Dear Geek,
I travel a lot for work. Although laptops are great, they are sometimes cumbersome. Is a tablet or smartphone a reliable option, instead of a laptop, for business travel?
Signed,
Size Does Matter
Dear Size Matters,
For working outside the office, a smartphone has replaced the laptop for business travelers. With advancements in screen size, mobile broadband, and processing power, smartphones and tablet allow business travelers to get work done outside the office, nearly as efficiently as they can in the office. Nearly.
If your job just requires you to work on the internet and have email access, a mobile device is a great option. However, if your job requires the use of complex software (ie. graphic designers, videographers, managerial software), may find that using the programs on mobile devices may cost more time waiting for the device to process the data than the smaller device is worth.
When considering a work surface outside work, a key consideration is mobile applications. Will the applications available allow you to work efficiently enough to get your job done, and do they respond as quickly on a smartphone or tablet as on a laptop?
If precise data entry is important, and must be done while traveling, you could invest in a portable keyboard. Some Bluetooth keyboards are available with a variety of options, including full-size USB ports, and enhanced battery life.
In most cases, it comes down to preference, but also the type of work you need to get done.
If you have a question for our Resident Geek, send it to: geek@tbyd.ca. We’ll translate it from Geek-lish to English, so it actually helps!
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