CIO.com Quotes RESCUECOM in Tablet Article

RESCUECOM Gives Advice on Traveling with Tablets

Tablet Computers: Five Things You Need to Know

By Agam Shah on Thu, March 25, 2010

Apple's iPad brings tablet computers back into the limelight but will these devices fulfill your needs?

They're not mini-laptops. Tablets are handheld devices with touch screens ranging in size from five to 10 inches. Also called "slates" by PC makers, they include touch interfaces that allow users to surf the Web, play games, view movies and read e-books. One celebrated example is Apple's iPad, which was announced in January and goes on sale this month. Makers expected to start shipping devices later this year include Dell and Hewlett-Packard.

They fill a gap. The rapid growth of mobile Internet and touch screens has created a new class of computing devices for consumers, says Phil McKinney, Hewlett-Packard's CTO. Tablets enable mobile access to online content like newspapers, movies and games. Apple CEO Steve Jobs surfed the Internet and watched a movie on the iPad while sitting on a couch at that tablet's unveiling. He said the iPad is meant to fill the void between the iPhone and the MacBook laptop.

They're Best for fun. Tablets have drawbacks compared to laptops (no keyboard, limited software support), but they work well as entertainment devices and e-book readers. Tablet users need to hang up their PC reliance, says Vira Chen, assistant product manager at Micro-Star International, a Taiwan-based PC maker. A lot of trial and error goes into perfecting these devices, and the most innovative company will win, Chen says.

They Travel Well. The device is mostly for casual use, but tablets could find some business uses. David Milman, CEO of computer repair firm Rescuecom, says that tablets could replace laptops for presentations and working on planes. "Certainly getting through security would be easier with an iPad than with a 4-pound laptop and all of its accessories," Milman says. But tablets could break if subjected to rigorous use, so they need to be designed to be more rugged.

Business uses are limited. Analysts say tablets will suit niche markets, like workers recording field data. But there are obstacles too, says Steve Rausch, director of information services at Gibson General Hospital in Princeton, Ind. "I know our doctors would love the iPad if it could run our software. It's light, comfortable, and something they're used to since they have iPhones," he says. Right now the iPad only runs applications from Apple's App Store

Google Reviews

Harmony Wentz
Harmony Wentz
a month ago
Roy was very helpful and assisted me in setting up my computer quickly!
...Roy was very helpful and assisted me in setting up my computer quickly! less
americasministorage
americasministorage
a month ago
First experience with Rescuecom and the tech did an amazing job. Solved all of my issues. I highly r
...First experience with Rescuecom and the tech did an amazing job. Solved all of my issues. I highly recommend them to anyone. less
pat tracy
pat tracy
3 months ago
Roy did an excellent job retrieving lost email folders. I really appreciated his time and efforts.
...Roy did an excellent job retrieving lost email folders. I really appreciated his time and efforts. less
Valley View Self Storage
Valley View Self Storage
4 months ago
We highly recommend Rescuecom Corporation. We needed immediate help with our office computer and ge
...We highly recommend Rescuecom Corporation. We needed immediate help with our office computer and getting us back up and running they were very through and great to work with. less
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