Written by Josh Martin, TecMarc Technology Services
I think we have all seen the new tablets on TV commercials, and now your employees are requesting them. Ipad, Xoom, EEE Slate, the list goes on. All of them have touch screens, office suites, custom features and apps. Can these cool new portable workstations help your business, or hurt it? Let’s look at the pros and cons of these tech toys.
First a little history; tablets are not a new concept. Gene Roddenberry first imagined tablets when he wrote Star Trek: the Next Generation in the late 1980s. Commander Geordi LaForge and other members of the Enterprise crew are commonly seen walking around with touch screen devices that assist them with their day to day tasks. In the early 1990s, Intel made a black and white tablet called the Intel Pad, or “IPad” for short. It wasn’t until Apple’s Ipad that the idea caught on with the market.
So now the Tablet Revolution is in full swing, and big businesses are looking into buying them. Today we will look at 3 and how they compare for your businesses functionality.
Apple’s Ipad
Apple’s Ipad came to market in April of 2010. Since then the system has gone through many software versions, and the release of Apple’s Ipad 2.
Pros:
• Apple has had 14 months to work out the bugs.
• Ipad can sync with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• You can get Ipads on contract with Verizon and other wireless carriers, and have mobile internet built in.
Cons:
•The Microsoft exchange connector is web based. Not all businesses have the Microsoft Exchange Web Access available.
•Apple’s App Store has more games than useful business applications. The link below is a graph and pie chart breaking down the different app catagories:
•High cost, the Ipad 2 starts at $499.00. That model ships without mobile internet.
Motorola Xoom
Xoom just recently hit the market this year, first premiering exclusively to Verizon.
Pros:
•All units come with ability for mobile internet.
•Xoom can sync with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
•Xoom can be “rooted” (root is the android term for locking out admin functions with a password) so only administrators can install apps.
Cons:
• Limited Microsoft Exchange connector. Just like the Ipad, Xoom has a web based Exchange connection.
•High Cost, Xoom costs $899.00
•Marketing seems to be geared towards media apps, not business.
Asus EEE Slate
Asus is a veteran in computer hardware, winning best motherboard for the last 3 years. Asus teamed up with Microsoft to develop this Windows 7 based tablet.
Pros:
• Windows based tablets make it easier for employees to adjust to. Windows based workstations and Windows based tablets create uniformity.
• Microsoft office suite on the tablet, including Outlook with an exchange connector.
• Can pair to a Windows 7 desktop, so all the files your employees create on their desktop will sync with their EEE Slate.
Cons:
• No built in solution for mobile internet.
• Will only sync to Windows PCs.
• High Cost, EEE Slates start out at $899.00.
So now that we have looked at the top 3 contenders, let’s look at how Tablets can help or hinder your business model. The first thing we should look at is the “App store”. Android and Apple both have an app store. Statics show that Android has more than double the apps of Apple, and more than double the number of productivity apps (
http://phandroid.com/2008/10/23/android-market-most-downloaded-apps-stats/). Xoom relies on the Android App Store, and IPad relies on the Apple App Store. The EEE Slate is Windows 7-based, and runs computer programs vs apps. The productivity apps from both stores include office suites, .pdf readers, and a slew of appointment and meeting organizers. The Slate uses the same programs that most businesses use, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, and Microsoft Communicator. The app stores have decent productivity solutions, however having Microsoft office on a Tablet is the obvious winner. Having a tablet without a compatible office suite defeats the purpose.
Next, let’s look at communications. The IPad and Xoom have built in solutions to connect to mobile internet through wireless providers like Verizon and AT&T. This is a field advantage, being able to connect to the internet from almost anywhere. The EEE Slate does not currently have any announced plans for adding mobile internet. The Slate is confined to WiFi for the time being. All 3 devices support services like Skype and Aim, and email applications, so talking to your employees while their mobile is no issue, but the lack of mobile internet is holding back the potential of the EEE Slate. IPad and Xoom are equal winners in this category.
The Last category that we will examine today is functionality. For the term functionality, I am referring to the amount of work your employee can functionally complete on a Tablet. The Xoom and IPad have available office suites compatible with Microsoft office; unfortunately these suites are made only for quick edits and adjustments. EEE Slate supports Microsoft office and OpenOffice, making mobile productivity fairly familiar, simple, and streamline. If your employee is trained on Microsoft Office, then the employee can transition right from a workstation to an EEE Slate with ease. EEE Slate wins the functionality category.
While only time will tell how the business world accepts and uses tablets, it is already clear that popularity will force businesses to look into them. At this point it appears the Windows Tablets may have an advantage in the business market, however Apple’s sales number may give them an advantage.
I hope this information assists in deciding if your company is ready for tablets, and which one.
In the comments below discuss your questions, comments and concerns about tablets and tablet technology. Also feel free to discuss the applications you want to see on tablets.
