Banging on about the potential of the tablet is now almost de rigour for industry experts.
From the trade press to the conference hall, everyone is keen to talk about how the business world will be transformed by the iPad and it’s non-Apple cousins. The ability to use information on the move is undoubtedly a bonus, but are we backing the wrong horse?
With each iteration, smart phones become, well, smarter. The bonus of such devices is that they also allow you to make phone calls from your portable device. Samsung’s Galaxy tablet does come in a smaller form factor and does allow you to make calls. But would anyone want to be seen holding such a big device to their face? Using such technology would make you look like a relic of 1980s ‘Wall Street’ extravagance.
And the iPad and its cousins might be good for watching movies, but are they any good for manipulating data? In short, no. The touch pad keyboard is very limited for a power user and someone that spends the majority of their day in Microsoft Word or XL.
Maybe that’s not you. Maybe you spend the whole of your day strategising over PowerPoint slides (plus the odd sports update and a game of Angry Birds). If that’s you, fine. But for the majority of executives, the iPad is simply too limited and an ever-powerful netbook, coupled with a smart phone, is the more sensible choice for executives on the move.
What do you think? Would you rather have the combined power of a smart phone and netbook? Or do you believe executives really can do everything through a tablet?
Related posts:
Loading ...
While I tend to agree, I would add that the addition of a bluetooth keyboard and Citrix make it a bit more usable. It does not replace your desktop, but for note taking in meetings or a bit of work at home, Citrix and the keyboard make it an acceptable device for work.
Which is a nice workaround, Cole. But is it worth the extra cash? I guess it might be if you like your movies, too.
Two months ago I would have agreed completely. However, since purchasing one to test its viability in my environment, I’ve found it a sufficient replacement for everything but working with large spreadsheets and heavy graphics (Photoshop). In my case, we already use citrix there was no extra there, and the iPad and keyboard are less than a laptop (assuming a business class laptop). The iPad by itself is excellent for data consumption, but not data creation. Add the keyboard and it become acceptable for data creation.