Now WTF Do I Do With This?

[W3WN]

I now have an Apple iPad Air.

I didn't really want it. It was issued to me by work.

It's not that I have a problem with an iPad, or a tablet in general. It's the two consequences that I am less than thrilled with...

(1) Since the iPad is connected to my work email, and for that matter, my work computer, I can now do work from home, or anywhere else I can get a WiFi connection to the internet. Why is that bad? Because it puts me on call, 24x7. I've already seen this happen with my boss and a co-worker. Now, the boss, being the head of Company IT, that's one thing... it comes with the territory for him.

But most of what I do can be done during normal business hours. I really don't want the "this has to be taken care of NOW" calls/emails that come in at all hours, because someone else has decided to work on an off schedule.

However, all grousing aside, it's done. The owners of the company wanted these things issued to everyone, so I get one, and that's that. Resistance, as the Borg incorrectly state, is Futile. (No, it's Voltage divided by Current. You'd think the Borg would be familiar with the principle of Ohm's Law)

(2) I know what's going to happen the moment this thing goes home with me. The Boss and Little Miss Field Day will both want one. And never mind that there is little that they can do on an iPad or other tablet that they can't already do on their smartphones. (Yes, I know there's more that YOU can use the iPad for, but I'm talking about THEIR uses. Give me a $50 tablet that only plays solitaire, and The Boss would be happy as a clam). So this little work perk is about to cost me $600 or more, out of pocket.

Regardless, though, it looks like I'm stuck with the damn thing. Now, what else can I actually do with it that's USEFUL?

[wa6mhz]

I haven't fallen into the IPAD trap yet as I already have 2 small NETBOOKS which are just as Easy to carry around as a Pad and have a full tactile Keyboard.

[NQ6U]

I felt pretty much the same about tablets ("why?") until I was given a first-generation iPad by someone who was upgrading. Now I use it all the time for casual web browsing and game playing. It usually lives in the living room by the TV so I can grab it and look up things like "I know that actor, where did I see him before?" or "wait a minute, I think that's total bullshit! What does Wikipedia have to say about it?"

I wouldn't say it's an essential item in the household or anything but you will find uses for it.

[W3WN]

Thanks, Your Holey-ness... but I was thinking of more radio-related uses.

[PA5COR]

I'm sure it comes with an OFF switch, work related problems solved.

People here are not expecting to work in their off time even if they could/would, off time is just that for all things NOT work related.
No boss here would expect you to use the tablet/phone for work related stuff outside office hours, that is just not done here.
If things cannot be done in office time you need more workers at the office.

[NQ6U]

Thanks, Your Holey-ness... but I was thinking of more radio-related uses.

Oh. Well, there are several logging programs available as well as a PSK-31 app, and EchoLink app, a couple of code training apps, an antenna calculator and a radio control program called CommCat. I also have one called Electronic Toolbox that has a shit-ton of component data.

[KJ3N]

Thanks, Your Holey-ness... but I was thinking of more radio-related uses.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hamlog/id308437400?mt=8

[KC2UGV]

Digimodes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/psk31/id385619882?mt=8

[AE5CP]

I am connected to work full time.
The thing about that is when they expect you to be flexible, you should be able to expect them to be flexible.
The leash also works the other way (regardless if you see yourself as the dog or the owner).

I am not nearly as punctual as some of the people at work, but I probably work more than them with the calls and emails on off hours and attending meetings on the phone from the house.

[w6tmi]

I'm in IT been so for ages, so it's been assumed I will make sure I have remote connectivity via vpns, before that dials in.

Not abused but if an important system is down it has to be addressed.

At least I've not been stuck with Apple igarbage, I could use whatever device I can do the job with.

[wa6mhz]

For a small computer I use my DROID3 which has a full tactile slidng keyboard (I hate these touch screen keyboards! My fingers are always bigger than the keys I am trying to press!)
With the DRoid 3, I can do everything I need to do on the WEB that I can with my WINDOWS 2000 computer here at work. and I can carry it around on my belt. I'd like to see a Tablet U can carry on your belt with getting it damaged! Most folks hafta carry them around in a back pack or purse type thing.

[W3WN]

I'm in IT been so for ages, so it's been assumed I will make sure I have remote connectivity via vpns, before that dials in.

Not abused but if an important system is down it has to be addressed.

At least I've not been stuck with Apple igarbage, I could use whatever device I can do the job with.If I was the head of the IT group, or the Network Admin, that would be one thing.

But, I'm merely the Database Admin & help desk specialist. Most of what I do (outside of general Help Desk support) is write custom reports & similar custom documents. Very little of what I do requires the tether.

[W9JEF]

.


Computers were supposed to make everyone's work easier.

In realty, they've made it easier for upper management to track lower management.

[K7SGJ]

If I was the head of the IT group, or the Network Admin, that would be one thing.

But, I'm merely the Database Admin & help desk specialist. Most of what I do (outside of general Help Desk support) is write custom reports & similar custom documents. Very little of what I do requires the tether.


Look at it this way..........(tilts head)

[XE1/N5AL]

I worked for a Japanese company many moons ago. One day, the boss gave us all an unwanted gift: shiny new pagers. A few days later, the boss came into my office and said that he had been trying to contact me. He said he had paged me three times during the day.

So, I opened my desk drawer and reached into the very back. I pulled out the factory box which still contained the pager. Sure enough, the boss and I noted that three pages had been received by the device. The boss just shook his head in bewilderment.

Well, nobody told me that I actually had to wear the thing! :)

[K7SGJ]

I worked for a Japanese company many moons ago. One day, the boss gave us all an unwanted gift: shiny new pagers. A few days later, the boss came into my office and said that he had been trying to contact me. He said he had paged me three times during the day.

So, I opened my desk drawer and reached into the very back. I pulled out the factory box which still contained the pager. Sure enough, the boss and I noted that three pages had been received by the device. The boss just shook his head in bewilderment.

Well, nobody told me that I actually had to wear the thing! :)

Should have just worn the box.

[W3WN]

I worked for a Japanese company many moons ago. One day, the boss gave us all an unwanted gift: shiny new pagers. A few days later, the boss came into my office and said that he had been trying to contact me. He said he had paged me three times during the day.

So, I opened my desk drawer and reached into the very back. I pulled out the factory box which still contained the pager. Sure enough, the boss and I noted that three pages had been received by the device. The boss just shook his head in bewilderment.

Well, nobody told me that I actually had to wear the thing! :)When I worked at AGH, I was issued a pager. I had explicit instructions from the department head that if i was in the middle of working with one of our "clients", it was perfectly OK to ignore the page; it would be rude to drop everything to call the extension.

One day, while working on a problem with one of the administrative assistants, the pager went off. 3 times. I didn't call back until I was done. It was my boss, fuming that I hadn't dropped everything to call her back right that second.

I reminded her, politely and professionally, of what she'd said. (It was also documented in the Employee Handbook, so this was hospital policy, not just hers)

She told me "I have to tell you that, but I didn't mean it!!"

Needless to say, that job ended up being pretty short-term.

[kb2vxa]

You should have done what Clinton did with HIS page. What would the boss think about the stains? Hmmm.........

[n0iu]

Well if you have a program like HRD and you are into the digi modes, you could install LogMeIn on your home computer then put the LogMeIn app on your MaxiPad thing and then you can log into your home computer and operate your station remotely.

Clear as mud, eh?

[KB3LAZ]

I felt pretty much the same about tablets ("why?") until I was given a first-generation iPad by someone who was upgrading. Now I use it all the time for casual web browsing and game playing. It usually lives in the living room by the TV so I can grab it and look up things like "I know that actor, where did I see him before?" or "wait a minute, I think that's total bullshit! What does Wikipedia have to say about it?"

I wouldn't say it's an essential item in the household or anything but you will find uses for it.

I tried to switch over. After a few months I went back to a laptop. I couldn't live without flash. Also, I am not into games such as pissed of parakeets. Tablets don't work at all for the types of games that I play.

That aside, I have found that a tablet makes a good secondary device and a great travel PC. Light weight, easy to carry, don't have to leave it sitting around, etc. Now, if one has a larger smart phone such as a galaxy note III then they can forego the tablet.

Funny that you should mention the thing about looking up the actors that you think you know from somewhere. My wife and I do the same thing. Typically we race. I use my laptop and she uses the tablet. I typically win but only because I can type faster and the laptop is what we use to watch shows. Therefore, it is already at my finger tips. I guess that gives me the advantage.

[kb2vxa]

I'm merely the Database Admin & help desk specialist.

[XE1/N5AL]

^^^ That guy looks like he might be an undercover CIA operative flying a drone strike mission.

[n0iu]

https://forums.hamisland.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=12474&stc=1&d=1402660892

But he told me his name was Mike and he was in Omaha!

[W3WN]

You should have done what Clinton did with HIS page. What would the boss think about the stains? Hmmm.........You ARE a kinky little devil.

I meant to say "pager", of course, and have now fixed the typo. But kudos & a +2 for a good take on it anyway!

[W3WN]

Well if you have a program like HRD and you are into the digi modes, you could install LogMeIn on your home computer then put the LogMeIn app on your MaxiPad thing and then you can log into your home computer and operate your station remotely.

Clear as mud, eh?Actually, no. We have something similar running here, which theoretically let's me access my desktop computer from home via the tablet.

[WØTKX]

I use TeamViewer. Recommended. :yes: