbook Pro.
I guess I would ask myself how much I need the computer to be mobile.
For my home/office computer I decided to buy a 27" iMac because I don't do much personal business travel any more. The large monitor is the best I've ever used for mural design work....or any graphic design work for that matter. But it is far from mobile! I own an older Mac laptop but that is not used for travel any longer since Brenda and I both have iPads.
The iPad has pretty much taken over for all my personal travel needs. I have it check all my email (including outlook at work). I have an APP that shows all my travel set up through our business travel agent. I can also remote access into my home computer and retrieve files that way.
I mostly use the iPad for business as a presentation tool. I purchased a Pico pocket projector and can project a slideshow all under battery power using the iPad. I also have a battery powered speaker systen to go along with it. The Pico is the size of a cell phone and projects and image up to 60".
I find the tablet computer way more useful than a netbook ever would be, but that's just how I work? Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
I refuse to get one. work shall be done at desktop, then work is over comp will be shutdown. A laptop is another gadget i don't care to have. I work on the computer enough now and I respect that its not a tag along
Posted by Michael Clanton (Member # 2419) on :
I remember buying my first laptop- it also had a docking station and a monitor/keyboard- ironically, 99% of my work was done in the office, so I hardly ever used it for what it was intended- a portable device. After a few months, it dawned on me that it wasn't a very smart purchase- I should have spent my money on a more practical tool.
Then a few years ago, I bought my first MacBook- nothing special, just the basic 13" off of the shelf- but then I started doing more work away from the office, and it was very handy portable device. I have literally carried it halfway around the world.
Last year I got a part-time job doing graphics at my church, and part of the deal was being in the church office a few hours each week. My older MacBook was struggling to keep up with the newer graphics software, so I bought a new MacBook Pro (my wife and son inherited the older MacBook) and it has been a pretty good investment for the amount of work I do away from the office.
I still don't use a laptop for the bulk of my art work, I sstill prefer to use larger desktop models- and I have really tried to justify an iPad or other tablet device, but I still haven't found a way to do it realistically. (I came real close when I was drawing caricatures this summer and I saw a lady doing caricatures using an iPad- even my wife was trying to talk me into doing that)
I recently got a real cheap 7" notebook, (less than $80) mainly for the kids to play with- I can't even see the screen very well, so I doubt I will ever try to use it for any kind of work.
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
What is the budget for tech in the Gill household? Showing your stuff anytime my wife complains.
Anywho, I really don't see more creative ways of using a laptop than a desktop other than the obvious portability. My desktop at home is on it's last legs and I purchased a Thinkpad laptop as it's replacement. Just hook a mouse and external monitor and pretty much the same, though I doubt laptop components will last nearly as long as a desktop.
I purchased an Ipad a few months ago and that has filled the gap that maybe you are looking for. The note apps especially Notability are great for taking on estimates with writing and photos all on one page. Calendar and to do lists just work so much better for me with this than any computer.
As far as real power though, no way. When I need work done I use a computer. There is nothing on any tablet that can hold it's own to a vector drawing or bitmap editing software on a regular computer. For fun I use a lot of the sketching and painting programs and they bog down and crash all the time. Not real serious software in that sense.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Thanks for the thoughts thus far guys. I was debating on a full-blown i7 laptop with all the bells/whistles.... but then again... I'm thinking that maybe I'd be better off buying a grade level down... and just upgrade sooner.
I prefer a desktop too... but was thinking a laptop might be nice to haul around to prospective customers on occasion. Maybe good for making that last little tweak on site, etc.
I was thinking that there might be uses other than the obvious that I could be taking advantage of.
I'm not so sure how much better an tablet computer would be than a smart-phone. You can take pictures, organize with a calendar, etc. But you would lack the larger size.... yet they really intrigue me.
I can see it being very handy to have on the couch at night browsing the web... and it might even allow me to get rid of the magazines in the crapper... LOL.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
My laptop paid for itself the 1st time that I took it to look at a job.
Took a pic with my digi camera and roughed out a sign in Corel, then imported the pic of the building and placed it in the pic. Customer was so impressed that I quoted $300 more than normal and got the job.
Now it goes along with me ... especially on truck quotes.
Posted by Bruce Brickman (Member # 8180) on :
Todd, I use my laptop a lot. I take it with me to maximize time between things if I am in the city waiting for another appointment. Also, I have used it to show clients things sometimes from problems to color choices or to speed up the decision process for them. I am discriminating with that though as some clients will respect you less thinking they can do the same as you just pushing a few buttons. I can't speak for the pads as I don't have one but I would probably choopse a pad for reason already stated here by others-portfolio, problem solving and basiclly replacing the laptop being carried so much. good luck!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
My laptop is primarily used when I'm teaching our workshops or on the road. I use it to do some design work in the house or post to the blogs I write - generally in the evenings while I relax in front of the TV. It beats watching commercials and even a lot of the programming these days.
I also have an iPad which is what my portfolio is now on. I much prefer the portability of it (over a laptop) and the iPad works fabulous for customer presentations. On trips I'll use the iPad to keep in touch with home and customers as well.
-grampa dan
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
I'm not sure if size is what you're after in a laptop if yer just wanting to sit around cozied up with it at night.
If you want a "lap" top, don't make the mistake I did going for the biggest one out there. It makes for something very uncomfortable and unwieldy when your sitting around on the couch at night.
A tablet might even be the way to go, as having the screen flipped up on any laptop is always a bit of nuisance. A tablet is more like handling a book or holding a magazine.
Perhaps a balance is a moderately sized screen in a very slim, lightweight notebook package.
Just something to think on!!!
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Thanks guys - appreciate each of your ideas... am still weighing it out.
David - glad I can help you out in your endeavors to add to the tech toys. :-)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)