Palm/Visor

[David Saulque]

Any out in our wonderful land use a Palm or Handspring? Thinking about buying a Visor/color-Any suggestions are welcome and needed.

Thanks

David

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[Dan S]

what the heck is that?????????????????????????

 

[Scott Stone]

I use one, in fact there is an article posted that I wrote for cleaner times in the articles section. It is great and saves me a ton of time on billing. Since I do fleets I can enter all of the information in the palm pilot, download in onto my computer, and cut and copy to quick books. I also always have all of my customers listed on it, Notes on any conversations that I have had with them, as well as contacts for future customers with their concerns and needs listed out. And for the fw times when I sit and watch because there is not enough work for three, I have games to keep my name occupied and a to do list to review. There is also a program to track vehicle maintenance records. They are really cool and save quite a bit of time. One day I might by one for the crews that work for me.

The downside is that you have ot exercise a little caution. Don't sit on it, don't throw it into your truck, etc. The glass will break and you are out of look. I would also advise that you spend the money on the screen protectors. They save them a ton more than I would have expected before I bought them. Let me know if you have any questions.


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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why
Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

 

[David Saulque]

Thanks Scott-I use Easy Route for billing, along with key customer info.within the program. What I need this device for, is a phone listing-to do list along- with a contact manager. People who have them-love them. I like the Handspring, because I can add a selected module program GPX-digital camera and so on.

David

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[Craig Knight]

David,

After reading Scotts article, which was very informative, i decided to look into it. After lots of looking around i chose an HP Jornada PocketPC. Its a minature version of a laptop, same size as a palm. I chose the pocketpc for several reasons. First off it is a windows based computer. It syncronizes with your windows based programs on your PC in office. Uses Outlook 2000 for contact, scheduling and email.

I decided to begin taking credit cards so the pocketpc is perfect since it has wireless modem capabilities and full internet browser. Set up webpage with merchant account to be able to log into website from pocketpc and run credit cards from jobsite.

Has excel, word, and ability to load windows ce based programs. Expansion slot for more storage space and all the extras.

Like Scott said, they are very fragile so i decided to get the 3 year warranty that protects against everything. Even if you drop it from a two story window and it smashes the screen, just take it back and it is replaced free of charge. Scott is also correct about the screen protectors. I didnt use them and the screen got scratched alot from the stylus and i took it back and they replaced it. Just bring the new one home, plug it into the cradle and it sycronizes with the big pc and bam, your all loaded back up, nothing lost.

It is a very useful tool and i suggest everyone get one or a palm if you dont need all the other jazz that i needed. Pretty expensive to by the pocketpc over the palm, and if you dont need internet and windows based programs, its not worth it.

Craig

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Craig Knight
www.powerwashunlimited.com

 

[Mike Hughes]

Craig,

I have a Pocket PC also.........don't u just love it? I second you on the screen protectors........well worth it!

How is your usage of it as a credit card terminal going..........what software are you using for that.......and what phone.....a data capable cell phone? Does the bank charge you a lesser discount rate, as if the card is swiped? or are you still paying the rate for typed in transactions?

Mike

 

[Dan Flynn]

I think it sounds like a great idea. But I have in the past messed with them in the store and have not have much luck. I like the idea of entering information on the road. But that didn't seem very easy to do. I also like the fact of having information at your finger tips. However if they easiest way to get info on it is through the office pc, not sure if I like that.



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Dan Flynn
Timberland Power Wash
www.powerwash.net
Houston, Texas.

 

[Craig Knight]

Mike,

*How is your usage of it as a credit card terminal going*......Waited till Jan 1 to start accepting the cards so i could get a true year of usage to find out whether it is going to be worth it or not. Takes 2 minutes to log on to internet and run the card

*....what software are you using for that*...The software is installed to website, you just use the pocketpc to log onto the internet, into the website, and punch in the info.

*....and what phone*...Have a pocketpc compactflash modem for land line access and

*..a data capable cell phone?* Have a startac cell phone that i connect to the pocketpc with a Socket Digital Phone Card for wireless internet.

Does the bank charge you a lesser discount rate, as if the card is swiped?* Yes, using the internet based system, it dropped to 2.25% and 25 cents per transaction. Plus you get full internet access to your transfers and all that jazz 24/7 If the internet is down and i have to call in and do it over the phone, its 2.95% and 65 cents a transaction

A wireless credit card machine costs way more than the pocketpc i bought and the socket digital card and landline modem, so i thought that was the way to go, even though its a little slower.

But i have found out, that if people know you take credit cards, they will pay with credit card, or check card, before writing a check. Both customers that i told i assume was going to write a check, and decided when they heard, to use a check card. So what that did was cost me 2.25%. I do know that on one of the customers, they would not have gotten their driveway done in addition to their house, if they couldn't have used a credit card. So i guess i just have to accept, i may lose a bunch of 2.25% this year, but will pick up a lot of business since they are using plastic instead of actual money.

Craig



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Craig Knight
www.powerwashunlimited.com

 

[Mike Hughes]

Craig,

That has been one of the reasons I have not accepted credit cards to date........the fact that some people would just pay by card out of convenience, and therefore cost me money (2.whatever percent).

About using the Pocket PC for the cards....it seems like a neat idea, but a waste of time and money. Instead of buying the modem and waiting for it to dial up, and the associated phone charges........you can just take down their credit card number and take it home and enter it......won't cost you any more money on the discount rate, and would save you time on the jobsite.

I have been thinking about using Quickbooks Merchant Account Service.......you run it right through your Quickbooks software (I think you use that already, don't you?) Their discount rate is 2.30% and .10 cents per transaction. Check out the rates at http://merchantaccount.quickbooks.com/mas2001ficompare.htm and more info at http://www.quickbooks.com/customers_sales/merchant/


I know some people out there have better rates.....but I like the idea of not having any extra equipment. I love my pocket PC......but, I don't think its worth the aggravation of dialing it up every time to process a credit card.......my opinion.

Good luck with it, and keep us posted on how accepting credit cards goes in 2001. I might do it too......then we can both be guinea pigs!



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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Mike Hughes]

Dan,

It's not too bad getting info into them.....as long as it's not a whole lot.......I wouldn't want to write an article on one or something like that....

There are several ways to enter info......one is a little keyboard on the screen (see pic) I have gotten pretty good with this, and it is my favorite method. The other is a character recognizer.....I could never quite get the hang of that.....or, you can just scribble on the screen.......works good for quick notes to yourself. Also, it has a voice recorder, so you can just speak what's on your mind and add the voice file to any calendar message, or note, etc. Synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook on my home pc......very convenient.


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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Craig Knight]

Mike,

2 things, first off, and most important, if you take the credit card number to the office, and run it, your setting yourself up for a whole can of worms. Whatcha going to do when they said you charged something that you were not authorized to charge. If it goes all wrong, felony. Also, when you process it on location, you get the approval code, and the assurance that the credit card is good. Also, if your anything like me, i would lose one out of 5. So unorganized.

2nd, which looks more professional? Processing on location, and supplying authorization code on receipt. Or saying, give me your credit card number and i will get back with you later. I would certainly not do that.

About the 2.25%. I just charge that 2.25% before ever giving the total and tell them they get the discount if they pay cash/check.

Craig

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Craig Knight
www.powerwashunlimited.com

 

[Mike Hughes]

Originally posted by Craig Knight:
[B

About the 2.25%. I just charge that 2.25% before ever giving the total and tell them they get the discount if they pay cash/check.

Craig

[/B]

Craig........good idea. I might just stay away from credit cards altogether.......I have been doing just fine so far without..........only about ten times in three years has anyone asked...... But, I know there are probably hidden benefits......and that is why I am considering it.


I checked out Socketcom.com to look into hooking my cell phone to the Pocket PC.........well......my phone is not supported yet.......it said "Pending"......so, we'll see how long that takes. I have a Nextel phone (i1000 plus).


Take care, and best of luck in 2001 !

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Craig Knight]

Mike,

Yeah i know...The cell phones that are compatable sofar are just a few. Mine was pending also, so i just went and swapped out phones. Didn't cost me anything since i had mine for a while and i talk so much. But then again, i am gte or verison or whatever they are this week, and not nextel.

I wasn't having too many folks ask either about credit cards, just did some research and found that it was worth a shot. People spend a lot more (approximately 40% more) with credit cards than with cash. Stuff like that. I don't know. Figured if all else failed, would set us apart from the rest of the circus, since we are the only ones that do. Got it in the yellow pages that we accept them, may help, may not. Just 25 bucks a month if noone uses it.

Craig

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Craig Knight
www.powerwashunlimited.com

 

[David Saulque]

Just pick up my Handspring Prism Color. It takes a few hours to get the swing of system. I like other have a hard time with the Graffiti writing option. I like the small key pad. Thanks guys for the information.

David

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[Scott Stone]

Practice the writing and you wil get the hang of it and it wil be fast. I have a game, ( I have a lot of games!) that you can put on it for the Palm OS that will help you learn the graffiti sytem. If you want me to e-mail you a copy of it let me know.


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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why
Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

 

[David Saulque]

Scott

Thanks-I think that I have those games-I will set down and work with it-It just seems to be a unnatural way of writing, one single line.

Thanks

David

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