Notebooks: Size, or Portability?

Be mobile. That’s the new buzzword. Cellphones and PDA

(portable desktop application) devices have ensured that professionals on the

move can work seamlessly within and outside the office. The growing preference

for notebook PCs is due to the convenience and mobility they offer. Chances are

that your senior management is already carrying notebooks and it is but a

question of time before the effect trickles down the hierarchy. However, before

you decide on the type of notebook for your users, carefully study their

requirement.

It’s either about size, or portability



A user would either be looking for a smaller replacement for the desktop or

else, if he is constantly on the move, the focus is on portability.

Desktop replacement. If the user primarily works at the

office or from home, he needs to replicate the desktop function on his notebook.

It is most likely that he is looking for the complete desktop experience along

with portability. For such a user, the weight of the device is not a problem.

Display is important, typically 15 inches diagonally with a resolution of

1,024-by-768 or possibly 1,280-by-1,024. These machines need to have built-in

floppy drive and possibly, a CD-ROM. They will have plenty of connectors; for

instance, virtually all such notebooks have two or four USB connectors. They are

bulkier and can handle a few bumps and bruises.

Ultra-portable. This is for users always ‘on the move’.

Weight is a very important issue here and the machine should be very light (3 to

4 pounds). Ultra-portables are extremely compact and users have to compromise on

some of the functionality. So, the user will have to junk the floppy drive and

CD ROM. The keyboard is 5% to 10% tighter than usual, the display is smaller

(typically 12 inches diagonally), either a lower-resolution SVGA, single USB

sockets, and possibly no standard ports such as printer, mouse, or keyboard.

Battery life also takes a beating given the compact design. The battery pack has

only about four to six cells in order to save on weight and cost. So, if

longevity is important to the user, ask the vendor for a second battery pack -

one that has more cells but still fits inside the battery tray or a clip-on

extender battery.

Upgrades are easy, moving up the OS ladder isn’t



Upgrading your desktop is not too much of a problem, but propriety issues

make portable upgradation difficult. If the user requirement is basically in the

area of word processing, Web surfing and e-mail, then any machine will do. But

the issue of upgradation will certainly come up if the organization is planning

to move it current OS to a higher version. A notebook may not have the minimum

memory required for a certain OS. In such cases, the machines need to be

upgraded. The other component would be the hard disk drive. However, if you are

looking at a processor level upgrade, it is best to look for a new machine as

these upgrades can be expensive, usually require professional installation, and

will not match the performance you’d get from buying a new notebook.

Key issues



Given that the upgrade path is more difficult and expensive, the best way to

beat portable obsolescence is planning. The life of a notebook usually spans

from three to five years. It is best to plan the needs and requirements of the

users on annual basis. It is also best to buy all your notebooks from one or two

vendors as you can leverage on the volume discounts. Besides, support and

services can also be better handled. It is a good idea to have one or two

machines as standbys, especially if you don’t have a standby machine clause in

your agreement with the vendor. The key to buying portables, lies in tapping the

user requirement. For instance, if the user prefers a notebook with ultra

portable features, the key consideration would be weight and battery life and he

would be willing to junk non-essential elements like a floppy disk and a CD-ROM.

Team DQ

Buying Tips