HP introduces its first business ultrabook

by officePROhub.com on 11/16/2011 - 09:57 pm

Tags: Cloud Computing, Laptop, Tablet

 

HP introduced Wednesday its first business ultrabook, offering nine hours of battery life, a solid-state drive, and a security chip that protects data in email and information on the hard drive.

The roll out by HP comes less than a month after the company said that its Personal Systems Group (PSG), which deals in PCs, smartphones and tablets, will stay with the company. HP had earlier talked about evaluating options for this business.

The company also expanded Wednesday its ultraportable consumer notebook PC line with the HP Pavilion dm4, including a Beats Edition. Beats Audio technology was developed by HP in collaboration with artist and producer Dr. Dre, and chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records and Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine, the company said.

HP also introduced Envy 15, Envy 17, and Envy 17 3D notebooks, which will be available in the US on Dec. 7, besides two wireless accessories.

The new ultrabook, called the HP Folio, will also go on sale Dec. 7 at a starting price of US$900.

It has a 13.3-inch (33.8 centimeters) diagonal high-definition display, weighs 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) and is 0.7 inches (1.8 centimeters) thick.

HP said the ultrabook is powered by the latest Intel Core processors without providing details, and can be configured with a range of Microsoft Windows 7 operating systems, including Windows 7 Professional. It also includes a solid-state drive (SSD) with 128 gigabytes (GB) of storage.

HP is attempting to position the ultrabook as bridging the "gap between professional and personal life" as it combines industrial design found on consumer products with the security and usability that business users demand. The Folio model with TPM (Trusted Platform Module) Embedded Security chip is planned to be available in January. TPM is a specification for embedded security in chips, which is implemented in a chip on the motherboard.

The company has focused on reducing the number of accessories like power adapters that business users will have to carry while traveling. A wide array of ports, including Ethernet, eliminates the need to carry dongles, it said.

Microsoft’s Intune Makes Remote PC Management Easier

by officePROhub.com on 11/04/2011 - 06:25 pm

Tags: Cloud Computing, Office Computers, software and programs, Tablet, Virtual Office

For small businesses, remote management of computers can be a challenge. But Microsoft is debuting a new update to its Intune product specifically designed to help small and medium-sized businesses.

According to Computer World, Intune will provide administrators increased ability to control remote PCs. Not only will this allow for easier technical support of those PCs, it helps businesses run software inventories and deploy software over the network to a large number of computers at once. For small businesses with limited IT staff, this can be an invaluable tool.

It also allows management of machines located in remote locations, as Computer World points out. The upgrade, Microsoft Intune director Eric Maine told Computer World, helps businesses that “have a percentage of PCs that are hard to manage, because they don’t come into the network nearly as often as they need to.”

Released in March, Intune is designed to help IT administrators manage Windows 7 PCs.The software allows businesses to easily manage security and software installations over the network, saving time and resources. Better yet, Intune uses Microsoft’s Cloud, allowing businesses to incorporate the latest technology at a fraction of the normal cost to incorporate a Cloud-based enterprise service.

In addition to updating and deployment, Intune allows administrators to monitor all PCs within a domain, checking status of security updates and ensuring all software is up-to-date. Intune improves users’ experience, as well, allowing them to check for updates and even submit alerts to the help desk. Through the console, administrators can use the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset, which has more than 14 components to help with recovery if a computer crashes. This prevents data loss, as well as protecting other computers on the network from infection. But the best part is, all of this can be done via Intune’s console, even if the affected computers are miles away.

One problem with Intune’s deployment has been the slow integration of Windows 7 into businesses. While home use of Windows 7 has gone as expected, as recently as June 2010, Microsoft claimed 74% of businesses were still using Windows XP. Microsoft is taking steps to change that, with steps such as no longer providing Internet Explorer versions compatible with the XP operating system, but with the economy making IT budgets tight, necessary upgrades to server software and old applications would require staff many companies do not have at this time. So companies hold off…for now.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is moving forward. As more companies migrate to the Windows 7 platform, software like Intune will continue to change the way companies do business. And, for small businesses, software like Intune will continue to save money by providing more efficient ways to conduct business, automating processes that will allow small businesses to do more with less.

10 reasons why tablets will overtake laptops in the next year

by officePROhub.com on 11/01/2011 - 04:05 pm

Tags: Cloud Computing, Laptop, Office Computers, Tablet

By Jack Wallen

Takeaway: Why are business users ditching their laptops in favor of a tablet when they hit the road? Tablet convert Jack Wallen highlights several reasons.

The laptop has been around for quite some time, but it will more than likely be replaced as the go-to tool for computing on the move. What will be the successor? The tablet — obviously. Many doubters think the tablet is nothing more than a gimmick to help boost sales. I was one of those doubters for quite some time. But after using tablets enough, I have come around to seeing just how incredibly helpful that technology is. Here are some reasons why I believe tablets will replace the laptop as the mobile device of choice.

1: Power consumption

There is no question here: The tablet blows away the laptop with regard to power consumption. On average, I can get a full day out of a tablet on a single charge. A laptop? Not even close. And for anyone on the go, losing power is just another obstacle that interferes with work. With a tablet, you don’t have that issue. It would be a rare occasion that you would burn through your power before getting access to a means of recharging.

2: Viruses

Android? iPad? Viruses anyone? I think not. Not that it will never happen, but it’s a pretty safe bet that tablets will never suffer from the same deluge of viruses that plagues a Windows laptop. Because of this, a tablet can safely work on without concern for viruses and malware. Oh sure, you’ll find antivirus software in the Android Market, but they are pretty much pointless. Who in the world wouldn’t want to work with a portable device that isn’t vulnerable to the masses of viruses and malware out in the wild?

3: Portability

You can lug around a 4- to 12-pound laptop or a sub .5-pound tablet. Which do you want when you’re going through airports, taxis, hotels, conferences, meetings, etc.? You’re going to choose the tablet every time. But not just because of weight. The ability to work with a tablet in confined spaces totally overshadows the laptop. Need to work in a cab? Tablet. Need to work in the bathroom? Tablet. You simply can’t beat the tablet for portability.

4: Cost effectiveness

Out of the starting gate, a really good tablet will cost about the same as a low- to mid-range laptop. So you’re getting more for your money at the outset. But now figure in the price of an extra battery and software for the laptop and you can see how quickly the cost will add up. Tablets are fast becoming one of the most cost-effective office tools you will find.

5: Online connection

Pay the extra fee and get your tablet with a 4G connection, and you won’t have to worry about finding a Wi-Fi connection to access whatever cloud or service you need. Most models can be purchased with a constant network connection (to the tune of 3G or 4G), which makes the tablet a step ahead of most laptops. Yes, you can purchase aircards for laptops, but that’s just another piece of hardware to worry about.

6: Available applications

There are thousands upon thousands of applications now available for tablets. So many in number and variety are these applications, it almost makes going back to a laptop a real pain. And yes, a good portion of those apps are worthless, but not all of them. And a good portion of the solid, useful apps are free! Best of all, those apps can be installed from anywhere without installation media. You have a network connection, you can install software.

7: User friendliness

Tablet interfaces are probably some of the single most user-friendly desktops you will come across. They are simple, elegant, and don’t get in the way of work. I fully believe (as do Ubuntu and GNOME) that this is the future of the PC desktop. The applications (for the most part) were also designed with amazing user friendliness in mind. Simple to use, very little clutter to the interface (no Ribbons to get in the way), and singular in purpose (in many cases). So you might have more apps installed than you would on a laptop, but because of the ease of installation/removal, that’s not a problem.

8: Bluetooth connectivity

I have become a fond user of the Bluetooth. Headphones, headsets, keyboards, you name it. And tablets make the connection between these devices a breeze. Connecting those same devices to a laptop? Not so easy. Even with a built-in card, the connection process is not nearly as easy as it is when done from a tablet.

9: Efficiency

Getting a laptop and a tablet out of hibernation is like comparing apples and oranges. Tablets are as close to an instant-on tool as we have in the industry. And when on the go, nothing beats instant on. Need to write a note or send off a fast email? You’ll be completing that task much more quickly when doing it from a tablet.

10: Social integration

Some might argue that social networking isn’t ideal for business use. I would argue that it is. Even when you’re on the go, you need to remain in contact with co-workers, family, and friends. Why not do that with the ease of nearly seamless integration? Forget having to use a browser for everything. Instead, grab an Android tablet that can quickly have you Facebooking, Tweeting, and Tumbling. And if you think that’s nothing more than a waste of time, remember that small businesses depend upon social networking tools for free marketing.

The tablet era

Tablets are not only here to stay, it will only be a matter of time before they have fully and finally usurped the laptop as the go-to hardware for the mobile business user. After you get past the acclimation period for the keyboard, the tablet is an amazing tool for portable business (or even casual) usage.

OpenDesks Goes Mobile in 133 Cities with iPhone App

by officePROhub.com on 11/01/2011 - 06:55 pm

Tags: Cloud Computing, Laptop, Office Space, Tablet, Virtual Office

As the workplace goes mobile, so goes the office space—or at least the means of finding open desks.

OpenDesks, a shared workspace resource for professional mobile workers, just released a mobile app that makes 700 business class workspaces instantly available to professional mobile workers in 133 cities.

With the launch of its iPhone app, OpenDesks is officially declaring that the café era is over. The company is referring to the habit of mobile workers—whether they are entrepreneurs, freelancers, sales people, consultants, creative independents or some other type of roaming professional—setting up temporary shop at the likes of Starbucks.

“Starbucks is not your office, and hotel lobbies are not conference rooms,” says OpenDesks founder and CEO Chris DiFonzo. “It’s now possible to find a productive workspace almost anywhere you need one. It just makes sense.”

Mobile work trends, including coworking, teleworking, workshifting, and office sharing are rapidly changing how people and organizations define workspace. Indeed, the mobile workforce is now mainstream. OpenDesks’ free app works to empower mobile workers to find the space they need, when they need it, entirely on demand with no upfront cost.

“Apps like these will help add a broader client base to the entire serviced office industry,” says Frank Cottle, Chairman of the Alliance Business Centers Network. “In fact, these types of innovations may be the answer to a challenge business centers have been looking for: how to attract the growing audience of mobile workers.”

From Anchorage to Miami, San Diego to Montreal, and Quebec City to Austin, mobile workers from every walk of life can now easily search, book, and pay for work and meeting space via their mobile devices. The mobile app organizes workspaces by type.

“Being productive is more essential than ever, and everyone knows non-optimal settings hurt productivity. There are still holdouts who would rather be unproductive than pay for space, but this attitude is fading away. We see many entrepreneurs and self-employed workers opting to pay for productive space,” DiFonzo says, noting that even bigger companies are getting on board the on-demand office space trend.

“Employers tell us ‘If I can put my $100,000 per year employee at a desk for a few hours for $35 to $50, versus futzing around in a hotel lobby, it’s a no brainer.’ We hear this frequently.”  

Concerns Cloud Providers are Taking Seriously

by officePROhub.com on 11/01/2011 - 07:11 pm

Tags: Cloud Computing, Laptop, Tablet, Virtual Office

November 1, 2011 by Mandira Srivastava

These days cloud computing is a buzzing word among enterprise owners. It is considered as the next revolution in IT industry. It has become an increasingly attractive option for many small businesses as a convenient and cost-effective method for data storage and applications. It remains a good option for a company to migrate all of its data services to a cloud service and it is definitely going to get more popular in the future.
However, there are still a few threats to cloud computing due to the fact that it is still a relatively new technology and even some big companies like Amazon have recently experienced problems due to a cloud computing issue. The main problems that currently being faced by the cloud computing providers are:

• Outage: Yes, even cloud computing companies can have outages, as in the case of Amazon if the cloud service goes down or as what has happened to the Microsoft Office 365 a few times. Although the cloud service can be more reliable that having your own internal IT service, servers always a risk of outage. Many of the cloud providers today are also using backup systems so that they can switch over in the event of an outage. To maintain the 24/7 services that cloud computing offers, it is vital for the providers to implement a cross-cloud system to enable the users to gain access to their data in the event of an outage. If you are considering migrating to a cloud service for your business it is a good idea to check with the provider to ensure they have a backup system.

• Security: One of the main concerns that most business owners are worried about is security. Because your data will be stored in a remote location, you will have to log in to access it and this also makes the systems vulnerable to cyber attacks and data breaches. Again, this is something that is being taken seriously by the cloud providers and many of them are working to eradicate the problem by enforcing stricter security in terms of access. This is another good thing to consider when choosing a cloud provider. There is also a security concern when it comes to how your data is stored on the servers. If your data is stored along with the data of other companies on one server it may be possible for a hacker to gain access to all of the data just by hacking into the one server.

Cloud computing is becoming more and more popular these days and the technology is definitely here to stay. Because of this, all of the cloud service providers are striving to make it a more reliable and secure service for the future. The outage and security issues will be a top priority for all of the cloud computing providers.