PC pifall

[Geoff Sykes]

I rely on my iPAQ for all my scheduling and customer info needs But that is
backed up every day to my PC in both Outlook and ACT! In the morning before
I leave for my appointments, I print out a preformatted invoice for every
customer that day that includes name, address and phone numbers as well as
Thomas Bros. map information. As I work I fill in the spaces on the invoice
and when I'm done I hand the now complete invoice to the customer to keep.
They cut me a check. They're happy. I’m happy. And while I use pRCT that
also lives on the same iPAQ, I also keep my tuning fork and mute strips with
me all the time just in case.

-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles





-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Paul McCloud
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 10:53 AM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: PC pifall


David:
	This is the reason I use a different device for each job: SAT for
tuning, Palm Pilot for address/contact info., Quickbooks for
billing/accounts.  Eggs and baskets come to mind- if you keep 'em all in one
place, you're crusin' for a bruiser.  
	Of course, any reliance on technology is bound to disappoint you
sometimes. Printing a hard copy to bring with you seems a little over the
top, though.  Stuff happens, so you just have to deal with it when it does.

	Maybe it would be a good idea to replace your PPC every so many
years, just so this doesn't happen in the future.  They don't last forever.
	Sounds like a wake-up call to me.
	Paul McCloud
	San Diego
	

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Renaud
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 10:22 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: PC pifall 

Here is a tip that may save you $100 some day.

  For 5 years I have been spoil ed by a Pocket PC. 
I do put it away from time to time for an Aural
day.
  It died; dead! Even docked in its port...nothing. 
I was on route to a new client when I realized it
was gone. There was delayed reaction; first feeling satisfaction that I
would pull out the fork have an aural tuning. Upon arriving at the street I
realized the address was in outlook on the PC. No address, 
no phone, nobody in  the office to reach.

   30 min back home, I called, apologized and
re-booked. $100 spot lost. 

    How many carry a hard copy?
    I think from now on I will fill out the top of my
bills in the morning. 90% of my clients are long time
regulars and I only need to check an address a few
times a week. PPC would leave me on a new client call.

   How many others are fully dependant on technology?
How many have redundancy built into their habits
so this does not happen to you? 
 
   This lesson cost me today. 

                                Cheers
                                Dave Renaud