REDMOND, Wash. — Feb. 21, 2012 — Just when the corporate IT department thinks it’s got everything nailed down, along comes a new technology, gadget or standard that changes everything.
Now, more than ever, the hot topic is part technology, part social movement. The so-called “consumerization of IT” may be causing wrinkled brows and sleepless nights for the tech department, but its potential to revolutionize information-worker productivity has generated comparisons to Henry Ford’s impact on manufacturing.
What’s the driving force behind the movement? In a word, choice. With so many great PCs and devices on the market today, people want to work wherever they are, on whatever device is comfortable for them. This can be a big benefit to companies, allowing for global productivity around the clock. It can also be a big challenge for the IT department, which wants homogeneity, predictability, security.
But the two sides may not be so far apart. For one thing, technology standards, especially when it comes to Web protocols, have created a world where devices of all stripes can play well together. When it comes to the Windows ecosystem, Microsoft has spent a couple of decades building a technology stack that can run the smallest handheld devices all the way to the world’s most powerful servers. Windows Azure cloud services can provide even more options for companies that want to give their workers the flexibility to work from virtually anywhere on any device, and Windows 7 was designed to help businesses get the most out of their technologies by keeping employees productive no matter where they work while having a great experience across a range of devices.
With all this in mind, manufacturers are coming up with an increasing array of PCs that can handle the switch from the board room to the living room with aplomb. Advances in processors, graphics, displays and storage have driven performance up and costs down, allowing PCs at the traditional enterprise price points to play movies and video games as well as handle that 27-slide PowerPoint deck.
Want some examples? Check out today’s slideshow featuring smart devices and PCs that look just as good in business attire as they do in shorts and sandals.
Consumerization of IT
| 110 |  |  |
Acer TravelMate Timeline 8481T
Road warriors and savvy business professionals seeking a combination of style, mobility and eco-compliance should consider the <a href="http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/series/travelmatetimelinex" target="_blank">Acer TravelMate Timeline 8481T</a> PC with Windows 7. Acer professional notebooks are submitted to a series of reliability tests and are compliant with the most stringent industry criteria including Energy Star qualified and registered EPEAT Silver. With energy savings, longer battery life and elimination of hazardous substances throughout the TravelMate Timeline’s supply chain results in one of Acer’s greenest notebook to date.
ASUS ZENBOOK UX31E
Packing powerful features within an elegant, 0.12-inch ultra-thin design, the ASUS ZENBOOK delivers high-quality performance to match its sophisticated looks. Thin and light, yet equipped with the power to perform, the UX31E is an ideal travel companion for mobile professionals. A second-generation Intel Core processor delivers the multitasking power needed to keep up with professionals’ busy lifestyles. ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II Instant On 2-second resume ensures valuable time is not wasted waiting on lengthy boot ups.
Dell XPS 13
The XPS 13 is the world’s first edge-to-edge display Windows 7 ultra-thin and light PC. It weighs 2.99 pounds, is less than a quarter inch thick, fits a 13.3-inch display in a 12-inch form factor, and features a full-size backlit keyboard, large multi-gesture support touchpad, rapid response SSD drive, powerful Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, and a brilliant HD WLED 300-nit display
HP Folio13
Offering a seamless flow between your personal and professional life, the HP Folio13 Ultrabook amazes in a thin, super-light design with zero sacrifices on battery life to take you through your day. As HP’s first business Ultrabook, the 13.3-inch Folio features strong security options and a responsive, solid-state hard drive for the ultimate mobile experience.
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s
The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420s is all about business on a budget. Put a distinctive face on your small business with a progressively designed, powerfully engineered laptop. Get a second-generation Intel Core i5 processor, tons of memory and hard drive space, and gaming-quality graphics in a 4-pound package that costs less than $700 (U.S.).
Samsung Series 7 Slate PC
The Samsung Series 7 Slate PC offers all of the features of a full-sized laptop in an extremely portable package, providing on-the-go users with the computing power they need for maximum productivity anywhere. Despite weighing less than 2 pounds and measuring only a half-inch thick, the Series 7 Slate is a full-powered PC with Windows 7 and an up-to-128GB, solid-state hard drive. These features meet both the business and personal needs of even the most demanding power users, while the Slate's sleek design and vibrant 11.6-inch screen will impress everywhere, from the coffee shop to the boardroom.
Sony Z Series
Born from a legacy of engineering innovation, the all new VAIO Z Series, with Windows 7, introduces the next evolution in ultraportable laptops by featuring second-generation Intel Core processors (up to 2.70 GHz) and a fully powered dock with AMD graphics and more. Plus the Z Series delivers up to 16 hours of combined battery life (with optional extended battery).
HTC TITAN II
The HTC Titan II is the latest Windows Phone from HTC Corp., coming to AT&T in the coming months. Similar to the original version, it boasts the largest display among Windows Phones globally.
Nokia Lumia 900
The Nokia Lumia 900 features a 4.3- inch AMOLED ClearBlack display that provides superior viewing and touch experience on a device that still fits easily in your hand.
Samsung Focus Flash
Samsung Focus Flash's 3.7-inch Super AMOLED screen will both fit in pockets and be light on pocketbooks with the full power of Windows Phone 7.5. Fast, lightweight and compact, it runs a 1.4 GHz processor and a 5-megapixel camera plus a front-facing camera.