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563

First, I'm not tech illiterate but I am an old head who has difficulty sorting through all of the crap online to find the answers I need. I'm hoping someone here has experience in what I'm looking for. Background: I have an electrical service company. I need to be able to build an estimate in front of the customer and have the capability to print the estimate as a contract for them. I have an app that I'm currently using and need to run android for it. Question: what is a good tablet and mobile printer setup that won't break the bank while providing good functionality? Price is a factor, and my previous experience with tablets was the click and wait because of a lack of processing power.

Thanks to all who respond.

First, I'm not tech illiterate but I am an old head who has difficulty sorting through all of the crap online to find the answers I need. I'm hoping someone here has experience in what I'm looking for. Background: I have an electrical service company. I need to be able to build an estimate in front of the customer and have the capability to print the estimate as a contract for them. I have an app that I'm currently using and need to run android for it. Question: what is a good tablet and mobile printer setup that won't break the bank while providing good functionality? Price is a factor, and my previous experience with tablets was the click and wait because of a lack of processing power. Thanks to all who respond.

(post is archived)

[–] • 3 pts

Might need like a Zebra brand touch computer. they also have mobile printers. but I think they are on the higher end of the price range.

[–] • 1 pt

Never heard of them, ill check it out.

[–] • 2 pts

Zebra makes the handhelds that companies like Target and Walmart use. They have other solutions though.

[–] • 2 pts

I have no comment as far as printing goes.

If you want a tablet with some power then it's going to be pricey. The cheap tablets are not going to have a fast enough processor or enough memory. And don't even think about getting a tablet directly from China, it's a bad idea period.

Samsung makes good, high end, Android tablets.

[–] • 0 pt

Are they the same level as an iPad compared to an average tablet?

[–] • 1 pt

Samsung tablets are up there with iPads and the Surface. Again you're paying for features and build quality.

[–] • 0 pt

Processing power is the only feature im concerned with. I hope I don't have to pay for all of the other features just to get the one I need.

[–] • 2 pts (edited )

I am a service field tech doing mostly point of sale equipment. Anything we have to print. We use adobe pdf app on android to edit and get signatures then email them.

I use my cell a Samsung Galaxy 10. My boss uses a windows touch screen laptop.

He does the same with the windoz box. All in pdf.

[–] • 3 pts

That's a good idea. Keeps it simple and on one device

[–] • 1 pt

Fuck printing, email that shit

[–] • 3 pts

Fuck you, that eliminates half of the customer base.

[–] • 0 pt

They can't wait a few minutes? Fuck them, fuck you, fuck Christmas, and fuck this gay Earth.

[–] • 3 pts

There are tons of people who don't have email. Or are uncomfortable handling business that way. Old people with money make up a good chunk of my customer base.

[–] • 1 pt

Steer clear of microsoft surface pro; i'm on my third work pc of this make and they're absolute crap durability-wize. All three got bulging batteries after daily usage within a year or two.

My advice would be to buy anything price-conscious, as any device gets obsoleted somehow in a all to near future after purchase..

[–] • 1 pt

No worries there. I won't touch anything windows unless i have to. And I definitely will not deal with apple.

[–] • 0 pt

Galaxy Tab Active 2 or 3 maybe

[–] • 0 pt

We use galaxy tab a7's at work. They seem pretty good but all they use them for is hit a few websites, so they aren't driving them really hard. They're really inexpensive too.

[–] • 0 pt

That's an idea. Time to research deeper

[–] • 0 pt

Anything that runs android, convert the cost estimate to pdf, then print it out on whatever printer you want in your work van/truck.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

I would go for a middle range Samsung or HP tablet because they are both multimillion companies that do their research before releasing products with their label on and have a lot to lose in marketing damages from one of their products not performing as expected. As for the printer, I would try to get the same printer brand as the tablet because normally they test it with their own hardware and the ecosystem and user interface will be more familiar.

I have a powerful computer and I still have to wait a few seconds for printing, I think it has to do with the wireless and not the lack of processing power. I read many reviews online and the Samsung Galaxy Tab always gets top marks, I can´t comment too much about HP other than my computer works very well with them.

[–] • 0 pt

Everyone is pointing me in the direction of a Samsung tablet. I'm going to go with what seems to be the consensus.

[–] • 0 pt

Lenovo has some new tablets coming out that I think I read were going to be pretty powerful and inexpensive. I was going to look more into them to double check on it when they come out as I have been looking for a new tablet myself.

[–] • 0 pt

I don't know why you got a down vote. Maybe someone does like Lenovo. I've used them before and if their price is right I would again.