I am just starting out and haven’t done an inspection for money yet and need some advice. should I buy a laptop or a PDA? what kind of software or should I even get software for this type of work?
thank you very much
Steve
Check yesterdays answers. (same question)
Steve,
Do you get down to the Twin Cities very often ? We usually have a booth at the quarterly MSHI meetings at the U of M and you can test run our software on either a laptop, tablet or PocketPC right there. I would definitely recommend some sort of software since if you are using just a checksheet paper form it really limits you to being able to include pictures, send it via e-mail or posting the report on a website which are becoming more and more important in the new CyberWorld.
Jeff Knight
Hudson, WI
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com
“Leading handheld inspection software for 10 years.”
I am very new to all this . but what is MSHI meetings? sorry for the stupid question
Steve
Larry,
Home Inspector Pro does not run on a PDA.
Steve,
MSHI stands for Minnesota Society of Home Inspectors and is a state home inspection association for the state of Minnesota. There are several hundred members.
Jeff Knight
Hudson, WI
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com
“Leading handheld inspection software for 10 years.”
We avoided PDA’s as we felt the screen was too small. But if they really want a PDA check out Jeff’s program. Ours runs on everything else, including Mac, Windows and Linux, on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or UMPC (like Samsung Q1)
10-4 Thanx.
I have been using 3D for 3 years now.Until last december, I was using a Panasonic Toughbook Tablet and thought it was the best thing since peaunut butter, I had a PDA but did not use it. Last December, I had a problem with my tablet so I had to start using the PDA. At first I found it a little awkward but today, my Tablet has been repaired and am still using the PDA. It is small, not cumbersum and does the job just fine. I developed my own forms and data base so I don’t have to write much, all my observations and recommendations are already stored.
3D pocket PC is great, allows you to move around very easely through various forms.
For a 2 story home , I have over 10.000 obsrevations and recommendations to choose from at my finger point. Make for a very complete report. I will modify my text when needed either on site or at my desk.
Paul,
Welcome to the handheld revolution 
Most inspectors experience the same thing…they think they need a bigger device until they really truly try it and find out how much easier and better it is to use a handheld instead. My only issues with 3D is that the software can be overwhelming for inspectors that are not that comfortable with computers because of the complexity of changing the forms in the forms editor.
Jeff Knight
Hudson, WI
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com
“Leading handheld inspection software for 10 years.”
Laptop.
PDA’s suck.
If you plan on sitting at your office desk at the end of the day and spend hours reentering your inspection data you gathered in the field then I agree with Mr. Kelly that a PDA would suck and a laptop or a regular PC would be better.
If you plan on entering your inspection data as you are walking around doing your inspection and skipping the hours of reentering the data in the evening then I would think that a laptop would suck since you have no lap as you are walking around.
It really depends upon how you plan on doing your inspection and creating your report as to which one makes the most sense to you.
Jeff Knight
Hudson, WI
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com
“Leading handheld inspection software for 10 years.”
We have had this talk before Jeff, you do not listen. Fine by me.
I did 3 inspections yesterday and printed all the reports before I left. I used a PDA for about a month or two a few years ago. It was impossible to go over the report with the client on the PDA before printing it. The clients seem to enjoy going over the report on the 15.4" laptop screen as opposed to the teeny weeny pda (etch-a-sketch) screen.
I guess it depends on how you are going to do your report. 
Oh by the way PDA’s SUCK.
I like my PDA/phone just not for inspections.
The Samsung Q1 is working out just fine for me.
PDA screen is just to small for me. Others have no problem with it. Good for them.
Jeff lives in the same town I do and is a good guy. He knows his stuff when it comes to data collection.
So he did more than three inspections yesterday???
Bingo! Starting to enjoy the conversion to laptop. Little slow right now but I can see a lot more time available doing on site reports.
Randy
Actually at the end of the inspection process you can export the inspection data collected into a Word document that is created on a SD Card on my PDA.(takes about 5 seconds) You then could place it in your laptop that is sitting on the counter and bring up the Word document that is already completed and we can review it with the client there…make any changes we feel necessary in Word and then print it if we want on site.
I am not recommending reviewing the report on the PDA…I am recommending using the PDA to do the data collection to save time having to reenter the data on the laptop. Most inspectors will just print the report directly from the PDA to a portable printer using Bluetooth (about 6 pages a minute) and review the printed report with the client. No need for a laptop at all.
Our software runs on a PDA or a laptop so it really makes no difference to me which way you do it but my 10 years in this business tells me that there are a lot of inspectors that spend a lot of time reentering data in the evening and in the field and I am just trying to help the ones that want to change…and yes Brian Kelly says “PDAs suck” (see I do listen) but I have a feeling it was the software he was using that actually sucked.
Jeff Knight
Hudson, WI
Knights Software Solutions, Inc.
www.knightssoftware.com
“Leading handheld inspection software for 10 years.”
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I am sure Mr Knights software works fine for those interested in using a PDA for their inspection reporting.
It may not be for everyone , but some like it I am sure.
I like software guys Jeff. And I know some inspectors like using PDA’s, not many mind you, but I know some.
How many reports have YOU GENERATED ONESITE this year???
If the answer is zero, then please refrain from spouting any unsubstaintiated, secondary data to tell us how great it is to perform a HI on a pda using the software YOU SELL.
I am a LICENSED HOME INSPECTOR that performs HOME INSPECTIONS ONSITE WITH A LAPTOP for over 5 years.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS PDA’S SUCK
ps just a guess but I think inspectvue would be the leading handheld software