Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jan 17, 2011 4:26 pm Hey Guys I am thinking of getting an ipad for my build - I have stacks of email print outs, plans, particular specs for sinks, washing machines etc and instead of carting around a huge lever arch folder with all this stuff what would happen if you just stored it all on an ipad. that way I have all my correspondence and contracts, plans etc on hand all the time both on and off site for easy access. Has anyone done this - thinking of it - any thoughts on this? THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE IS 495 SQM OF BEACH SAND AND WEEDS! http://missvintageshouseofpain.blogspot.com/ Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 2Jan 17, 2011 4:47 pm I don't own one but think this is a terrific idea. I know what you mean about lugging around a folder of information and how frustrating it was not to have the measurements you needed when you came across an item for the house at an unbelievable bargain price that couldn't be overlooked! I say Go For It!! Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 3Jan 17, 2011 6:47 pm I use my iPad for this purpose, among others. It's handy if your builder sends you plans and other paperwork in PDF format, as this means you can import them into iBooks and you won't need to be connected to the internet to access them. If you have your email account on the iPad too, you will be able to search through your emails too (handy if the builder said that they've "never said x" and you can quickly search and say "well actually, you said x on date Y at time Z"). Having said that, it's not that useful if you work in an office environment where you're in front of a computer all day (like me) and your employer isn't too fussed about you using 5 mins of work time to get your queries with your builder sorted. It's also great to upload any photos you have taken of the house into one device, helps with showing off your dream home to friends and family Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 4Jan 17, 2011 8:07 pm Just finished work for a couple renovating and they used their iPad for all their plans with snippets of photos from the internet of what they wanted the rooms to look like. Great idea, handy and compact. Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 5Jan 17, 2011 8:29 pm for this to work you would also need a good wireless connection. You will find it handy to do quick google searches and find suppliers on the fly when your stuck. Although this doesnt need to be an ipad a $500 laptop will do and and maybe more pratical unless you dont care to much with using an IPAD with dirty and rough hands. Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 6Jan 17, 2011 8:44 pm I have a windows 7 smart phone which is tied into my email and can open all office and PDF documents. It has been fantastic to have access to all my information when needed. Ipad would be great - much easier to read than a 3/4 inch screen Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 7Jan 17, 2011 9:36 pm I LOVE THE IPAD - sorry just had to say that. We gave our 7 year old one for XMAS as a reward also for doing well at school (he doesn't own a DS or PSP or the like so figured he had earnt something to use for games as well as educational)... anyway I think we use it more than he does! I am on it every night, it's much easier than firing up an entire laptop all the time and about 20 times faster! You can just go straight to your emails or the net and of course it's extremely portable. I think it's a great idea to use it for house info etc... Using an Ipad during the Build 8Jan 17, 2011 10:39 pm If you are going to rely on electronic filing for your house build...just make sure you back the thing up religiously. And I would still print out important documents back at home base like the contract, color selection, etc just in case. In engineering we still keep a paper based file as the "single point of truth" for important data. You may still keep a copy of those vital docs in the boot of your car as builder is not going to wait around while you recover from a technical issue or an iPad dropped in a barrow of mortar. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Using an Ipad during the Build 9Jan 17, 2011 11:08 pm I use my iPad for this and the best app of 2010 is Dropbox. It's online storage that also syncs all your devices. For example when I am at work, I simply put any docs into my dropbox and then I can view them on the iPad. It's also effectively online backup as well. Check it out. Www.Dropbox.com I can't recommend it highly enough. Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 10Jan 18, 2011 1:26 pm I use my iphone for helping with my build. Whilst an ipad would be better for veiwing things in more I find the fact that I always have my iphone on me and it is a little more portable it is great. So far I have used the following features on my iphone. I have all of the documentation stored in files lite including: = plans = contract = specifications = invoices = receipts = selection documentation I will be adding the guide to standards and tolerances onto this list I have the following photos on the phone: = display home photos for comparison with what they are doing = I take progress photos on the iphone and I sometimes transfer other photos onto it = I will also be putting photos of things that I have noticed as errors on to my phone to discuss with the ss I have kept important emails on the phone. I have tried to use the spirit level application to check if walls are straight but a real spirit level is much more reliable. I use Blogpress to update my blog from my iphone I look at homeone from iphone Another thing you could do if you were ** or paranoid is record conversations with your iphone. View our blog at: http://room4acubby.blogspot.com/ Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 11Mar 10, 2011 7:21 pm Just another reason to add to why I want a tablet PC (Want to avoid the iPad if I can - I think they're too restrictive with the other stuff I do. Gotta be windows or Android based) Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 13Mar 10, 2011 7:53 pm I had our contract, building plans, elictricals, estate guidelines and all our selections on my iPhone and then iPad from September, it has made all the organization easier. Backup with iTunes and everything on both devices. Even better next month when the iPhone will be able to be used as a wifi device so I can connect to nternet with iPad through the iPhone so less needs to be stored in iBooks I also emailed everything to myself and downloaded in iPad emails ( without deleting from the server) and never deleted the build related emails Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 14Mar 10, 2011 7:59 pm Haven't tried one out myself so I couldn't say - but I've been dying to.. Family Website(Power Tools): http://www.gettoolsdirect.com.au Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 15Mar 10, 2011 8:15 pm Fernyhouse Even better next month when the iPhone will be able to be used as a wifi device so I can connect to nternet with iPad through the iPhone so less needs to be stored in iBooks Hi Check iTunes - 4.3 came out today! Paul Re: Using an Ipad during the Build 18Mar 11, 2011 12:02 pm You can use it as a surreptitious VOICE RECORDER when conversing with the builder, and use it against them later on when they start denying everything you've talked about verbally. I love dropbox (online storage). All my gadgets, pcs and craptops are synched up to a central location, so I'd never lose any personal data. Even if the house burns down, or hard drive dies, I could still have access to all my data. I never store personal data on disk. Always on the private cloud. Hey I just purchased an apple ipad to use on site. If you are using an ipad on site, I was wondering what you all are using for construction related apps to make site… 0 1606 Can you give advice on how to get missing certificates needed for a form 21? Our bank requires us to provide one but we are missing 4 building certificates from our first… 3 71737 i would suggest nothing is unreasonable for PCI. we did all sorts, including checking the hot water, checking all the GPO's had power, testing that the showers were… 9 98548 |