TECH BY ALAN JOCH

mobile diversity: there’s a place for tablets, notebooks and ultrabooks

no single form factor is right for every application. two biggest are the distinct differences between Users’ needs should drive Second, it takes a clear understanding of content creators and content consumers. “ e an organization’s evaluation business needs — not technical specifications and factor that must be considered is whether the allure of stylish new designs — to determine someone needs a keyboard or whether they of mobile devices and the right matchup of worker and . need the full- blown business applications available for desktops and notebooks rather than computing platforms. Choose Your Mobile the equivalent versions available for tablets,” Device Wisely says Patrick Gray, founder and president of ENTERPRISES HAVE MORE CHOICES than It may seem as though technology is advancing Prevoyance Group, a technology consulting firm. ever when it comes to computing platforms. so rapidly that by the time IT has the latest trend When it comes to making a platform decision, e stalwart desktop PC remains a tried-and- analyzed and ready for migration, the world has the IT buyers within an organization will need true performer for a wide range of workers in moved on to the next best thing. Keep in mind to gather several clues if they want to make an commercial businesses, public-sector agencies that technology advances for a good reason: informed decision. e idea is to make a strategic and educational institutions. Each new device generation adds new features assessment about solutions that can address and capabilities. IT challenges. But the range of notebook, ultrabook and tablet now available in the professional Choosing the right can provide Take a Close Look at world creates many new choices — and decision- your colleagues with an invaluable gadget that User Behaviour making challenges — for IT managers. Topping works as hard as they do. Investing unwisely A disciplined look at business needs when this list is how to be sure that the portable device can mean wasting valuable budget dollars evaluating the computing requirements of end chosen for an individual staff member is the right along with something just as important: time. users is likely to uncover some surprises. Despite one for the job at hand. Industry analysts say the Fortunately, there are ways to be certain that you all the attention that notebooks and tablets Eanswer is tied to two fundamental truths: First, are selecting what staffers need and want. e get today, the best computing choice for some the technology world, and notebooks aren’t likely for organizations to like about notebooks and to remain on top forever. IC Insights forecasts tablets, IT managers still struggle with some that sales of tablet computers could grow 75 ongoing challenges. Security tops the list for percent this year, and overtake notebooks as many organizations. Best practices for securing soon as 2015. mobile environments include encrypting data while it is on the device and as it travels across e rise of ubiquitous portable computing isn’t networks. Secure VPN tunnels further protect just a matter of computer buyers gravitating to in-transit data. For even tighter controls, data the latest and greatest technologies. Instead, cleansing applications allow IT managers to the growing trend toward mobility reveals that wipe information from lost or stolen portables. work habits and needs of professionals don’t fit Together, these safeguards lower the risks that into neat one-size-fits-all categories. Portable the mobile hardware will yield corporate secrets devices are invading professional environments or that hackers will intercept messages that because organizations are recognizing the value traverse communication links. of “anywhere, anytime” access to information for many of their employees.

Notebook computers are getting an infusion of innovation with the introduction of new Windows-based ultrabook models from Acer, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and other manufacturers. A disciplined look Apple’s MacBook Air provides similar design at business needs and performance for the Mac operating system. ese fast, thin and lightweight systems when evaluating represent a new benchmark for balancing price the computing and performance. e performance focus for ultrabooks is on battery life that can last four requirements of to eight hours instead of two to three hours, which used to be the practical limit for notebooks end users is likely users may not be a portable device. Convenience weighing less than 4 pounds, Gray explains. and portability aside, even the most rigorously to uncover some engineered notebook or tablet will take a Even so, ultrabooks face stiff competition from surprises. backseat to a desktop PC for some compute- the tablets now available from Apple, , intensive applications. For example, call-centre HP, Lenovo, Samsung and recently launched agents who spend hours at their desks, will . ese devices come with probably prefer the large, high-definition screens enough compute power and productivity- and full-sized keyboards of desktops to the boosting apps to find a role in private- and portability of notebooks. public-sector workplaces. ey are becoming the computers of choice for content consumers who Lines Blur Budget crunchers at healthcare organizations primarily read documents and e-mail messages As if it’s not challenging enough to successfully and schools might opt for either traditional and don’t require the elaborate computing power match business needs with available form desktops or sleek all-in-one computers. possible on notebook or desktops. factors, the decision-making process has Computing performance and screen size are become even more complicated as Microsoft critical factors for organizations whose users “is includes people in executive roles or project and other OEM’s have released new and exciting focus on scientific, engineering and other managers who find themselves moving around tablet form factors. Charles Brett, Vice President complex tasks. a lot to do their jobs,” Gray says. Another option and Principal analyst for Constellation Research for some organizations is to provide workers believes IT managers should expect a blending of Mobile Takes Off with tablets as supplemental devices to their form-factor characteristics. is could blur the Even though desktop systems won’t entirely notebooks or desktops. “e problem is that line between notebook and tablet devices over disappear anytime soon, for an increasing number practice could bump up the IT expenditure by 50 the next three or four years. of enterprises in all market segments, portable or 60 percent for each of these users” Gray says. computers are becoming go-to devices for many “I think we’ll see many of these mixed-mode employees. According to market researcher IC Tablets Mature devices, such as tablets with keyboards that can Insights, notebook sales rose about 11 percent in As tablet use grows hardware vendors be detached,” Brett says. “We may find ourselves 2012, while the research firm IHS iSuppli projects continue to evolve the devices so that they more wondering why we ever thought there was a traditional desktop PCs will gain only an anemic easily comply with enterprise management and difference between tablets and notebooks in 0.2 percent last year. But change is a constant in security requirements. Although there’s a lot the first place.”