Tablet Advice

I work for a consulting electrical engineering firm. Due to the fact that I'm also a licensed Electrician I get to go from site to site checking on progress, solving issues and making sure that the contractor is following our design. This involves a metric ton of documentation. This is where I fall down. I still type with two fingers and can't spell to save my life. Right now my system involves me taking notes in my chicken scratch and snapping pictures. When I get the chance I upload the pictures to my laptop and try to compile my scribbles into something the resembles a project report.

I'm hoping to use a tablet with a headset and voice recognition software to simplify the process. Is this possible and practical? I don't mind cleaning up my report before I issue it but I'd really like to lessen my workload and provide a better finished product. Computers are a tool for me, not an interest or a toy. Please keep this in mind when you answer and try to explain things to as you would to a rather slow young child.

Microsoft Surface tablets have the capabilities of a laptop. I'd suggest taking a serous look at them. This may eliminate the need to transfer it to a different computer.

+1, In tablet form Windows 8 actually makes sense and works pretty well. I'd look for one mainstream enough to have a decent case and keyboard available for it and it'll pretty much replace a laptop for a non enthusiast.

At this point avoid windows 8 RT, it's pretty much a dead end os already. Stick with the full version and buy as much hp as you can afford.

I'd get the non-RT Surface, that one is pretty powerful and fairly reasonably priced. As oldopelguy says, avoid the RT ones - they're quite neat and I tend to lug one around when I'm travelling, but that's more because I already have it and I don't usually need anything more complex than email, Word, Excel and a web browser.

+1 to the windows tablet. If you use any autodesk products or similar, you'll be able to run them in the field a lot easier. Like was said above, you'll probably want something in a 10" or larger size and NOT RT. The RT stuff runs different hardware (more android based) that won't play so nicely with building industry software.

There are digital cameras that can record voice memos while photographing. Home inspectors use them frequently.

Te only problem with the tablet is synching with whatever software your office uses. This could be a problem, which the camera would avoid.

Essentially, you would walk through with the camera making photographic and audio notes, then write your report at the office.