In the age of high tech gadgets I truly believe that Tablet PCs are the next wave in real estate transactions!! So long fax machine I now have the power to download contracts, email them, and have them signed "Johnny on the Spot!!" How did I ever live without the power of my Tablet PC. Once you try it you will never revert to your old style of handling business. And the best part, clients are really impressed that you've done away with the paper trail. Now you have an e-trail.
Bob- It's time to move into the new world of real estate. You can do it too.
Marguerite- Great. What kind are you using?
I think I know who the last comment is from-someone in my office - Don't worry, you can do it.
I chose the HP Tablet PC for 3 reasons:
1. My daughter has one that she uses at her school(Yes, we are a techy family) for the last year and it has worked out fabulous for her.
2. The other option I looked at -the IBM Thinkpad-didn't have the 2GB option only 1GB configuration.
3. My corporation's network is only compatible with XP Professional, not Vista or any homebased programs touted by Circuit City and the other big box retailers. Make sure you configure your PC to match up with the companies' network.
If you have a standard laptop that has a touch-pad cursor controller,it can be used to capture signatures as well using a stylus from a Palm Pilot. I cannot remember the name of the company that makes this, but I saw it last year at a computer show here in the Dayton area and it seemed to work. Position the cursor where the signature goes, press an ALT/Function key combo and the touch pad translated the signature to the document. It was running on a Dell and HP machine at the show, and I'm not sure if it works on the Mac or not, but seemed pretty clever, and a lot less expensive than a pen PC if you have a newer laptop.
If I can find the info on it, I will post it on my blog to this group.
This is a great suggestion David...please send the information when you get a chance. It will definitely help others here at AR.
Hi Shannon,
Great feedback. I've got two ideas on how to combat the battery issue:
1. I've bought a power converter for my cigarette lighter that allows me to charge my laptop in the car!! Yippee!!
2. Having worked in wireless for many years I know the "gotchas" related to electronics. Batteries develop a memory effect and you have to be careful. Let the battery die all the way down, whether in the car or at home, before charging again. That will make your battery last much longer!!!
That may have been what I did. I had the car charger, the extra battery, the charger at the office the charger at home...ugh! I will admit...I have my eye on an after market MAC tablet that's supposed to do everything from fly a plane to cure cancer. I wish they'd go mainstream with it though, after market scares me!
Shannon, that's a lot of hardware!! You had chargers everywhere!! I'd love to use the MAC but my company says they aren't compatible. I wish you all the best.