The little notebook computer or laptop is tailor made for business.
It's the perfect communication tool. It's the perfect record keeping
tool. It's the perfect presentation tool. And if that wasn't enough,
all of the above is neatly packaged into a small portable machine
that can be taken anywhere and everywhere.
For any size business, small to medium to jumbo, the notebook
computer is fast becoming an essential tool for business.
Savvy business people know acquiring the right tools is an important
factor in determining the success or profitability of any company.
Therefore, along with the regular outfitting of your company or
business - equal consideration should be given to choosing your
notebook computers.
Business owners should be aware that notebook technology is changing at
a blistering pace. Every two years or so, there is a whole new generation
of notebooks and notebook technology to consider. Notebooks are getting
smaller, faster, and better connected. They are also offering performance that
is matching or almost matching their desktop rivals.
Major reasons why, for the first time in history, notebook computers
are outselling their bigger cousins, desktop computers. Business
buying, no doubt, plays a significant role in all those sales. Large
corporate organizations are buying notebooks for their companies, sales
people and employees. It makes for a more competitive company in a very
competitive world.
But how do you pick a good business notebook computer? What's the criteria
for judging a good machine? What's the right laptop or notebook for your
company or sales staff?
Here are some important factors any business should consider when buying
a notebook computer or laptop for their company. General factors that
determine a good business notebook. Consider these...
Portability
Perhaps, the most significant factor and the main reason you're buying
a notebook computer is portability. You can take it anywhere. You can
take your records, reports, presentations or products where ever they
need to be. For the business traveler or 'road warrior', the notebook
computer is an essential tool for their business.
When buying their notebook of choice, these 'road warriors' look
at the portability of their notebook. Size and weight are very
important. They want something that's light and small, yet powerful
enough to do the job. They will probably look in the Ultra-Portable and
Thin and Light classes of notebooks to make their choice.
Notebooks in those categories are usually well under 5 pounds, around
10 by 14 inches in size and approximately an inch thick. Small enough
to throw in a briefcase or tuck comfortably under your arm. They won't
drain your energy even if you have to lug it around all day!
Battery Life
You also have to look for a notebook computer that will last long
enough to get the job done. You want sufficient battery life for those
long plane trips. Fortunately, battery life is increasing, you can now get
up to 5 or more hours on high quality notebooks. Buy the highest
numbered cell battery, and buy any optional built-in battery extras
that will increase battery life.
Connectivity
You want something that's easy to connect to the Internet
so connectivity is another important factor. Being in constant
contact with all your employees can be a determining factor in your
choice of notebooks. Communication is vital. Most high quality
notebooks come with Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) connections,
many have a tri-mode 802.11a/b/g wireless system.
Some newer models, like the Sony's New Ultra-Portable VAIO VGN-T350P,
are raising the bar, it has the world's first 'Built-in Cellular
Modem'. You can use your cell phone to connect to the Internet. This may
be a great advantage since finding a 'Hot Spot' in some parts of the world
can still be difficult.
Performance
You need to consider the performance level of your business computer.
Can it handle all your company's demands, can it handle heavy graphics,
charts, diagrams, spreadsheets, etc. Check out the RAM -- higher RAM will be
better for graphics and video. It's generally agreed that you need at least
256MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X. You will only need 128MB for other
operating systems in Windows or Mac.
Most notebooks come with plenty of storage space, 60-80 GIG hard drives
are common. External drives are also available if you need extra
space.
Other tasks may be important to your line of business. For example, if
you need to take notes in the field, i.e. real estate agents, engineers,
doctors or medical personnel -- then a slate or a convertible tablet
may be a better choice for your company.
Sturdiness
This is important if you want a notebook for a lot of road work or
business traveling. Your notebook should be sturdy or ruggerized to
be able to take a good pounding. Many notebooks have some novel
sturdiness features such as IBM's Active Protection System which is
designed to protect the hard drive from falls and spills for those
accident prone notebook users in your company.
Security
Living in today's world we need safeguards and security measures
in place to protect your company records and files. Not to
mention, to guard against the theft of your notebook computer itself.
Along those same lines your notebook computer should have advanced
security features. Many notebooks such as the IBM/Sonoma ThinkPad
series include an integrated fingerprint scanner for biometric
authentication that uses an Embedded Security Subsystem and Password
Manager.
Image/Style
At first glance this may seem like a superficial buying point, but
not really. In today's business world, image or style does count and
contribute to your button line. Sad but true! You want a notebook
computer that matches the image of your company.
There is one to fit your needs, you have a whole range of styles
of notebooks to choose from, whether it be conservative black or
blazing race car red. Most businesses are ultra-conservative (nature
of the beast) and should pick a notebook along those conservative lines, other businesses may want to promote a sharper or cooler image
such as in fashion, creative arts, music industry...
Price
Economy or Deluxe. Similar to the style, another major buying
factor is price. You can go from inexpensive notebooks
to luxury models. It all depends on your company's resources
and the image you want to project.
You can choose from the relatively inexpensive but very capable
DELL notebooks...all the way up to notebook manufacturers like the
UK based Rockdirect notebooks which offers upper end products that
can be custom made to your specs. You can even choose your own color!
Like any company purchase, especially if you're buying in bulk,
getting a good special volume price may play a role in your choice
of notebook. Always check with these notebook companies for a
group or company order -- you may be pleasantly surprised at the
savings.
However, don't sacrifice performance for a special price, make sure
the notebook computer you're buying has all the desired qualities:
portability, performance, battery life, connectivity, security and style,
-- all the features you want in your company's notebook computer.
If you consider all these factors, your next business notebook computer
purchase should just be a little bit easier.
There's no reason why you can't put this little modern workhorse to work
for your business or company. Used properly, the business laptop can
make for a well organized and cohesive work force that will pay big
dividends down the road, delivering a great return on your initial
investment.
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