What is your preferred Information tracking system in the field?

[Scott Stone]

Just a question of curiosity for me. I try to stay up on technology that will benefit me as much as possible. So the question for me is, what information system are currently using?

[Jon]

None of the above, just good old fashioned MS Outlook, I print out a year in advance and when I add to it I just print out what I need to update things.

I tried a Palm and did not care much for it so returned it.

Pen and paper work best for me now.

[Ron Musgraves]

I use everything but the pocket PC. they are all intergrated with one another. I love the palm pilot because i can put it in my pocket. I want to get a phone pc when i can.

[Mike Williamson]

A good old fashioned cheap pad of paper in a cheap flip-fold type cover I got from some vendor last year...I keep it in my back pocket. I need to look into the palm thing. Do they have pretty good scheduling applications?

One day, hopefully soon, we'll have an all-in-one device that will be our phone, our pda, our camera, and our internet hookup.

[jkwalz]

I have a laptop and a small bubble jet printer in the truck. Whenever I bid a job I print the bid out for the customer instead of hand writing it.

The only reason I really do this is because my handwriting is horrible!

JK

[kjclean]

Mike,

Sorry to break the news....but your behind on the times....LOL

A friend of mine has a phone that is also a pocket pc, and has an internet connection and you can connect a lil pin camera if you want.

[Scott Stone]

I wasn't when the post was writtten. Currently I have a laptop with a wireless card, a pocket pC and a camera phone. They all serve their own purposes, and fulfill a need.

Scott Stone

[tidyjet]

Doubting Thomas here; make me a believer. Show me how wireless connectivity on the road or having a PDA or what have you is going to help me (a one man operation) be more productive and increase my profits. I'm still waiting on those quality camera phone pics too.

paul

[Scott Stone]

I receive a lot of email from customers. My stock in trade is the quick response if they have a special need. It has saved me from driving across town and then having to go back within a couple of miles to do a service. Mind you, across town for me is nearly 50 miles.
The camera I use for accidents, or problems on a job site that the manager needs to know about. I can snap a pic, and send it by email. That way they can actually see what the problem is. This has also saved me a few times.
I just use the pocket pc for scheduling.
Next question?


Scott Stone

[Washaway]

Next question: How much do you pay for the internet service?
I've been looking for internet and fax capabilities but somehow $80/month just for internet is a bit steep and I don't need 126 satellite channels in the truck.

[Scott Stone]

I have a cable from supplynet.com that I actually use when I am not near a hot spot. I download my email, and then read it off line. You will need to contact your cell company to set up your service to be able to use it.

So, it is cell phone time.

Scott Stone

[Washaway]

That's exactly what I want to stay away from.
Thanks

[Scott Stone]

I am using my cell phone minutes to downlaod the info. Not a seperate wireless card. It only take sabout 2 minutes to download the email, but it is brutally slow if you are trying to surf the 'net. I don't do that from my phone, though.

Scott Stone

[Washaway]

See that's exactly what I need, FULL internet/fax capabilities.
That's why I've been searching for some sort of satellite answer.

[Scott Stone]

If that is what you want, you gotta pay to play.
Scott