| For many small and large businesses equipping | | | | some workers. |
| your staffor workers with the right business tool | | | | While not exactly its Achilles heel, it is something |
| does present asmall dilemma: should you go with | | | | everymanager or boss must consider. |
| a PDA or a Laptop? | | | | Thus we come the next business tool that should |
| Examining the features and benefits of both these | | | | be on yourlist: the business laptop. Basically, a |
| technicalmarvels will help you or your company | | | | laptop will give youmost of the functions of a |
| make the right decision. | | | | PDA in a larger package. And ifyour laptop comes |
| First, you probably already know PDA stands for | | | | with a VOIP phone just about all thefunctions can |
| "Personal | | | | be preformed on a laptop instead of a PDA. |
| Digital Assistant" and are handheld computers. | | | | A laptop will give you a much larger screen for all |
| Popular PDAbrand names include PalmOne, | | | | thosespreadsheets and diagrams, not to mention |
| Tungsten and BlackBerry. | | | | any videopresentation will go over better on a |
| Although these devices are small and fit in the | | | | laptop. Laptopsusually come with more robust |
| palm ofyour hand, they can perform a whole | | | | options and a larger storagespace than PDAs. A |
| range of functionsincluding calculator, clock, | | | | regular size keyboard on a laptop willmake word |
| calendar, web browser, send andreceive e-mails, | | | | processing, typing and sending e-mails much,much |
| typewriter, word processor, video cameraand | | | | easier. It is something you must consider. |
| even GPS (Global Positioning System). | | | | With the recent developments of the Intel Duo |
| Newer models now come with color screens and | | | | coreprocessors and the new Windows Vista |
| can also be usedas a mobile or cell phone. Apple | | | | operating system,laptops are becoming more |
| has recently introducedthe iPhone which will offer | | | | powerful and more lightweight. |
| many of the above featuresaccessible via a | | | | Laptop batteries can now last the full business |
| touchscreen. It will have an OS X systemand | | | | day or untilthe next re-charging without any |
| many advanced features that will revolutionize the | | | | interruption in functionor service. |
| PDAmarket. According to Apple the iPhone will be | | | | A laptop offers all this convenience in a larger |
| available in | | | | packageand makes for an excellent business tool |
| Mid-2007. | | | | for any companyor home office. Laptops are |
| PDAs are convenient, multi-functional and very | | | | usually more expensive than |
| easy tocarry around. They are great business | | | | PDAs but this price gap is narrowing as laptop |
| tools for workingin the field or on the factory | | | | priceshave fallen dramatically in the last couple of |
| floor. A virtual office inthe palm of your hand. | | | | years. |
| Many professionals become "addicted"to their | | | | What you really have to ask: "Does size matter |
| PDAs and couldn't imagine work or life without a | | | | to you?" |
| PalmOne or a Blackberry! | | | | If you or your workers can easily use the small |
| However, while the small size of the PDA is its | | | | touchscreensand buttons on a PDA than that |
| mainadvantage, it also presents a major stumbling | | | | may be your business tool ofchoice. However, if |
| block. | | | | these small screens present a problem,then a |
| In an ageing workforce or for those "digitally | | | | lightweight laptop should be considered as your |
| challenged",using or manipulating those small | | | | nextchoice. |
| buttons or touchscreenscan be a problem. Many | | | | Of course, companies with unlimited resources |
| people find using such small devicesand small | | | | can equiptheir workers with both a PDA and a |
| screens somewhat troublesome to say the least. | | | | Laptop; makingthe whole argument rather moot. |
| Everything is at your fingertips but it feels like | | | | However, most ofus are not coming from this |
| Lilliputor Land Of The Giants revisited. Dialing | | | | vantage point so youshould let size be your |
| numbers on a smalltouchscreen can be a hit or | | | | deciding factor. This is onecase where size comes |
| miss situation. Organizing acompany spreadsheet | | | | before form or function indetermining your |
| on a minute 2 inch screen is a gigantictask | | | | business tool of choice. |
| (pardon the pun). PDAs are just too small for | | | | |