Dan,
I used a hackberry from 2003 to 2007 for phone calls, voicemail messages from
worldwide time zones, emails w/o attachments and lots of typos, PV system
problem alarms, and occasional internet use (like booking a flight on line
while standing in line at the airport, finding phone numbers, etc.). We planned
to use hackberries for roof-to-office transfer of site photos, short movies,
and other info to speed up estimates but that never happened. We went almost
everywhere with our hackberries to the point where most of us felt phantom hip
vibrations when not packin' the darn thing. Now I am back to using a cell
phone, separate camera, and handwritten field notes. When designing and quoting
PV systems to last for decades, speed in the field is less important than time
to think (like during the drive back to the shop and overnight). I am
interested in hearing otherwise from hackberry devotees.
Joel Davidson
----- Original Message -----
From: cvsol...@aol.com
To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 11:14 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Is a Smart Phone a Useful Tool in PV?
Hey Everybody;
I'm trying to justify switching to smart phone technology. (BlackBerry
Curve.) My Immediate supervisor just gets this "I don't know Dan" look on her
face. Others question the need for that level of communication in the field.
Good point. But I can kinda rationalize the argument both ways. What can I
reasonably expect to get out of this thing for the $$? (that I can't do with a
phone). Is there a "killer app"? The GPS stuff looks cool. The calendar --
maybe. A contact manager? I pretty much work out of a Hand book/scheduler now.
and doing OK with it. (Whole lot easier to make corrections with an eraser --
shoot, I can hardly even see that little key pad -- Yes, I should get new
glasses) I can see where the ability to exchange files could be helpful.
I guess I'm just a bit gun shy maybe. I remember "Back in the day," when
personal computers were making their grand debut, I was seeing so much "stuff"
coming and going (Remember FORTRAN, COBOL and BASIC? or the 6502?) So I decided
to study Assembly, but looking back, even that degree was pretty much obsolete
the day I stepped off the stage. Let's just say I'm a bit apprehensive.
Anyway, I thought this might be a good forum to turn to for insight. thanks
db
Dan Brown
President
Foxfire Energy Corp.
Renewable Energy Systems
(802)-483-2564
www.Foxfire-Energy.com
NABCEP #092907-44
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