Today's Two Tips for Tablet use in the field ... part 3 of many
How to hold your tablet, and how to keep it charged are small irritations that once mastered you will never even think they were a problem...
keeping it charged
Keeping your device charged on a long day can be a problem if you are busy Inspecting and Assessing all day. A simple answer is to get a USB charger for your car that is suitable for your device (most chain store electronics stores carry these items).
Another tack people take is to use either an external battery pack like these reviewed by CNET (A dozen capacious juice packs to consider before your next trip) or an extended battery case for the device. The Zerolemon range is a must-see - and they also have some great case options.
So that deals with staying juiced up all day - but with your device in some sort of protective case, the old question of how to wrangle the device comes into play.
How to hold the device
Take a look at two of the devices Clarinspect loan for their software trials.
The first is a Tab 2 in standard half-shell case with flip cover. Generally used for protection from scratching the screen when in a bag, and light weight bumps. the case is magnetised to form a stand for office/home use. However this can also be used as a hand grip.
Cover in place
Folded back as hand-grip
View of hand-grip
Note the use of a Wii/Playstation Move wrist strap (I'll show you how to add this in a later post)
If you have a 10inch Tab 2 then the typical leatherette case can still be useful as a hand-grip when folded back.
As a hand-grip
Side view showing case with cover folded back
The case has been adapted with a lanyard (and yes, it says Windows Mobile, but that's irony for you) again as protection against being dropped. In most situations you may consider a protective case (see all my posts on the topic) or avoid the devices being dropped at all - invest in a handle, lanyard or wrist-strap.
These last two examples are to show that even off-the-shelf cases have a place in the protection and operation of tablets in the field for Inspection and Assessment.