We are a smallish design build company looking at integrating the use of palm pilot type devices over time. We will first put one in the hands of the owner, then the production manager, and finally the lead carpenters. I have the following obvious questions.
What is the best device for these various applications?
What software should we be looking at?
We currently use MS Project for scheduling, is this adaptable, is there a better program for scheduling if you are trying to get data input from field people?
Any wisdom on implementing this change?
What questions am I failing to consider?
Sorry for so many questions in one post but they are all directly related. If you have input on any of these I will be grateful. – Hugh
Replies
I have the orig palm, pre ordered it when they first hit the market in 96. Still use it everyday, not bad for a tool geek buying a first release of anything. Bot DW a Sony clio last year.
Beware of the tft color and fulltime backlighting -- they eat batts faster than you can change or charge them. I would consider a b&w, hi res (sony clio is 320x320), with a manual backlight. most times you don't need the backlight anyway. Mono is just fine for info, unless you want to play games.
By far the most used application on her's (not compatible with mine, so that's why I'll upgrade) is Documents to Go. It lets you read and edit Word and Excel documents on the PDA.
Take the time to learn the graffiti writing, much faster than using the pop-up keyboards (a good reason to stick with the Palm OS)
oh, one other thing, i'd start small, don't rush in and force use. Start with setting up calendar, address, phone book applications, etc, let the boss and management get used to the device and the idea, rather than giving them a new contraption and letting them get overwhelmed having to keep time, etc on it at first.
one thing that the color display may be somewhat good for is the ability to display pictures....can do on mono screen, but leaves much to be desired.....that would be a pretty good sales helper.....whip out palm...."this is a project similar to what I'm proposing, see how we handled this particular detail.........."
Hugh,
Check out http://www.punchlist.com , Been using this program since 1998, great tool for keeping sub in line. The more jobs you do the better it works. We do 100 plus a year & it has been the King of the paper trail. Let me know if you have any other questions on it.
I'm on my third Palm. You may be disappointed.
The owner will benefit by using it as calander/alarm, calculator and expense tracker. There is a ton of software out there and I often go to http://www.tucows.com and look at the PALMOS section.
I don't think I have ever seen an MSProject plugin but then I was not looking. You may need to review other OS's (Microsoft CE for example).
Personally, I hate my Palm's screen. With my bifocals I have a hard time reading it unless I have angled light. I'm thinking about getting a colour one, but I have to see.
As for lead carps, what would they do with them?
Find the software first, then the platform.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
I have 20/20 vision and find it difficult to see the info on a mono screen. Personally I have a Sony Clie (Palm OS) color screen and love it. Bought it the week they released it at $400, less than a year later they were available new for $199 as Sony had upgraded an pushed models with MP3 players and the like.
I like the Sony as it uses same the Memory Stick in my digital camera and video camera. I can take a pic with the digital camera put the mem stick in the PDA and presto the pic is on my PDA, bada boom bada bing.
The Documents on the Go software is handy. Draw back is the viewable area of the screen. PDA software is tailored of course to the PDA so going from PDA to PC is easier than PC to PDA.
Phone book is handy, but with the mobile phone technology today can't justify it based on that.
I do like being able to take someone's info from an email and cut and pasting the info into the Palm Desktop software on the PC then Hotsync to the PDA, very handy.
I use mine for contact info and calendar/appt info. Not a real big fan of "to do" lists but that feature works well. I have a couple of spreadsheets on it, not more than 9 columns by maybe 12 lines. And of course a couple of games, still working on my addiction to Bejeweled.
I have never sprung for the car charger, If I was in the field more it would be a must.
BTW. Hot sync whatever you get often with the host PC. My DW let her PDA fully discharge and it dumped all of the data. She recharged it, did a Hot Sync and all was well with the world once again.
when you put these in the hands of carpenters....don't let them sit in the sunlight uncovered, the device will have to cool down before the screen gets readable, and in freezing weather, the opposite. The device will need to warm up.
I was always told that if I piloted my palm too much, I'd go blind. A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
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