By BUILDER Magazine Staff . Punchlist software usually runs on a hand-held PDA. The new Punchlister differs in that it requires a tablet PC running Windows 2000. Whether that's a pro or con depends on which machine you prefer. However, we did find its interface simpler to use than the Palm applications we've tried. The interface looks like a paper punchlist, and we were operating it comfortably after a few minutes. Working with it is simply a matter of using the tablet computer's stylus to check off items as complete or not complete. You can also attach notes to any item you want.
Setup is a matter of defining punchlist items and organizing them into units. Once in the field, Punchlister makes you complete every item in a unit (whether you mark it complete or incomplete) before moving on to the next one--a feature designed to discourage shortcuts. This feature also makes it a good idea to create units that can be completed in 15 minutes or less.
Once the job is done, you can transfer the data electronically to the office computer via e-mail, then sort it in a number of different ways--by subcontractor, job, unit, etc. You can also run reports that show notes taken in the field.
The software is available from EK Solutions in New York ( www.eksolutions.com )--a company that specializes in relational databases. For $7,500, you get the server software and a client license for one handheld; additional hand-held licenses cost $1,500.
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