Poll: SRITB and tablet use

Comment from the field: I thought I would pass on information about performance issues with the tablets since they were encrypted.
Previous performance with ArcMap in the field was very good, digitizing was pretty much equal to desk top use. Now it is just slow and you must use the "reload" icon after each delineation. I am limiting the amount of data (imagery) on the tablet but this is not effective. Feel free to pass this on.

Does anyone have more info to share before the Poll is closed?

I started the field season determined to do ARCGIS and Pedon appl. in the field. But the Fujitsu's are not up for the job. They are not ruggedized and perform very sluggishly. I have had to replace nearly every part (screenlight-twice, HD, MB, etc.). I atrribute this mostly to the wear and tear of driving rough roads and field use. ARCGIS tasks that work easy in the office (zooming in, adding annotation, turning layers on) work sluggishily or not at all in field.

Continued from previous comment.
I use the 3M Optical Sytems screen protectors on my Fujistsu tablet. They have increased screen clarity and removed the glare caused by the sun. My tablet actually can be seen in light better than in the office. I know there are some that are just the oppostie so the screen protectors may not benifit that way. THey do last longer than the ones that came with the tablet. I am going on about 3 months w/ the new ones, compared to 2-3 weeks w/the originals.

I really like using the Fujitsu Tablet in the field. I use the SRITB to populate all my pedon data, we have stopped using paper for pedons all together. One exception might be if I collect pedons in the trees were walking is the only way to get there, with shovel and auger and the other stuff, a computer is to much by yourself. That is the only down fall I have.

For those that might be interested and may not know, there are better screen protectors for use with the Fujitsu tablets.

As a newer employee in Montana I was confused by having so many different versions (PC, PC Plus, Analysis, etc. ) to choose from. The download page needs better descriptions of what each program is used for. I currently use Pedon PC Plus to enter pedon data.

Last year I used a Fujitsu tablet in the field. I really liked the autopopulate feature with Pedon and the SRITB toolbar. It captures a lot of spatial reference information that I wouldn't manually enter.

I use SRITB when digitizing and Pedon PC to enter pedons (rather than entering them into NASIS directly) in the office. There are some minor things that are annoying about SRITB, but for the most part I like using it better than the other toolbars.

I use the Fujitsu tablet in the field for real-time tracking with my GPS unit and to analyze data layers (imagery, existing survey, geology, etc.) in the field. I do not enter pedons or field notes using the tablet because it would be too messy (muddy, dusty, rainy - depending on the field area).

I use the fujitsu tablet in the field mainly as a navigational tool while in the vehicle. I rarely take it out of the vechicle since it is too cumberson with the otter box. The tuff book is much more user friendly in the field.

I currently use Pedon PC to enter data and Analysis PC to link NASIS point data to arcmap projects for our MO 12-5 Soil Survey office. I find that Pedon PC is much easier to initially record data rather than directly keystroking into NASIS.

We really haven't used the tablets out in the field to record pedon data; there are just too many glitches (as noted in other comments).

The Huntington, WV office is having many of the same issues as described below. Our tablet may be a prime case for the lemon law to spread to computers. We had used it in the field with varied results. The potential is there. We do make heavy use of the SRITB, Analysis, and Pedon PC in the office.

I successfully used atablet in the field in Montana (belonged to Montana office). When I try to use a table that was installed for my office (MLRA 131A), it always has problems. ArcGIS licence issues, poor IT support for tablet, security screen that needs a keyboard (!?). I would like to use the tablet in the field, but every time I take it out, there's always a problem. It's very frustrating. I wish I had a Toughbook again.

We use the tablets in the field on a limited basis, and do not enter pedons in the field due to logistical issues with the keyboard login requirements, excessive heat in our area which causes screen failures, and other minor irritations.

As the MLRA SSL, I use it extensively when reviewing initial mapping , using the tablet digitizing tool for red line comments on the digital map.

I use SRITB extensively, but some employees on my crew do not..

WDE has made using tablet in field very difficult as a keyboard is needed to login and hibernate mode is disabled so each time you need to shut down and my tablet takes 15 plus minutes to restart.

We use many of the newer tools for digitizing and collecting pedon data. Here in the MLRA 10-6 office each staff member uses PedonPC as their primary tool for data collection.

The Soil Resource Inventory Toolbar (SRITB) is currently being used in every office in Iowa as our primary digitizing tool. It allows all major editing tools to be stored in one spot. In addition, it saves significant time by reducing the amount of mouse clicks for specific tasks.