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| Computing for Real Estate Even the most adamant nay sayers have had to succumb to the reality that the future of real estate rests in the digital domain known as the Internet. Buyers today are no longer willing to go on a caravan with a Realtor even if the Realtor is willing to invest his/her time, gas and money chauffeuring them around. And, no wonder! In today’s global economy buyers on the other side of the world are looking for properties in even the most obscure destinations, not to mention the most cosmopolitan city here in Canada. For this reason, I have committed to my viewers to not only bring you the most comprehensive and up to date information on the local Toronto condominium market but also these frequent updates on the status and developments within the computer industry as it relates to Realtors. We are rapidly approaching the ten year anniversary of the world wide web (the commercial dimension of the Internet) and yet the majority of Realtors remain technologically illiterate. The question today is how does a Realtor remain competitive in this new digital arena and even more scary, what equipment does one need to be involved. The answer is quite simply nothing! That’s right, to be competitive in this new and fast changing frontier of computerized real estate an astute Realtor really needs very little. You can do it without owning a computer let alone learning how to operate one. Every real estate office has Internet access today. Sure, if you want to be out front then you had better get some hard ware and education. Digital cameras are quickly become part of the tool set of a professional Realtor and those willing to spend that extra buck can have virtual tours of properties produced for them and posted on the Internet. Today’s article will hopefully point you in the right direction with respect to at least maintaining a presence on the net. Linking with buyers today boils down to having basic email facility. Realtors continually ask me if they should be looking at a desk top computer, a notebook computer, or a palm top. Again, the answer rests with their intended use of the equipment and the equipment is changing so fast that any answer will only be relevant for a short while after posting my recommendations. The quick and fast answer from my perspective is to get yourself a good specialty site to work with and let them carry the burden of maintaining the site, loading all the information, updating, deleting, etc., etc., etc. Most of the major search engines today offer FREE email. Your office undoubtedly has an Internet service provider enabling you to log onto the net and access your FREE email account. I have used Yahoo.com for years now and I like it’s universal access (I can log on from any computer in the world and find my email). Yahoo also gives me a FREE calendar to schedule my appointments, meetings, etc. |
For those of
you who want to access the Internet without having to go to the office or bother someone
to allow you to use their computer you can also get FREE Internet Service through a number
of ISP (Internet Service Provider). Here I use Excite.com who also give you FREE email,
calendar, etc. I don’t understand why people pay $21.95/month for a service that is
absolutely FREE but the choice remains yours to make. With most FREE services you get a
small banner on the top of the screen that carries ads but they certainly cannot be said
to be intrusive and I actually like them as they give me something to do while the
computer searches for my queries. My quick and fast answer to my own question above regarding hardware rests in handheld PCs. As Realtors we don’t make our living in the office or at home sitting in front of a computer so you can rule out a desk top. I have been selling real estate on computers since well before even Windows was introduced lugging a 486 DX full computer to Hong Kong once a month as carry-on luggage (which resulted in a hernia by the way) and I can tell you that the term “personal computer” carries meaning. It means that it should be available to you all the time and realizing that all your client contacts, telephone numbers, correspondence, etc., is resident on that box, whatever it is you will always want and need it handy to you. Notebook computers were an excellent development and certainly remedied the transportation issues yet you still end up carrying around a brief case that is anything but light. My hernia factor motivated me to look farther for an even better solution and now after over a dozen years of lugging, the technology has come up with a feasible and practical alternative in the “Handheld” or “Palmtop” computers as they are referred to as. To anyone just entering the small mobile computer world, the array of devices “categories” is outright bewildering. Already befuddled by the broad choice of sub-portables versus ultra-portables, handheld versus palm-sized, Palm OS (operating system) versus Windows CE (a scaled down version of Microsoft Windows) the addition of the Pocket-PC has now left many of us knowledgeable consumers somewhat confused. In this technology review I will give you a look at several of the most popular new Handheld PC devices and give you my assessment of which are the best and hopefully assist you in calculating which are best for you. THE LATEST GREATEST The newest operating system on the block is Microsoft’s Pocket PC which was released in the spring of 2000. Microsoft’s first generation Windows CD-based H-PCs, as a result of being bulky and high priced, suffered in the market. Its new Pocket PC line is significantly improved. They are typically quite small and lightweight with impressively powerful application, 16-bit colour displays, carry extensive multimedia capabilities, wireless email access and removable memory slots. |
This is not to
say that Microsoft’s products are it. Quite on the contrary, Palm Computing’s
Palm Operating System with new products offering colour display capabilities is still
quite a strong competitor. Many third party developers have also developed products to
enhance the functionality of Palm’s devices such as U.S. based OmniSky’s
portable clip-on cradles that give the Palm III wireless email capabilities and enhanced
functionality. The best advice that I can offer is to assess your needs and possibly wants prior to considering any model. Sit down and assess what exactly it is that you intend to do with your H-PC. Most of them on the market originate at the same source which are then packaged by major suppliers offering different features and functionality. H-PC’s break down into two categories: colour display and monochrome display. My advice is to spend the extra dollar and go for the color display. If you intend to use it outside then colour is an absolute must as the monochrome display units are difficult if not impossible to use in daylight. I personally am a big believer in Microsoft and therefore lean toward its operating system. Casio, Compaq and Hewlett Packard put out quality H-PC’s running the Windows MS Pocket PC operating system. Each of these products fall within $100 of each other and at under $1000, as a computing solution cannot be matched. For your convenience I will go over each of the top three. There are dozens of other products that can meet your requirements if you have minimal requirements. They will have monochrome displays which is reflected in the price but if you are using the device for business, and thereby entitled to write off your investment why not go for the best. Besides have you ever seen a professional carpenter using less than professional tools - the equation simply does not add up. For the couple hundred dollars difference the color display and enhanced features of these three H-PC unquestionably pay for themselves. CASIO - CASSIOPEIA E115 |