[Whipped99]

Probably wont get many if any responses to this, but just wondering if any forum members are using the PB for field service work. I'm in the biomedical industry. I find the PB works great for all of our email and excel/pdf attacments. Online intranet portals for service reports, training, travel, and Oracle functions all work great and the ability to upload files within the browser is priceless. The only thing it cant really do well at the moment is convert excel to pdf forms. We currently use an excel spreadsheet that has a pdf conversion macro embedded into the file. This only works on Windows and not very well. Were considering using canvas.com to complete our forms and output pdf using their servers. I'm trying to hold out for a 3rd party app that will do this. Or try to create an custom Air form app with some help.

Anyone else have any feedback from the field?

[Max_Powers]

I use mine for work quite a bit. I'm a construction superintendent and every drawing we get is sent in PDF. I loaded the entire structures drawings into the PB, and when bridged i receive and review about a dozen new PDF files a day.

I also use Word To Go a lot during my travels, and Bridge has been a lifesaver(no more forwarding my emails to a windows machine to access PDF or Office files).

Max

[Foreverup]

Using it right now I travel internationally to inspect parts to drawings and technical standards and quality programs so i get a nice mixture of pdf, word, excel files that I use.

Word and excel work great one plus would be to have a viewing only option because most of the file i use i don't edit.

Acrobat well I can pdfs pretty much the only nice thing i can say about it.

[santi29402]

I use it also, I work in the rail transportation business and always use it to view pdf's of the projects Im in charge of. but as I mentioned in another post, it would be great if i could edit the pdf's, lets say with an application like Skit then go back to the office hand the file to my Draftsperson and have him implement any changes.

[the.ak.hermit]

i will be using the Playbook to view pdf files with service information, wiring diagrams, parts manuals and the like. I will also use it to view drawings at construction sites.

[narci]

Rim should use some of you guys in a commercial demostrating the use of the PB in a business environment.

[jesse_h]

I'm in the automotive service equipment industry, i'm always in my truck at different service centres. I can access all my PDFs, price lists, reports, etc, from my PB. Just last week from the parking lot of a clients shop i downloaded a parts breakdown PDF, identified all the parts i needed, went to a website of a distributor and got all the prices, all using internet tethering. Normally this would require a trip to the office to use my computer and a phone call or email back to the client when i finally got the prices together.

That's just one example. This is a real time saver for me, since my primary office is my truck.

[anon(1482580)]

I'm responsible for managing hundreds of web servers when I'm at work, so as soon as I have an SSH client and a Jabber client (we use this for employees on shift) I'll be able to work on my playbook as well. Right now I'm limited to our web-based support system if I'm mobile, which isn't enough for me to be able to do everything my job requires.

[I am JT]

Yep. Use it daily for email, research and viewing/editing documents. I have used Adobe connect to participate in meetings freeing my laptop up for other work. Using it to review and preview presentations as well. When I have to move around the office I can take it places where it's not practical to take my laptop.

[bquinney]

I'm in the Forensic and Geotechnical Engineering business and use my PB to communicate with project managers and PE's in the field doing inspections on their iPads, so I receive and send PDFs and email on a regular basis of various drawings. I do need an editor where I can edit PDFs from my PB, like santi29402. I have my PM's email me the files from the field and I'm able to quickly make any changes to field data and have the graphics/exhibits ready for them in a much quicker time frame. I also use it to log onto our timesheet program for time tracking.

That aside, I also use it to remote into a client's server to troubleshoot and process updates and do regular maintenance. I'm looking to make further use of it from future programs and updates as well.

[gcrider900]

I'm a manufacturer's sales rep and I work in retail stores. I bought my PB to try and go paperless for my regular reports I need to use with clients - about 30 - 40 pages/week. I also want to use our company's B-to-B site to help clients write orders while we walk their stores, but our site doesn't play well with the PB's browser. Maybe an O/S upgrade that upgrades the browser will help.

[OniBerry]

As an SLS Manager I use my PB from the moment I hit my office to the minute I goto bed. email, usually accessing our 'Gorporate' site, troubleshooting our ACMS, audits, tracking, CCTV viewing, PDF, receiving auto updates on the status of our Life Safety systems; BAS Alarms/Supervisory alarms/troubles/etc...
It's awesome, I don't have to carry my laptop and I am not tied to my office for 8-10 hours

[jvictor77]

Someone should tie this thread to the one by the guy who's bored with his playbook! Well done guys - perfect promo for the professional grade tablet!

[latingeo]

Would love to use it for work, just need PB and OmniForm to make it work for my police department

[123berryaddicted]

im in the construction industry and use it every day for pdf blueprints, pdf invoice reviews, spread sheets, etc. works great. i love the tether option - telus 3G is plenty fast for most webpages. just need silverlight now and my work experience with the playbook will be complete.

[bryanhayn]

I proctor exams for a living. I wifi tether my iPhone to my PB to browse the web and watch online videos when I'm supposed to be monitoring the testers. I would love if the PB had a remote desktop app that allowed me to connect to a Windows work computer to edit a few spreadsheets everyday.

[Whipped99]

Someone should tie this thread to the one by the guy who's bored with his playbook! Well done guys - perfect promo for the professional grade tablet!

I agree... I didn't buy the PlayBook for entertainment. Honestly haven't had much time for any entertainment lately except for maybe some tunes and a few minutes reading/posting in the forum. I probably would've bought an iPad2 or the new HTC Flyer if entertainment was my main intent. I bought the PB hoping it would somehow fill the gap between my near worthless work laptop and my BB phone. For the most part is has filled in nicely. Bridge seems to work well with my work BB Curve but with some occasional glitches. I'm trying to pilot the BB for future adoption into our company if all goes well, and I think in time the PB could be a near laptop replacement for OUR needs. Definitely above and beyond any other tablets currently available and on the horizon including Windows tabs.

Thanks all for sharing your uses and future hopes and expectations! If anyone knows how to make a fairly simple form app let me know, that's really all that's keeping me from completely ditching the laptop. I'll buy ya a few beers...

[mladeniki]

Yah definitely, although a fairly obvious application, I'm a designer who uses it to show clients work when I need to meet them out of the office. I was using an iPad but it wasn't the best solution as we do create some flash based content (and obviously the iPad was not supporting it).

So i've been happy with the playbook thus far. The only drawback for me personally is the smaller screen size, for a designer a larger screen is always more beneficial

[thpsrulr]

If/when the PB gets remote desktop and a citrix app this thing will rock for business!

EDIT: To be fair I know it wont be a matter of "if" just a matter of when it will eventually happen.

[blank420]

i use it on the road all the time. I'm a security systems specialist. I use for drawings and accessing tech support files, downloads etc. I cant access cameras at this time. Most of them require activex. I can't find a work around yet.

[snowman83]

great for at the office, i love it set it beside my computer review emails, pdf drawings and internal office bbm works wonders. we all bring them to board meetings running our presentation mode. great for reviewing drawings on the floor and sharing info

[Foreverup]

I use it also, I work in the rail transportation business and always use it to view pdf's of the projects Im in charge of. but as I mentioned in another post, it would be great if i could edit the pdf's, lets say with an application like Skit then go back to the office hand the file to my Draftsperson and have him implement any changes.

Really funny is I probably inspect the product you look at if you work a class 1 or some short lines and inspect the cars.

Skit is the best note taking app you are going to find but again acrobat reader is amazing lacking with any support i think i wold find from a native app

[drethos]

plumbing here i use it as a product catalog, price keeper (excel), inventory (excel), daily email, product lookup when in wifi, and i keep finding new things. its a good thing i got the otter box i scratched the shield after carrying a bunch of merchandise. i was nerviouse i damaged it but i poped the case open and it was fine.

[dkingsf]

I'm in the Forensic and Geotechnical Engineering business and use my PB to communicate with project managers and PE's in the field doing inspections on their iPads, so I receive and send PDFs and email on a regular basis of various drawings. I do need an editor where I can edit PDFs from my PB, like santi29402. I have my PM's email me the files from the field and I'm able to quickly make any changes to field data and have the graphics/exhibits ready for them in a much quicker time frame. I also use it to log onto our timesheet program for time tracking.

That aside, I also use it to remote into a client's server to troubleshoot and process updates and do regular maintenance. I'm looking to make further use of it from future programs and updates as well.

What remote access do you use for this?

[Mark PPG]

I have dreams of using this for my employees...

I own an electrical contracting company that does service work. I love using my PB for work, but am really looking for software to do work orders/dispatching.

If any of you know of anything i can check out, please let me know.