Gone slate and saving money

I've talked a number of times about how I wanted a slate computer and I finally have exactly that.  This device is the tablet PC that I have wanted for for many years.  A proper non convertible slate with processing power to spare and yet still Microsoft windows compatible.

This device was twice as expensive as an Apple equivalent however similar devices I have used that attempted to match the Apple price point just did not have enough capability.  Windows computers just need more processing power than the mobile phone OS that is running the Apple device.  This device is not as user friendly as the iPad, however it can do everything that I normally do in the office and is my main computing device.  I do not need to compromise on applications, storage locations or Enterprise policy.

Despite it's initial cost, which is lower than an equivalent convertible tablet, I am still saving money through using it.  A week ago I sat around a meeting table with 12 other people.  Each person had a stack of about 70 pages of colour A4.  I estimate the cost of that at about £20 per person with a modern printer contract.  Now I usually go to at least one meeting like this a week, if not more.  On a personal level then I can easily pay for this device in savings over the year.  In addition I now once more make no paper notes and have not as yet even loaded a printer driver, not only that but everything I do is concentrated in one place.  By providing staff with devices like this, or even an iPad, the organisation as a whole could become a lot more cost efficient.  To do that though would require a significant commitment to change from individuals and the organisation as a whole.

This kind of device coupled with the flexibility of cloud systems really will replace the type of computing that most people are currently used to.  Tower computers and high power workstations will really begin to fade back to the enthusiast user and specialist applications.  Not only that this kind of device will be the reason that IT departments will stop owning and controlling the end point computers within their domain.   Our next enterprise challenge is not how to control the users and their endpoints, it is how to not control these things but still provide the reliable services they need.