If I buy an 18 can I do this with it?

Another newbi to the forum, I have been lurking here a while now and am pondering a toughbook, I was going to get a 29 for the work truck and maybe a Ledco mount, but I think in reality I need a 18 more for my application.
I have experience with the 18 and the 28/29 from a former life but I never really used them, just did mobile installs and admin kinda stuff.

Sorry to ask this kinda thing, I did a search but most of the info was hardware based and I have a software/ use kinda question.

I am a landscaper/tree guy that likes to draw out the house in relation to the road/driveway and then doodle in where the offending trees and shrubs are located and make notes, I sometimes do this in the drizzle and paper is just not cutting it and I am pondering the 18 for this sorta task. I may even upload a picture of the house to the 18 and draw over top of it if anybody knows if I can do this?

Can it take written notes and convert to text?

To do any of these tasks should I look at digitizer over the touch models? Will I need to buy specific software to do any of these tasks?

Thank you forum members, this site is a great resource!

Alex

 

Alex,

Welcome to the forum!

The tscreen VS digitizer is best left to Google as it all depends on what you will use it for. Crude drawings can be doe on the tscreen and you can also use your fingers too... The digitizer must use the digitizer stylus... That kills it for a lot of people.

As for the rest... Yes you may need to buy software, again, depending on what you want to use it for. I know you said landscaping... But some people can use the Paint Program for their needs... You may want a landscaping program.

It would be best to read up on it unless there is another landscaper using a CF-18 here....

 

Thanks for the input.

I really just need a blank white page to make crude sketches on so that I can remember each item as I do the initial walk around with the client, then I will use my crude drawing to count how many things get changed out and then I start counting it all up for the initial estimate. I cant see me needing any kind of drawing specific program (I cant draw anyway), I just want to doodle and hit save and maybe print later...

From what I have read here the touch screen is not nearly as common as the digitizer, did the touch screen model still come with the built in stylus?

I have learned from this site to use the toughbook configurator when shopping to make sure I get what I need.

I have handled hundreds of these things, even took them apart to do service, but for the life of me I cant remember that big of a difference between any of the screens, I wonder if all we sold were digitizers?

 

Digitizer would be best by far for drawing
Wacom makes the panel thats used, and they are the best way to draw sketches

T Cat

 

For drawing of any sort or handwritten notes you really want the digitizer; also, you need the digitizer for built-in handwriting recognition.

As for your notes - Tablet PC - the version of XP designed for laptops with a digitizer - has both Paint for Tablet which you can import a photo into and draw on top of, and a journal application which is JUST like a legal pad, only electronic. You will EASILY be able to do what you want with any Tablet/Convertible Digitizer Laptop running Vista or Tablet PC OS; of course, to do it in the RAIN, you want a ToughBook.

And of course, the best part - as soon as you're done, you can email your notes to your prospective clients so they can edit it the same way & send back to you, or you can edit it later. Also - the Journal has "page at a time" handwriting recognition that's 80-95% accurate, even with my crappy handwriting...

mnem
Just make sure you put the digitizer pen on a tether and you'll be FINE...

 

Thanks guys, now I need to find a decent machine (With a digitizer)

 

I happen to have a CF-18 digitizer that I was about to put up on ebay... You can PM or email me for info.... It is literally brand new looking... Not like the used and abused stuff (some stuff) on ebay. It's all set up and ready to go!

 

Alex , Check out the unit that Rick has available
I remember that he has everything working on it
Thats better than 99% of the units around
They all seem to have incorrect or missing software

T Cat

 

mnementh

Is there any way to get ahold of the Journal app without buying Tablet XP? I mean, I don't even see XP Tablet Edition in stores.

I have used Ritepen, but its pretty limited.

 

Not that I know of - it's part of the Tablet PC OS, and M$ only sells it OEM/BUILDER, not direct to consumers. The Journal app is kindof integral in the Tablet OS; you can't really use without a PC that would COME WITH the OS, and they would expect you to use the restore disks to reinstall that OS...

mnem
So I need to buy the egg to get the chicken to get eggs, huh?

 

Pm coming at ya~

EDIT: I cannot find the PM info or Email info? Can you PM me please?

 

You can't PM until you reach 18 posts I think... You can email me at [email protected]

Rick

 

For anyone interested Google Sketchup is an awesome drawing program that works great on any computer but is extra cool with the touch screens. It is Totally free from Google. No spam or hassles associated. It allows you to draw basic items then pull or stretch them into 3 dimensional objects that you can then fly around or through. I use it for furniture designs. They actually have tons of templates for just about anything. Google Sketchup

 

Man... I listed my CF-18 Touchscreen unit... With all the CF-18s on eBay going for $550+ (Except for the Australian "stuff" at $450+)... I sure am getting a lot of emails from people asking for $400 CF-18s... How does that work? Maybe I should ask $2k for my CF-18???

 

Rick the normal used price was at least $800+ ,before the Australian models flooded the market
These have complicated software (lots of posts in the past with software issues), so I would say that the units for sale that have everything working well will be worth more

Alex

 

You have to remember that the ones currently being sold by notebook_pro, etc. here in Oz on Ebay are not going to come with the right OS (they have xp tablet edition which is wrong for the touchscreen version - something I found out when I bought my CF-18), and they only have 40 GB disks. Some of the sellers seem to be sticking 160 GB disks in now but they're all still being sold with a basic 512 MB of RAM. Also they are only mk-2 systems. I see very few mk-3 to mk-5 systems on Ebay at present.

BTW I got the case for my CF-18 from Ebay seller 'bidkahuna' yesterday - it's really good and is the actual case that Panasonic sold for those machines.

Craig.

 

I have been shopping for a few weeks and have seen a few good deals pop up, but to be honest a 1.2 ghz machine is kinda slow, rugged or not. For me it will "just" get the job done (if I keep XP fit & trim)
The speed and ram limitations have been a point of contention for me, because these CF-18's seemed slow when they were first introduced.
I am thinking many will start to consider a plastic laptop or tablet for a bunch less money, if it breaks just toss it and get another one. If you get a $300 plastic unit, by next year that same unit will be $100. How long do you think a CF-18 will really be sought after by a serious user for real work? Sure the enthusiasts will tinker, but at some point they will be put on a shelf or just used for basic tasks.
Just like any PC the value will go down, rugged or not.

 

If you decide to run Linux instead of Windows there are many good programs such as GIMP and for PDF Modifcations "Xournal" for adding handwriting notes, typed notes or draft drawings overlayed, inserted in a PDF Document. If you have to bring up Windows occasionally like me there is SUN "VirtualBox" so you can load up Windows fast ie to run the Google program you mentioned. Shoot. There is a Virtualbox version for Windows so you can play with your preferred Linux version.

SIN