PrintPrintEmailEmail

How to Choose Field Laptops

March 31, 2000

Field laptops must perform different functions than their office counterparts. Not only are the computers exposed to jobsite dust, but they also may sustain bumps and bruises along the way, too. Matt Plaskoff, owner of Matt Plaskoff Construction, describes what he looks for in field computers.

 

  • Buy brand names. Plaskoff has used off-brand computers and concedes that some are good. Yet less expensive models often lack support, which is critical to field machines that take a lot of abuse.

    •  

  • Select a screen carefully. Conditions in the field are never optimal. It could be cloudy one minute and sunny the next. Information on screen needs to be visible under a variety of conditions. In addition, several people may need to view information at one time, which necessitates a screen that can be viewed from any angle.

    •  

  • The need for speed. The speed of your laptop depends entirely on the software programs you’re running in the field.

    •  

  • Memory, forget about it. Now that more remodelers are storing important job information on the Internet, the company’s Intranet, or backing up on tape, less memory is required.

    •  

  • Make sure there’s a modem. An internal modem that can connect via cell phone is a necessary feature, especially if your company works off the Internet or an Intranet. Many worksites don’t have landlines available, and you never know when you’ll need to dial in.
    •  
     

    More like this

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Survey says “give us crown moldings”

    The 2012 NAHB study “What Home Buyers Really Want” shows a decided preference for crown moldings. Sixty-two percent of respondents rated crown moldings the third most...

    Read More
    Get more out of less space

    Seattle architect Ross Chapin knows all about designing smaller, smarter homes. Chapin, principal of Ross Chapin Architects, Langley, Wash., has long been a proponent of...

    Read More
    Foreclosures up in states where court approval is required

    In Florida, one of the states hardest hit by foreclosures, scheduled foreclosure auctions were up 55 percent in April versus a year ago. In New Jersey, they increased 91...

    Read More


     

    See all videos

    Search Our Buyer's Guide

    Reference Library

    Professional Remodeler's 2013 Market Leaders

    Professional Remodeler’s annual Market Leaders list, which identifies the top...

    Using the kitchen as a social space is just one of Professional Remodeler's Top
    15 design trends for kitchens & baths

    With demand for custom design, remodeling, and renovations at its highest level since 2005, ...

    A 78-inch long, 36-inch high island outfitted with granite countertop and built-
    Project Spotlight: Kitchen countered

    Normandy Remodeling converts confined kitchen into sprawling galley.

    5 bathroom design trends for 2013

    Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys its members to identify the latest...

    6 kitchen design trends for 2013

    Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association surveys its members to identify the latest...

    More >