Home Forums iPad (other tablets) vs In-room PC

Loved it!!

Roger those white things w/ my last name on it are text books.
I have an anatomy book in each room and reference them all the time to demonstrate to patients what their problem is (when applicable). I also have a color atlas of dermatology book in each room to show patients classic examples of certain derm conditions (when applicable). It's nice to show the worst of the worst case scenario so I can say to the patient "see, your little rash could be WAY worse (so stop griping to me about it, hahaha)"

So that's what a book looks like!

Haha Roger. You probably went to medical school when everything was printed on scrolls, but there is a relatively new invention called "the book." I hate to stress you out or add confusion but there now exists an even newer version of "the book." It is an electronic tablet device into which hundreds or thousands of books are stored electronically called "the Kindle." There are no physical pages to turn such as that hilarious video portrayed, but rather virtual pages. It's very tricky little device. Perhaps you may want to just stick with scrolls since they are time proven and you are more familiar with them.

Obviously this whole this is just kidding around. Adam

I have recently started using my iPad in the exam rooms and it is superior to laptops, in my opinion. I use a remote access program to my "main computer" as well as a wireless bluetooth keyboard and it works like a charm. Then, if I get called out of the room for some reason, I can hit the close-screen button on the iPad, go to my office (where the main computer is) and deal with another doctor who is calling me or whatever. Then, when I return to the exam room, I merely hit the home key, put in my code and pick up where I left off. I have not gotten locked up once nor has there been any issue whatsoever.

Adam, LOL,
now ROF,


gasping and choking . . . .

I am really interested in your use of an iPad/Dragon/AC/LogMein... This is one of the scenarios I could envision using in our office.

Can you elaborate a bit on what you actually enter in the iPad when you are in the room? Do you dictate the entire note after the visit? What do you mean by "right-click info"

Thanks!
Melanie

Thank you for only positive thing I have read about Ipad use and AC.
I want to take the leap to AC, but I don't dare until I can figure out what hardware to use.
I do Urgent Care and am constantly on the move, so are my MA's.
I need a tablet (of some kind) that can move with me/us.
AC is not helpful in saying what models work best.
I don't want to hear more of the constant mantra about hardwired laptops in room.
Wireless is the future (and the present).
The laptop/hardwired mantra (and nothing else will do) is old fashioned thinking (and rather closed minded, in my opinion).
If AC will not work well with tablets, it's not the program I thought it was (or the one I am looking for).
AC should be working on making tablet use easier. It is certainly the future.
Kids and patients can't keep their hands off laptops if I am not in the room (I don't trust them). Laptops will not work with my practice.
I am considering an Ipad3, but Ipads are constantly trashed in these posts.
Do you use a wireless keyboard?
Thanks,
Ken

Hi Ken,

We have been using wireless laptops for the past 6 1/2 years, since AC v2. I have not looked into tablets, no need to.

Overall they have done very very well, speed is a little slower than hardwired desktops, but not much of a difference.

Laptops are nice for viewing xray images, usually online but they also work if the patient brought a CD in.

Gene

Ken,
I had to laugh when I read your post as I am sitting in my office waiting for a call back from IT on configuring my iPad to connect to AC via VPN in my office so I can carry it from room to room. I agree with you that the iPad form factor is the future. (This is where the others groan, or feel compelled to chime in about their PC wonderslates, etc). I've been using the iPad from home using "Jump" app to access AC with no problems at all, so theoretically it shouldn't be a problem. Seems dumb to have to use the internet to connect to a computer in the next room, but such is the PC/MAC war. (Quiet down back there, I know all about Bootcamp, Parallels, VM Fusion. I'm talking iPads and iOS5 here... Sheesh!) The light weight, 10 hr battery life and apps make the iPad unique. Check out the Muscle System Pro III and the Skeleton System Pro III apps to get an idea of the kind of patient teaching opportunities the iPad provides.
I know there are lurkers out there using iPads. I PM'd last year with a doc whose whole office was AC running on Macs. Any iPadders want to chime in and help us out? Slaters, be nice...
Dave
FP

I am not an iPadder, but it seems like you could have an icon where a patient presses it and it auto-signs consent for immunizations, consent to treatment, etc.

Why would you need to VPN in your own office? VPNs are to make it seems like you're on the LAN when you're in a remote location. You're already on the LAN with WiFi. You're probably trying to access AC using your external IP when you need to use your internal IP.

Anyways, you should be able to use that Jump App locally. You just need to change the IP Address to your workstation's IP address. Usually 192.168.X.X or the Net Bios name (e.g. DAVESERVER).

iPads are far from my future lol.

That's what she said.

I've used tablets and labtops for the past 4 years. I carry it from room to room, and recharge whenever I find myself at the desk, or keep a power cord in each room in case of need.
I've noticed no great issue with the speed of the wireless connection to the server. Works fine. Initially I had used just the tablet, for signing forms etc on the screen, but after creating a transparent-background stamp the need for that writing function was much less. Now just use the pen for drawing diagrams for pt education. Recently have been using a labtop... has a slightly larger screen and internal DVD drive, etc.

RE: iPad... the biggest obstacle I face is the lack of a mouse. I LogMeIn to my PC, and I have a Bluetooth keyboard, but having to touch the screen to move the cursor makes it hard to work with, too much jumping back and forth... and typing on the screen's keyboard is just (for me) too slow. I guess if Dragon worked on it, might be ideal.

Was this a joke? Or is that what you're IT person told you?

The typing on the screen really annoys me. I love an old fashioned mechanical keyboard, and I can move mouse much master than I touch the screen as well. Big screens are always nice. Easy to read, lots of working space. If you're attaching a charger, keyboard, and mouse to a laptop, just get a desktop ha.

I have tried several different tablets.
Finally settled on the Lenovo X200 or X220 tablets -- have one of each, and they seem to work about equally.

I take notes in the room by handwriting on the tablet (I just can't sit and type while I am looking at a patient),but it quickly changes to the keyboard if I need more accurate input.

Wireless of course -- I find it quite stable and not any slower than the wired workstations in the front office.

Yes. What you said is what she said.

And yes, I do watch The Office.

Dave

Those are some nice tablets. If I had to use one, it would be the X220T. Lenovo ThinkPads are my favorite.

Lenovo anything is my favorite.

why don't you like lenovo?
They are sort of ugly, but otherwise almost foolproof. I bought a number of them on e-bay, and they almost all worked perfectly.
I bought my daughter an expensive Dell laptop, and it was a disaster.

A more clinical question--
Is there a "disease registry" function in the AC system?
Is there any way to query the database except through AC? Is it possible to design custom reports?

Tom who are you referencing? Can you use quotes?

Bert--

well, it was sort of a generic question. "Bert" said, "Lenovo anything is my favorite", and I read that wrong as "Lenovo is anything but my favorite."

I wondered what was wrong with Lenovo, since I have had such good luck, and since Sandeep seems to favor Dell servers, and I was thinking of going with Lenovo, since I had such great luck with the various laptops I have had.
Now, I see that "Bert" seems to like the Lenovos too! My error.

I like the Motion Computing LE1700 tablet I have, but it has a very short battery life, and I have had problems getting new batteries, since it is an older machine. It also gets uncomfortably hot. I tried their smaller Atom-based tablet, and it is very nice, but also pretty slow -- especially for handwriting recognition, which is why I use a tablet.

So, that is why the Lenovo tablets fit the bill for me -- handwriting in the rooms, then finish the note later with Dragon if it is complex, or quickly with the keyboard if simple. All on the same machine. It doesn't have any problem with multiple windows for logging in to the hospital computer and the internet at the same time, so it works for me.

I guess you like Lenovo, too -- but how about for servers?

Sorry for the confusion.

Tom Duncan

Why is "Bert" in quotes ha?

I have the X220 as well. Lenovo ThinkPads, in my opinion, are some of the greatest laptops around. Aesthetically, I'm not really a fan of the whole unibody design. (Requires dismantling everything for repairs.) Lenovo's look the best to me, and everything about from the design down to the software works so well.

Actually, I tend to recommend building your own server/desktops. I custom build my desktops and servers. Since most people don't want to/think it's too difficult, Dell is a nice alternative. Lenovo servers tend to be much more expensive if you don't know how to install RAM or hard drives. They charge almost $270 for each 4GB RAM stick when it's really $30 per stick. Since people on here think it's too difficult to install RAM, Dell is the next best alternative. Dell Server with E3-1230, 16GB of RAM, RAID 1 1TB, 3 year warranty, separate RAID card costs ~$1700. That same thing with Lenovo is $4000. Is the Lenovo better? Probably. Is it enough to justify more than double price? I don't think so.

For servers, it's Dell.

Anything else, it's Lenovo.

You don't even know they are on especially with an SSD.

I should always be in quotes to signify my importance.

My version is a little different

Bert and Sandeep--

You "both" need to be in quotes, to signify major importance!

Now I am getting close to the answers I need.
I have always built my own desktops -- usually out of cannibalized parts -- and my first AC "server" was one of those, running WinXP. It ran just fine, but I upgraded, and it is better. With Sandeep's blessing, I will tackle a server machine-- self built, probably.
However, I'm not sure you can get Microsoft's Small Business Server unless you buy the whole system, so I might just stick with Win7.

Now I'm looking for something really great.

Which SSD does anyone reccomend? I put a Samsung SSD that I got for a good price into a T61P, and I am astounded by how fast and how quiet it became. There are lots of SSD's out there -- how does anyone go about making a choice?

Crucial M4 SSDs are my favorite as I recommended in the Desktop Recommendation thread. SSDs with the Marvel Controller have proved to be the most reliable. Another good one with the Marvel Controller is the Intel 510 Series. The reason I recommend Crucial over Intel is price. Quality-wise they're about the same. Both have rock solid reviews with Crucial being a little bit higher in terms of user reviews. (My guess is due to the price. Crucial 128GB is $125 while the Intel 120GB is $200).

Here's a good deal for you: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=CT128M4SSD&c=CJ (Coupon Code: TRIBUTE) will bring the total to $110

Or Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-2-5-I..._2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337751961&sr=8-2

I usually go with Amazon because I have free 2 day shipping. (Prime)

Good luck. Message me if you need help. You can buy SBS 2011 from most reputable retailers including Amazon and Newegg. In fact, if you want to get it soon, it may be your lucky day. Newegg is having a memorial day sale with SBS 2011 Essentials. It may be an exclusive deal (that's what the email says, but probably everyone got it). 25% off Essentials $400-$100=$300 for Essentials

OEM SBS 2011 Essentials:
Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416440
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Win...F8&qid=1337752478&sr=1-2-catcorr

Retail SBS 2011 Essentials:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Small-Business-Server-Essentials/dp/B003ZWJNJO

OEM vs Retail.
OEM can't be moved to a new computer unless the previous computer dies and the motherboard can't be replaced. Give MS a call and they'll give you a new key. (Lots of people just lie and say their computer died if they want to migrate. Just sayin')
Retail can be moved between computers. Only one active computer at a time. Good if you plan to virtualize one day or if you are virtualizing. Moving a virtual machine from computer to computer is much easier than moving a physical machine as you don't need the same hardware between machines.

Personally I went with OEM. By the time it comes to get a new server, I'm pretty sure I won't be bringing SBS 2011 with me. And I can't virtualize my faxboard unless I get a second server or use some trickery with Hyper-V (which would've required me to get Server 2008R2 on top).

Determining if an SSD is good depends on what your doing. If you're workload involves transferring large files back and forth. Like photoshop users or video editors whose project files tend to be large. They tend to use a few SSDs or Hard Drives in RAID 0 as a temporary workspace. They look at sequential transfer speeds. These are often the stats you see in advertisements. (500 MB/second read, 500 write). No doubt you want a SATA III/SATA 6.0 GBPS drive. That's a given.

To the average user these sequential transfer speeds are for the most part irrelevant. Most people aren't transferring large files back and forth in an ordered fashion (E.g. large movie files) since SSDs aren't exactly at a good price for storage.

One of the most important stats is random 4K reads as that's what most people are doing. Reading little tiny files scattered around when they use an Operating system/general use. High random 4K Writes and Reads are good for SQL.

The most important is probably reliability. Sandforce drives (OCZ Vertex 3, Intel 520) do perform better in sequential tasks, but they tend to be less reliable. Just look up the reviews Intel 510 (Marvell) vs Intel 520 (SandForce). [Same company, different controllers.] Another good Marvel SSD is the Crucial M4 (my favorite).

I would still get SBS. I can't believe Sandeep didn't quote me on The OCZs. Reads and Writes unbelievably fast, but you won't notice the difference. Avg bootup on 7 computers is 14.3 seconds.

But, I have an Intel sitting on my shelf. I would go with Crucial based on Sandeep's recommendations. Intel is noted to be very good as well. I am having issues with two of my OCZs, and I will never go that way again. Can't wait to try the Intel, but then again when five out seven OCZs smoke, then one of one is difficult to tell. But, Intel does come with its own toolkit.

Sandeep! Someone read your posts!

I'm so excited! Lol.

Crucial M4s are just as fast (maybe faster) with boot up. I'm 7/7 with Crucial. One of them in a fish tank lol.

Maybe, but not with reads/writes.

Actually, since the firmware upgrade, Crucial M4s have surpassed the OCZ Vertex 3's. Looks like OCZ like to inflate their numbers a bit. Also, note my drive has an OS running on it and is filled. The one in the review is empty and not doing anything besides the benchmark.

Vertex 3:


Crucial M4:

That's the thing I like about Crucial, they tend not to inflate their numbers and typically undersell. Like with my Lexar (Crucial) Triton USB 3.0 flash drive 180 MB/s instead of the advertised 150.

Even with the M4, read speeds up to 500 MB/s, but it exceeds it. Writes up to 175, but it exceeds it. OCZ on other hand rarely meets their advertised speeds.

I did actually use an ipad 'looking' at my computer thru logmein for a few days. Gave it up due to following:

--bluetooth keyboard and case (Zagg) was fiddly- always ipad would crash out of it
--with zagg case and keyboard, weight was close to my dell vostro
--seemed silly to have to buy a computer or laptop AND ipad for ea user.

Check out the X220T tablets. If I didn't have dedicated workstations, I'd use those. Then again I can buy 2-3 desktops for every one of those. Why do you guys like logmein over remote desktop? LogMeIn is dependent on the internet while Remote Desktop can be used over the LAN. Much faster and keeps the bandwith free for other things.

I would never use LogMeIn over RDC. That is if you are using XP and above. RDC is now a bit more secure and there is not middleman. Like Sandeep said, you have Internet and Intranet. It is so cool to be in room one and instantaneously be on room 2's desktop.

There other thing with RDC and 2008 is you can have this setup from home, given you can connect via FQDN:

PC-1
PC-2
PC-3
PC-4
PC-5

So you are on your own computer. The RDC icon is on your desktop. You click on it, and you have a dropdown list that allows you to select any computer on your LAN or any LAN you have permissions. Using the Remote Desktop Gateway through the server it allows you to use port 443 (HTTPS) giving full SSL protection. Every once in a while Microsoft gets it right.

Don't get me wrong, LMI is an incredible product especially for free, but it isn't quite RDC.

I use the iPad when on the road and at a remote location with LogMeIn, and it works well... EXCEPT for my biggest issue.... the lack of an external mouse. The bluetooth keyboards do well enough, and I am even not too unhappy with the built in keypad. But, that virtual mouse makes me crazy.