Most business people want to give the impression that they are up to date with everything in their industry. This means knowing all about the latest technology and keeping ahead of the competition. Has the time arrived where you end your friendship with your laptop computer and compete on a different stage with a tablet computer?
With the number of 0% credit cards available in the market, the small cost of a tablet computer can be spread over a year or more without any interest payments, so what is stopping you from making the new purchase? Did you just think tablets were a glorified toy?
Business is all about trust
If you have been in business a long time, you will remember the time when a sales person appeared with a laptop computer and proceeded inflate their ego by showing you what the computer could do to enable them to sell you a product or service.
In the days of the early adopters, the customer did not necessarily trust the salesman with the laptop computer because working this way was a rare sight. Moving along a few years, you would treat any salesperson without a laptop computer with suspicion. You would wonder why they couldn’t afford one and therefore, should you do business with them?
Tablets become common
Now, it appears that almost everyone you know has an iPad or a Samsung Tab. More and more business people are using them in business meetings; what about you? Could you work in an environment that includes a tablet computer and leave your laptop computer at home?
Reasons to consider changing models
Laptops are heavy. Even with the latest, smallest models, they still weigh enough to start early shoulder problems when you add the bag, power leads, USB cables and anything else associated with the business presentation.
Some people have chosen to move to the smaller and lighter netbook computers, but the screens are small (similar to a tablet) and the computers don’t usually have a CD/DVD player so you will need to carry a CD/DVD drive as well.
Boot times can leave the salesman trying to conduct small talk while counting the 60 or so seconds’ wait for the Windows screen to arrive. Either that or they chance leaving the computer in hibernation mode and pray it opens quickly and at the right screen.
Tablet computers are much smaller and lighter than any laptop rival. They are more portable than the laptop as they can be passed around the people in the meeting room. These people can then interact by tapping on items on screen to see the next part of the presentation. This interaction can aid the sale, increase the efficiency of the service and impress the customer. In comparison, the old style laptop sits in one place while you hope the battery lasts so you do not have the embarrassment of having to ask for an electrical supply.
Not all tablets are great purchases
There are many quality tablet computers on the market, but there has also been a rush of cheaper quality products that will show your lack of imagination if you purchase one for business use. Saving a hundred dollars might give you a poor screen resolution and lose you the sale.
The tablets have slower CPUs and much less hard drive space than laptops. The question you need to ask yourself is whether the tablet can successfully run the software you need for your presentation. Your laptop will hold plenty of software for your business needs, but what is really needed when you are on a one-to-one with the customer?
Battery life is far better than your old laptop with the higher quality tablets. You will be able to conduct a whole day’s business without fear of battery failure and sinking sales.
The iPad 3 is lurking just around the corner. If you have invested in either of the first two versions, will you look out of date to your customers?
Software vs apps
Your biggest hurdle will be to see if the apps available can run the presentations you require in a business meeting. You won’t have the space on your tablet to carry the full Microsoft Office software sets, but smaller apps will run your PowerPoint presentation.
You should not move to a tablet just to show off; it still needs to be a working tool. So it comes down to this: if a tablet can’t run the software you need, then leave it at home and upgrade your laptop instead.