Should You Get an iPad?
One of the perks of working for a publishing company that specializes in reporting on technology is that we get to try out the cool gadgets when they hit the market. So when editorial director Peggy Smedley brought in an iPad for us to try out at the office I was more than thrilled—and felt a bit empowered by the fact that I didn’t have to stand in line for hours at the Apple store to get my hands on one of these devices like some other people I know.
After trying out some apps, watching a movie, and playing around on its keyboard, our assessment was that while the iPad was certainly a great consumer device we weren’t quite sold on its capabilities of becoming a productivity tool for an industry like construction.
Editorial Advisory Board member Tim Malarney of Shiel Sexton has interest in the iPad. He makes a great point that when talking strictly on price ($600 for the Wi-Fi version of the iPad vs. roughly $3,500 in some cases for a fully loaded netbook or a tablet) the iPad wins out. Even when you factor in the assumption that the iPad is fragile in comparison to something like a Toughbook, you could essentially break and replace the iPad five times and still save money versus using one tablet.
We posed the question to the Constructech Group on LinkedIn and more than a few members made the point about how many construction managers and/or field staff currently use tablets, Toughbooks, Windows CE, or similar devices to manage their construction projects, compared with how many just run back to the trailer and use their laptop (with a big screen, full power, compliment of software, etc.) That makes a great case for the iPad holding up in a construction environment.
Bill Parker, global developments technical manager at Service Point USA, added, “Where the iPad should become more useful is in the role of a portable, live, information/document repository; it has the power needed, but I can immediately see a problem. The iPad has a nice shiny screen, just the thing for indoors, but completely unreadable in sunlight, the same problem all of the tablet PCs have had to date. The contrast levels available cannot overcome bright sunlight, that’s where the e-ink devices come into their own.”
We have already seen software providers come out with construction-specific apps for the iPad. One in particular allows you to access numerous types and formats of project data including drawings, submittals, and plans using the iPad’s large touchscreen. Other obvious apps include site inspection checklists and material takeoff.
While the iPad is really cool, we still believe it is more suited for entertainment than for productivity, at least at this point. Even though contractors might take it to the field, we still believe today’s notebooks have a leg up on the iPad. For instance, the keyboard is really a bit tricky to type on.
You really have to lay the iPad down to type using both hands. Another point, if you are a Microsoft Excel user, as most subs and GCs are, and even though you can import Office documents through Apple iWork, it’s a hassle. One more point, if you are a Microsoft Outlook junkie for your contacts, well, forget it. You can’t sync it up anymore. It’s just not available and as easy with a notebook.
Maybe these are points that don’t matter, but you might want to consider this before you rush out to purchase that 3G iPad.
Constructech Editors