TECH WATCH
Uncommon options
Tech Products for Special Needs
If broad-based technology doesn’t solve your business needs, consider something more specialized.
REPORTED BY MICHAEL ANTONIAK
There are so many ways real estate practitioners can use technology today, it’s tough to keep track of every new development. Usually in this column, I try to focus on the announcements and introductions with the greatest potential benefit for the greatest number of readers.The downside, of course, is that some great new tools with a narrower focus often get overlooked. So this time, I’d like to briefly look at three new products that might not be of value to every salesperson, but may be the perfect solution for some practitioners with special needs.
Mobile Computing Without a PDA
Any discussion of mobile computing is usually limited to notebooks and PDAs, but if you’ve ever tried to enter something larger than a phone number into your Palm, you know that PDAs have their drawbacks. Notebooks, on the other hand, have full-size keyboards and vast memories but are so power hungry, they tie you to battery packs or electrical outlets if you’re out of the office for more than a couple of hours. For appraisers, property managers, and other real estate professionals who enter significant amounts of text while in the field, neither is an ideal solution. If you want the convenience of a desktop computer in a compact package, there is now another option--the QuickPad line of computer peripherals. The QuickPad combines small size with a large keyboard, extensive battery life, and an attractive price.
Of the two models available, the QuickPad Pro ($299) is the best choice for business users. It can run for up to 100 hours on four AA batteries. With its full-size keyboard and 16 line LCD screen, it measures 11 inches by 9 inches by 1-1/2 inch and weighs less than 1.5 pounds. It has 1MB of internal memory, enough for up to 700 pages of text; you can add more memory with Compact Flash expansion cards.
The QuickPad Pro comes loaded with its own software for word processing, spreadsheet, and contact management. Text entered into the unit can later be uploaded to a PC and will retain its formatting in Windows or Macintosh applications. An optional FormEditor application, which lets you build form templates for creating and completing standard reports on the unit, is also available.
Wireless Web Without Disconnects
If you’ve moved to wireless e-mail, you may have already figured out that the signal is less than reliable when you get beyond the city limits. Regular cell phones solve this problem with dual-band sets that automatically switch between digital and analog modes to keep you connected as you move into areas with spotty cellular coverage.
Now CellFlex Technology from Ositech brings that same level of assurance to wireless Web and e-mail access as you roam between cities, towns, and rural areas. All you have to do to stay connected is install a PC card into your laptop or PDA. The card automatically detects whether analog or digital service is available and establishes and maintains the appropriate connection to ensure an uninterrupted flow of e-mail or data.
Ositech offers its CellFlex technology in two packages. The King of Hearts Trumpcard combines a cellular/landline 56K modem PC card with CellFlex for $149. The option requires that the connection be made through a cellular headset. The King of Clubs Trumpcard, for $199, gives you a cellular modem PC card with CellFlex, so you’re totally wireless. The service is available from most major cellular carries and is compatible with most Nokia and Motorola handsets.
And if you’re not sure whether you need the analog option to maintain connectivity in your market area, the company’s Web site features a map showing current analog and digital cellular coverage nationwide.
CD Business Cards Without Hassle
Multimedia presentations that put property listings and personal promotions on CD-ROM “business cards” have been a technology buzzword in recent years, but the concept has generated more talk than actual impact on real estate marketing. Part of the problem is that as cheap as CD-ROMs are to duplicate and distribute, the costs of hiring someone to build a multimedia presentation has kept most real estate practitioners from utilizing the concept.
If you’re keen on the idea of multimedia marketing, but need a more cost-effective solution, take a look at a program called CRE:8 from Presentware. The $200 program guides you through the process of building an interactive multimedia program as well as formatting it for viewing on a CD-ROM compatible with most computers. No knowledge of programming is required to create the presentation. Plus, the program includes a sampling of stock photos, animation, music and background screens you can use to give your presentations more pizzazz. You can also embed links on the CD to your Web site, listings page, or other relevant Web content.
If you’re not sure you want to make the investment or are unsure you can really get the sort of presentation you want, you can download a 30-day trial version of the CRE:8 athttp://www.presentware.com/download.htm. A month of use will give you a good idea if an electronic business card on CD-ROM serves your promotional needs.
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More Resources:
For more advice on wireless connectivity, visit Q&A, then click on Wireless Communications.
Buyer’s Guide: Smart Phones , Mike Antoniak, November 2002
Sidekick Offer a New All-in-One Mobile Option , Mike Antoniak, November 2002.
Tech Strategies for 2003 , Mike Antoniak, January 2003.
Previously by Antoniak:
Color Printing Made Easy
GMAC Embraces Blackberry
Comdex/Macworld Update
Tech Watch: Tech Strategies for 2003
Suggest a Topic
Do you have technology you’d like to learn more about or a new user twist that you’d like to share with your peers? Let me know about it by e-mailing antoniak@dtccom.net, and I’ll do my best to give it the coverage it deserves.
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