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Tablet handle or strap?

Joe Engel

Joe Engel

Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
59
Location
MIssissippi, NW
Started in a new AHJ last week. They use Ipads for inspection and documentation; I'm afraid of dropping it while performing an inspection. Fire inspector screen is already cracked. New boss is tight with his new budget so I need to choose wisely. Does anyone have a recommendation or review to offer?
 
Either way ....plan on dropping it. There are cases for that like otterbox. Costly and turn a nice, light iPad into a piece of luggage.
 
We have outter boxes, it came with a handle and strap. No matter what you choose, no matter how careful you are, you will drop the iPad at some point! Costly but it will save it from inevitable issues.

I started off using the strap. It's nice because you throw it over your should/neck and it here's never a chance of it leaving your side. Downside, when your going down ladders or rooftop hatches it has a tendency to catch and if your deal with crawl spaces its a PITA to have it dangling. It's not like a lanyard ID that you can tuck into your shirt.

Switched to the handle and have remained with it for 2 years now, still not pleasant going up and down ladders or crawl spaces but for me it just feels better. I rotate the IPad to the backside of my hand when going up and down a ladder. I try to remain as minimal as possible, there's plenty of times I leave the IPad locked in the car cause I just don't want to deal with it
 
use the handle, it is easier to use as a weapon....... never was keen on using electronics in the field, cumbersome, ties up hands, make sit difficult to carry other items needed for inspection - flashlight, measuring tape, etc. - usually ended up setting it down somewhere and having to go back to get it because of needing to hands to measure something or other. I found a cell phone to be the best for use, it fits in a pocket, easily used, and i usually took pictures with the phone, e-mailed them to myself, then opened and saved photos when I got back tot he car/truck to be able to enter inspection notes on the IPAD........... I would recommend a decent phone that can handle your software instead of a bulky tablet.

Just my $0.02 worth
 
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