The Basic Area of Social Services of Vilanova i la Geltrú wants to share its experience using theHèstia from outside the office with tablets. From the AOC we would like to thank them for their initiative and the gesture of wanting to share it with the entire community Hèstia.
"The Social Action Department of the Vilanova i la Geltrú City Council works with two tablets with the Windows 10 operating system that allow the use of the software Hèstia in mobility.
A few months ago we had the opportunity to make a purchase of computer equipment for another project. We initially knew that once they did the service in this project, the Department would keep this material as its own. The requirements of the tablets for the project were not too demanding, as it was a matter of having a material that we could borrow so that some users could test an application that worked via the web. So we started looking at and comparing the few Windows tablets that were on the market at the time.
Not everything is Apple, not Android… The largest range of tablets - and the cheapest - have Android operating system. One iPad it is a high quality product - and also more expensive - but it did not fit the use we wanted to give it. Les Microsoft Surface meet the requirements to use Hèstia, so it is a product of ecosystem which incorporates the Windows operating system, but are unaffordable for their price.
Looking for alternatives we found the tablet Lenovo Ideapad D330-10IGM. In fact, more than a tablet we are talking about a 2 in 1 product, which incorporates advantages of a lightweight laptop and a tablet.
After a few months of use, we can recommend this product to other basic areas of Social Services that are looking for affordable mobility solutions and meet the following requirements:
The tablet includes a physical keyboard that can be attached and uncoupled from the screen / tablet unit and incorporates a stylus with very good sensitivity. In fact, once we purchased the Lenovo Ideapad D330 all we needed to do was buy a wetsuit to protect the computer.
The tablet is very convenient when we go to meetings at schools and institutes, as it allows us to make inquiries. Hèstia as well as documenting the files in real time. Although some facilities such as schools or civic centers have a connection Wireless, 4G connectivity via a SIM card allows you to connect to the Internet anywhere else, such as homes.
If you have IT support in your organizations, you can also ask them to configure the corporate workgroup so that you can even access your intranet directly. However, the only software that comes installed is the Windows 10 operating system and if you want 100% operability with Hèstia You will need to separately purchase an Office license so that you can have Outlook (calendar synchronization), Word (documents and templates), as well as Excel (data export and lists).
One of the challenges we still have is to incorporate some standard system trackpad of digital signature like those of the mark Wacom in the tablet; in the same way that we sign contracts when we go to a bank, Imagine how useful it can be to sign a PIA agreement directly at the user's home and give it immediate processing?
For us the 2 in 1 device Lenovo Ideapad D330-10IGM has allowed us to gain time, agility and mobility at a very reasonable price. Even at the lowest priceseres weeks of confinement, he provided a very good service to his colleagues who at that time did not have a personal team to be able to work remotely.
A couple of clarifications to keep in mind: the screen is 10,1 inches, so in this aspect it is more tablet than laptop. The other issue to consider is that you need to purchase the 4G LTE version that will allow you connectivity with a data SIM card, as this model has different versions and equipment (there is a version that is only wifi). Finally, the price: between 330 and 380 euros depending on where you buy it.
We hope that our experience will help you in your mobility with Hèstia.
Joseph Ma Ranchal
Social worker
Department of Social Action
Vilanova i la Geltrú City Council ”
