Favorite Integrator Tablets 2017

By IPVM Team, Published Sep 11, 2017, 11:23am EDT

What percentage of integrators use tablets? Which tablets do they prefer? Apple? Android? Windows?

Tablets have become popular integrator tools for sales, install, and documentation, replacing both laptops and pen/paper for many tasks. To see just how many integrators have adopted tablets and which ones they prefer, we asked:

What, if any, tablet do you use at work? If so, what do you most commonly use it for?

Details from 147 integrator responses inside.

Clear ******** *** *******

**** **** *****-******** ** ********** say **** *** *******, **** just **% ********* **** do *** *** ***.

Favorite *******

* ******* ** *************/***** were ********* ** *********, but *****'* **** *** clearly **** *******, ******** by ******* *** ********* Surface.

******** ********* ****** **********, ***** *** **** popular ***** *********** **** the ******* ********** (~**% of *********** ***** ******* vs. ~**% **** ** Q2 ****), **** ******* tablets ***** *** **** popular.

**** *******, *********'* ******* tablet ** *** **** popular ***** *********** **** typical *********, ~**% ** integrators ***** ******* **. less **** *% ** tablets ****.

Apple **** **** ****** ** ***

*** **** ****** ****** used ** *********** *** Apple's ****. ***** ******* out *** ******* ************ of **** **** **** other *********, ** **** as **********/******* ******* ** using * **** ***** PC.

  • "* **** *** ** technician **** ***** *** me **** ** ****. Other *********** **** ******* of **** ******* *** Apple. ** *** **** mostly *** **** *********** and ***** *****. **** the *** **** *********, only ********* *** *** iPad ** *** **** to ** ******* *** QA *** ***** **** installations ******* ** *** often ***** ** ********** systems. ** **** **** use **** ** ***** list *** *** *************. The ***** *** **** used ** *** *** focus ******* **** *** Axis ******** *******."
  • "**** *** *******/****** ********** software *********. ***** *** iOS *********** ** ** more ********** *** ********** with **** ******** *** field ***** **** ****** it ***** ** * greater **** *** *** somewhat **** ***********."
  • "**** **** * ** used ** **** **** job ***** ***** ******** app. **** *** ** for **** ******** ** aim *******."
  • "* *** ** **** pro. * ****** *** it *** **** ***** utilizing *** **** ** associate ******** **** *****/*******. This ******* *** ******* to ******* * ******* site **** **** *** operations ********** *** ******* the ******* **** * will ****** ********."
  • "****. ** *** ** app ****** ******** ***** acts ** ****** **-****** for ************, ******* *** sales ************. ***** ** every *** ** **** as *** *** (*** easier ** ***** ******) but *** ******* **** likes * ****** ****** so *** ** ***** guys *** ***** ****** and *** ** ** the **** ****. ***** is **** ******* **'* "easier" *** ** **** some **** **** ****** on *****. ** *** end ** *** ***, they *** ** *** exact **** ***** *** it ******** ** * yankess/redsox ********."
  • "* ********* *** *** iPad *** ... ******* note ******, *** *** of ****** **** ** it ******** ****** *****. We **** **** ** iPad *** *** ***** to ******* **** ***** to ******** ******** ***. The ****** **** ** much ****** ** **** with ****** ****. ******* admin ***** *** ********* Surface *******. ***** ***** use *****, ****** ** an ****** ********* *** time *********, *******, ***. vs ******* ***** **** also **** ** ******* and *********."
  • "****. * *** ** for **** ******* *** up ***** ****** *** when **** **** **. i **** **** *** set ** ** ** ipad. **** **** **** i **** *** ***, test ** **** **** video ** **, **** give ******* *** ********."
  • "** **** ** *** IPads *** ******** ******** for **** *******. ******** app ** *** **** and **** ******* **** it ****** * **** to **** ** ******** and ***** ******** **** the ******* *** ************* later. ** *** **** able ** ****** * proposal *** ******* ******** right **** *****." (*** *** **** ** Bluebeam)
  • "***** **** *** **.*" (2nd ***) **** ***** Pencil *** *** **** surveys *** ******* ** drawings *** ****** ********. Also *** ** **** cameras *** *** ***** of ******* ** *********."

Next **** ******: ** ******* ** ***

**** *********** ****** *** not *** *** ****** at ***, **** **** mentioning **** ****** ****** were **** ******* ** carrying ** ********** ******, especially **** ********** ****** sizes ********** ** *** past *** *****.

  • "****** *** ******* ****...** used ** **** *** a "****" **** **** with **** ****** ** that *** ********* ***** see *** ******* ** viewing **** *** ****** app, *** **** *****'* really *** **** ******* about ******* ****** ******* device. **** **** ********* to **** ******** *** app ** ***** ******** phones *******."
  • "***'* ***. **** *****, found ** ****'* *** useful. **** ****** ******* an ******** **** *** the ******* ** ****** change ******* **. * cheap ****** ** *** more *********."
  • "** **** ** ** more ******* *** *** we *** **** ********** since ***** ******* *** bigger **** **** ******."
  • "* ** *** *** a ******. *** * do *** ** ****** 6 **** ***** ** a *******. * **** used **********, ********* ****** apps, *** ***** ****** utility **** ** **."
  • "*** *** **** **** Smartphones ***** ** *****."
  • "****, * ***** *** a ********** ** ********* align *** ****** *** if ********* ***** **."
  • "****, ********* ***** **** phone *** ***** ******* scans."
  • "* ***'* *** ******* currently *** ***** ** talk ** ** ******* them."

Android *******

****, *********** ********* ******* tablets, **** ******* *** only ************ **** ******** mentions. ******** *********** ***** their ***** ***** (******** to ****) ** * factor.

  • "******* ****** *** *. Used ** ******** **** orders, **** ********, *** set ** *******"
  • "******* ****** **** **.* Taking ***** *** *********, taking ******** ** *****, IT *******, *** ****** locations ** **** ** the ********/************* *******."
  • "*******, ****** ** ********* cameras, ***** & ****** map."
  • "* *** ******* *******. I **** *** ** for ***** ************ *** my ****, ******** ***** emails ** ******, *** testing *********** **** **** in **** *******."
  • "** ******* **** * 7" ******* ****** ******. We **** *** *** for *** *** ** use *** *** *** tablet ** **** *** cameras ****** ******** ** maintenance."
  • "*******-*****. **** *** ********** digital **********/*********** *** ***** forms **** ****** ******** into * ******** *** reporting ******** (**** *** one *******)."
  • "******* *****.... **** ** be ***** *** **** great, ** ****** **** Ipad"
  • "******* - ******* - CLI *********** ***** *****://***.***-*******.***"

Microsoft *******

******** ** ******* ****** share, Microsoft ******* ******* *** the ****, **** ******** respondents ********** **** ** is ***** *****'* **** device, *** ** *** inclusion ** **** ***** Windows ** ******* ** more ******* ***/*******.

  • "********* ******* *** ****** exclusively. *** **** ******* platform ******** **** *** pen/stylus ****** *** ******* to **** **** ** floorplans, **** *****, *** -- **'* **********. ** far ** ******** *** most **** ****."
  • "** **** ******** ** surface *** **. ********** from ***** ** *********** use **** ** ***** main ********* ******. *** office ** ***** *** everyone ** ** **** to **** ** * surface ** ******** **** area **** *** ** and **** **** *******."
  • "******* *** * ***** is **** ** * hybrid. * *** ** for ********** ** *******, VMS's, ***. * **** an **** **** * use ********* **** ******** software *** * **** through. ****'* **** ***'* have **** ********* ******* making ***** ******* *******. The ******* ** ******** and ***** *** * full ** *** * decent *********. **'* **** I'm ****** **** ****** with."
  • "********* ******* ***. **'* my **** ***** *** documents *** * *** the ****** ******* ********** when ***** **** *******. Also **** *** ***** and *************."
  • "** *** ****** ********* Surface ******'*. *** ***** use **** ** *** field ** ************ ***** and *******."
  • "*** ***** *** *** surface *** **** * network ******* *** ****** support, **** **** *** fixes."
  • "********* ******* **** *** used *** ********** **** programming ******* ** ********* our ***"

*** **** **** ** many ***** *** ** camera *** ********** **** best ** **** **** Windows ** ********* * factor ** **** **************** adoption.

Comments (7)

Clayton Burnett

09/11/17 04:51pm

For those of you that use Surface Pro's, how do you lug it around the job site?  Do you have a hard case on it (I haven't found any that i like)?  Some sort of handle(d)/case? (I use the Gripzilla and i love it).  Or maybe a "murse" like shoulder strap case?  I've found it very hard to find much for field work and the surface.

 

Undisclosed Integrator #1

09/12/17 09:21am

If apple is the most used I ask myself how they do it with the apple accout you need to use the apple devices. Do you use the one of the client? Or do you make one account for all your costumers together?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 09/12/17 01:15pm

In my experience, for devices left with end users, we had them create an apple account of their own on the devices. Generally these were commercial/institutional clients, not home or small business, so the only things the tablets were to be used for were surveillance apps. So they created an Apple account specifically for it, and that was the only one allowed to log into the iPad(s). 

For technician use, it was different. The tech typically signs in with their own account, since it's theirs for personal use, assuming the device is assigned to one person and not shared. 

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

09/12/17 04:43pm

Full disclosure: I used to work for Panasonic.  Bad place to work, but great gear. 

Buy a Panasonic Toughpad running Windows.  Is it expensive?  Yes, but they're flipping bulletproof.  I have one that's almost 5 years old, and it's a tank.  Kids have walked on it, dropped it down the stairs, and left it outside in the yard for a week - with a sprinkler system that runs every other day.  If it gets dirty, you can throw it in the dishwasher. 

You can get a refurb version of the one I have for under $700 on eBay.

Avatar

RJ Spurr

IPVMU Certified | 09/15/17 06:46pm

Look at purchasing Formconnect on Appstore and create an electronic form where you can associate data with corresponding pictures for site walks! Changed my life. 

David Fogle, CSEIP

In reply to RJ Spurr | 09/19/17 04:27pm

Check out System Surveyor www.systemsurveyor.com

Absolutely a perfect App for site walsk and data collection.

 

 

Avatar

RJ Spurr

IPVMU Certified | 09/19/17 10:34pm

I will. Thanks

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