Don't underestimate work productivity credentials of consumer tablets
The use case for supporting tablet computers within a small or midsize business is increasingly compelling from a productivity standpoint. I can say this with my gut because I rely on one myself to pare down my email frequently throughout the weekends and in the evenings, but I also happen to have backup evidence from two different surveys that I skimmed over the Labor Day weekend.
It makes me wonder how many thousands of those Hewlett-Packard TouchPads that have been on fire sale for the past few weeks have been purchased by small businesses that -- given the rock-bottom purchase price of $99 -- don't really care what happens when they break down. I don't want to suggest that they are "disposable" but they sure are cheap at that price, so what do you have to lose?
Here's the thing: Even though the latest generation of tablets have been around roughly 18 months since the introduction of the Apple iPad, almost 40 percent of small and midsize businesses have begun to adopt them, according to annual research on technology adoption trends by CompTIA, a technology trade organization. The research, which was released in July 2011, listed the following as the Top 6 uses:
- Light work while traveling (68 percent)
- Capture notes during meetings (54 percent)
- Making presentations, in lieu of laptop (52 percent)
- Point of sale transactions (50 percent)
- Demo a product (47 percent)
- Communications, in lieu of a smartphone (44 percent)
- Increased productivity (60 percent)
- Staying connected to colleagues or clients (40 percent)
- Easy to use because of its portability (90 percent)
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