This article is continued from Part 1
“Hardware, Software, Where do I Begin?”
Effectively Managing Your Business Technology Needs - Part 2
Where To Buy
The Internet is great for comparing prices and it opens a whole new world of shopping choices for consumers. Most companies now let you “build your own computer” and mix and match components based on your specific needs. Log on and compare what Dell, Gateway, Compaq, HP, and IBM have to offer. You should be able to find a value system for as little as $500-1,000. You can also look at PC World and PC Magazine for product reviews and suggestions. Consumer Reports has a website that is also a helpful source for technology purchases: www.consummerreports.org
Laptop Computers
If you need a laptop for mobility, they are great for taking data with you when you travel. I use a laptop when I go on trips. I have it networked to my desktop machine. I simply transfer anything I need to the laptop before leaving on a trip. While I travel, I can work on the same documents that I have on my desktop. When I return, I simply transfer the changed documents from my laptop back to my desktop.
Recommendations: The Dell Latitude D 610 series is an excellent laptop. The Compaq V2000 series is an excellent choice for those who travel. The HP Pavilion Dv4000 is a great overall value. IBM’s ThinkPad series is also a good choice.
Note: model numbers often change. Look for similar model numbers.
PDA's
Palm devices have been very popular for many years now. They help folks remotely access data, track important contact information, and much more. Pocket PC’s are beginning to rival Palm devices in popularity. In general, they are more powerful than Palm devices and are excellent for sharing and transferring Microsoft documents and data while away from the office. Microsoft is the developer of the Pocket PC platform and they plan to add even more synergy between mobile devices and office computers in the coming years. The whole theory behind .Net (‘say dot Net’) programming is to improve the sharing and remote transfer of data between desktop computers and other portable devices.
Note: Internet connectivity (wireless) is still somewhat limited for Pocket PC’s and Palm devices. However, wireless Internet connections are becoming more common and should continue to improve over the next few years.
Recommendations: Most Pocket PC’s feature similar components. Mobile “X-scale processors” are very fast and powerful. Most manufactures offer 400 + processor speeds with 64 MB of memory, or more. Some offer Internet connection options (wireless connectivity) so make sure you buy the right product for you needs. Dell offers the “Axiom” Pocket PC. This is a good choice for overall value. For those who want more features, consider the HP IPAQ PC or Toshiba models.
