A2, you guys create apps? .

Our elected Government officials decided they were going paperless. All cabinet members were given iPads. They didn't consult the IT people and off they went in their new paperless environment. One member left his iPad at a meeting and the crap hit the political fan with the opposition. The concept was good, but their security measures were real bad. No added security, not even the password number pad enter at the opening of the iPad. They had to turn them all in until the IT could figure out what to do. first Apple product in our Government and the IT people didn't know how to protect sensitive information.

 

My team at work has the capability. I can barely create a paper based application

BTW, if you are interested iTunes has a pod cast from Stanford University on how to write apps for iOS.

I'm pretty sure something similar to what you described will happen here as well, but the tablet PC's require a secure login so I'm guessing data should be safe. The worrisome thing though is that our user base often find themselves in locations (where they perform inspections) that are in the wireless wilderness. So there is no way that the data they enter will be saved in the database. They continue to fall back on the old mechanism of resorting to paper-based forms.

 

I see a Windows 8 tablet is coming out next year. I think I'll wait for that before making any decision about what to purchase.

 

You're way ahead of me in the iPad3 rumor department. I've only heard one rumor, and that is the iPad3 will be coming out in the spring of next year. I'd like to get a look at it (or its official specs) before buying it or the iPad2. If it turns out the iPad3 isn't worth the cost over the 2 for me, I'll pick up the 2.

 

Latest rumor is summer next year, which is not normal practice of new releases for iPad. I try and stay up,on rumors . Who really knows. It is impossible to keep up with technology. What I do find interesting is the OS works with both iPad 1 and 2, so the features are all the same that way. The 2 does have front and back cameras for FaceTime and is thinner than the 1, with a longer battery time. so other than size and cameras, if the 1 was still available I really wonder what is missing other than the cameras. So when the 3 comes out and it could be larger, then what really is the benefit? 3 cameras

 

a2, completely understand inspections in areas of no where land. Environment in northern Saskatchewan is rough. We have to use SAT phones, so tablets are out of the question.

 

Maybe it will come with Siri

http://www.whatsiriissaying.co.uk/

 

I am in

 

iPad. The end

 

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, Deb.

We (Claire and I) just got ourselves tablets -- and because we're not Apple people, we got Android tablets. I have an Android smart phone, and the applications available filled the bill.

Our primary motivation was e-book readers, but neither of us really wanted a specialized device. Android tablets (maybe others, too) offer apps that mimic the various e-reader capabilities, and so we now have (big-screen) e-book readers that'll so all sorts of other stuff, too. I may never purchase another book on paper.

Claire has the Sony tablet -- light, very nicely shaped (especially if you're right-handed), well designed. I have the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, designed for business and somewhat more capable and more rugged. If you've purchased computers in the past that are beyond your real needs (I always do this), the Lenovo one would be a good thing to look at -- and it can be had in a 64 GB version, like the iPad. The Sony has a slightly smaller screen with the same pixels, making the image smaller but sharper, and it has some neat Sony apps included, like a universal TV system remote capability.

I'm on business travel just now, and I took my TPT along to read from on the airplane -- it sure beats traditional books for that purpose. And, as I get used to it, it can substitute for my laptop for almost (emphasize almost) anything.

There are, of course, lots of other tablets, and when I was contemplating the purchase I looked carefully. The thing to do is decide what you want it for and find the one with those features. HPH