There are some “firsts” that are desirable, others that are not. Acer’s second-quarter filings reveal that the company has had its first quarterly loss ever. And company chairman J.T. Wang says that it will be “impossible” to break even this year. Acer posted a net loss of NT$6.79 billion, against Wall Street’s expectations of an NT$3.3 billion loss. READ MORE
Despite Apple’s loyal fan base, the company sells far less notebook computers than competitors Asus, Dell, HP and Samsung. But when you add sales of the iPad into the equation, Apple is suddenly the dominant force in the mobile computing space. READ MORE
It depends how you look at it. There’s no arguing with the fact that the iPad is one of the most successful products the world has ever seen, and that Apple is literally selling them as fast as it can get them off the assembly line. READ MORE
And they deride Apple products as mere fashion accessories: The recently unveiled Samsung Series 5 Chromebook (along with a model from Acer, one of the two new Google Chrome OS-based netbooks I previously wrote about) has already gone on sale at the luxury fashion discount site Gilt Groupe, ahead of the wide-release sale date of June 15th. READ MORE
We’ve laid out the concept of Google’s initiative to roll out Chrome OS-based netbooks — now meet the actual devices. Samsung and Acer will each introduce their version of a “Chromebook” next month. The netbooks are similar in both concept–web-centric, cloud-based (as in no traditional HDD for storage purposes) lean machines with impressive start-up times and battery life–and their respective specifications. READ MORE
Linda Musgrove never thought about hooking up a second screen to her office computer until the day her tech-savvy husband came home with a new monitor. She decided to have him install the new monitor alongside her old one — and voila — a convert was born. “Once I started using two, I couldn’t go back to one,” says Musgrove, proprietor of TradeShow Teacher, an Aventura, Fla., trade show marketing consultant. “Then he brought another one home and I started using three, and once I was using three he got me another one.” Today, Musgrove would be lost without her four-monitor arrangement: two standard 20” screens stacked one on top of the other and two 21” widescreens to the left and right. All are from Acer. Musgrove does a lot of graphic design work for her business and multiple monitors allow her to have a document she’s working on up on one, research materials on two others and her Facebook page on the fourth. “I can be working on one thing and while it’s saving I can jump onto something else,” she says. “I have ADD so I need to have a lot of things going on at once, and I really do work faster.” Musgrove powers her set up from a PC her husband modifiedwithanIntel Core 2 Quad 3 gigahertz processor and 6 gigabytes of RAM. Musgrove’s husband outfitted her computer with two Nvidia GeForce graphics cards, each with two digital video interface (DVI) outputs so there are connectors for each of her four monitors. Multiple monitor fans Multiple monitor, or “multi-mon” users as they call themselves, can be found in many information-heavy professions including graphic design, stock trading, software development, IT administration, and publishing. At one time, Ryan Thompson, owner of an independent IT business in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at one time used five 19” to 21” standard CRT monitors lined up horizontally. It was a few too many monitors. “I started getting dizzy spells after a few days from turning my head too much,” he says. “I found I really only used the middle three effectively. The others basically devolved into scratch space and log output.” For Thompson, three feels about right, with a middle monitor rotated vertically for document editing. “Having a single monitor would be crippling,” he says. Like Musgrove, Tom Anderson stumbled onto using multiple monitors accidently. The last time that Anderson Analytics, his Stamford, Conn., boutique market research firm, bought computers he ended up with two extra flat panel monitors. He started using them and was immediately smitten. “It’s so natural,” Anderson says. “Whether you have e-mail up on monitor one and are surfing the Web or typing an e-mail response or other type of document in Word on monitor two, it’s so nice to have both there at a glance.” And like Musgrove, Anderson eventually upgraded to using more than two. Today he uses three identical 24” widescreen flat panel displays connected to a Dell Studio XPS 435 MT with an Intel Core i7-920 processor and uses a swivel office chair “so I can easily change my angle slightly,” he says. Anderson’s advice for anyone thinking about adding a screen? “Why wait, splurge, you won’t regret it.” SIDEBAR: Getting Started with Multiple Monitors If you’re interested in adding a second monitor to your desktop or laptop computer, here are some resources to get you started: Official Microsoft how-to guide — Step-by-step instructions for configuring and using multiple monitors with Windows XP. Linux user’s multi-monitor wiki — Instructions for setting up multiple monitors on Linux computers either in clone mode, where each monitor displays the same thing, or in “multihead mode,” where each monitor displays a separate session. Social Wallpapering — An online purveyor of background wallpaper with dozens of scenes suited to dual screens. Utility software — Multi-monitor utilities include programs such as UltraMon, which sets up a multi-monitor system, and Multi-Mon, which opens a new Windows task bar on a second monitor. Multi-Mon developer MediaChance also sells a heftier pro version that works with XP and Vista. Graphics expansion modules — External devices such as Matrox Graphics’DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go connect two or three monitors to a PC or Mac, laptop or desktop computer through the VGA or DVI output.
Thanks to falling prices, increased selection, and many more applications targeted at small and mid-sized businesses, it might seem like the right time to consider picking up a tablet PC — or several for your staff. For the uninitiated, these small and lightweight handheld computers let you comfortably write on the screen using a stylus pen. Bundled optical character recognition (OCR) software can also transcribe your chicken scratch into text, making it easy to search or insert into documents, presentations, or e-mails. With built-in wireless functionality, such as 802.11 (Wi-Fi), tablet PCs are also online-ready. Microsoft has an entire operating system devoted to these computers — Windows XP Tablet PC. The software giant has also spent considerable marketing dollars to promote OneNote, a tablet PC-centric note-taking and information-management program for Microsoft Office. OneNote allows you to effortlessly record, organize, search, and share digital notes. Computer makers offering more tablet PCs Many laptops available today also offer tablet PC functionality. Aptly named “convertibles,” these computers feature LCD screens that can swivel around and lay flat — so the user can hold it like a clipboard and write instead of type. It’s no wonder many computer manufacturers have jumped onboard, including the likes of Acer, HP, Lenovo, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, and Fujitsu. It might seem as if the tablet computer was the latest rage. But, truth be told, the tablet PCs are hardly flying off the shelves. So, why aren’t they selling? According to a recent IDC report, the market is relatively tiny. Convertible tablet PC shipments, for example, will reach barely one million units this year and more than four million by 2010, IDC estimates. Compare this to approximately 72.6 million laptop PCs sold during the same period. “Tablets are still a pretty niche market and I don’t see that changing anytime soon,” says Gary Chen, senior analyst for Small and Medium Enterprise IT Infrastructure and Applications at the Yankee Group. “They’re good for certain vertical applications, but for the mainstream I don’t see it ever becoming the primary form factor.” Determine whether you need tablet functionality Other analysts are more optimistic about the tablet PC’s potential in the small and mid-sized business market. Michael Gartenberg, Jupiter Research’s vice president and research director, says that businesses need to assess whether they can utilize the additional mobility and functionality that the tablet PC has to offer. “The technology has matured — in both the hardware and software — but the big question is ‘do you need it?’” Gartenberg says. For many businesses, the answer may be, “Yes.” Gartenberg suggests that IT decision makers at small and mid-sized businesses consider whether staff members in their business have certain requirements that may be appropriate for tablet PC usage. Tablet computers can provide benefits when used in the following scenarios: When employees are in meetings and want to use their computer as a white board to best demonstrate a product or concept by using a diagram or pictorial representation. In mobile environments, such as health care, where workers need to record information while standing or in other situations where a keyboard isn’t appropriate. In businesses that can cut out a data entry step by enabling field workers to use a stylus to take notes or record observations, which can then be ported into a text file with a few clicks. Another selling point of the tablet PC is that there is no longer a considerable difference in quality between tablets and other laptops. “A few years ago, there was a clear sacrifice in quality of screen, battery life, and power,” Gartenberg says. “But now you’re not trading any functionality.” Chen concedes the price for tablet PCs isn’t much of a barrier of entry any longer for a small or mid-sized business. “Cost was initially a big factor,” he says, “and they’ve definitely come down in price.” That said, Chen maintains most users are “pretty happy with a standard laptop and don’t really see a need to be able to write on the screen.” “I just haven’t seen large demand from users for tablet PCs,” he adds. Time will tell whether the additional development of tablet PC technology by computer and software makers gives businesses a reason to switch to the tablet computer.
Not all laptops are created equal. Each one caters to a different need and wallet size. But regardless of which one you invest in for your business, you want one that’ll do the job, last for a long time and require little or no servicing. In fact, many businesses today are purchasing laptop computers instead of desktop PCs. “Because of increased power and a wealth of wireless features, laptops actually serve as desktops these days,” says Ray Boggs, vice president of SMB Research at IDC (www.idc.com), a technology market research firm. “Laptops are more ideal for your business because you’re likely mobile, and you’ll also want to encourage your staff to bring their work with them wherever they are,” adds Boggs. With this in mind, the following are ten recommended picks, covering all the main kinds of laptops on the market, such as the thin and lightweight models, the hulking desktop replacement or the tablet. PORTABLE AND ULTRA PORTABLE Dell Latitude D420 At just three pounds, this lightweight PC enjoys more than seven hours of battery life, a 12.1-inch widescreen display, full-sized keyboard and integrated wireless functionality (including the option for Cingular or Verizon mobile broadband connectivity). An optional MediaBase snaps onto the bottom to play CDs or DVDs. From $1379; www.dell.com. Lenovo ThinkPad X Series Mobile executives in search of a lightweight but powerful workhorse won’t be disappointed with the latest Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. These ultra-portable PCs include an Intel Centrino Duo processor, 12.1-inch display, fingerprint reader for biometrics security and optional ThinkPad X6 UltraBase docking bay. From $1,490; www.lenovo.com Sony Vaio TX Series Don’t sacrifice performance for portability — the Sony Vaio TX Series may be a mere 2.76 pounds, but these Intel Centrino-based ultra-portable PCs offer up to 7.5 hours of battery life, a gig of RAM, reliable wireless technologies and a shiny 11.1-inch widescreen display with XBRITE technology. From $2,199. www.sonystyle.com Acer TravelMate 8200 While you may be tempted to pickup those sleek Ferrari-branded Acer laptops, the TravelMate 8200 is probably more ideal for your bourgeoning business thanks to its Intel Dual Core technology, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics chip and widescreen 15.4-inch WSXGA+ display. Also included is an Acer OrbiCam, a 1.3-megapixel adjustable Webcam built into the black carbon-fiber chassis. From $1,989; www.acer.com DESKTOP REPLACEMENT Dell Latitude D820 Desktop performance meets mobility with this award-winning Dell PC; designed for power on the go, this laptop features an Intel Core Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 512MB of video RAM and a stunning 15.4-inch WUXGA display (1920 X 1200 resolution). Security is also key, as the integrated Smart Card reader requires both a card and a password for the o/s to boot up, and you can add the optional fingerprint reader. From $1,409; www.dell.com Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV650 It’s not cheap, but the high-end Qosmio is the ultimate entertainment PC, as it’s the first to include a HD DVD-ROM drive for true high-definition movies. Other specs include an Intel Core Duo processor, a 256MB GeForce video card, 17-inch widescreen WUXGA display and two 100GB hard drives. Security extras include a fingerprint reader and security cable lock slot. $2,999. www.toshibadirect.com HP dv9000z series Entrepreneurs who work hard usually like to play hard. The latest HP laptop lets you do both; the 17-inch widescreen powerhouse gives you a choice of five processors (go with the Mobile AMD Sempron 3500+), and includes a 256MB Nvidia video card and up to 240GB of hard drive space. The multimedia machine also featuring the HP Imprint Finish, a smooth and glossy coating. From $1,299. www.hpshopping.com TABLET Fujitsu Stylistic ST5000 It’s like a clipboard with a brain. Powered by an Intel Pentium M processor, the Fujitsu Stylistic ST5000 is a 3.5-pound tablet offering more than six hours of battery life, multiple XGA TFT indoor/outdoor display options (10.4- or 12.1-inch screens) and your choice of wireless LAN (802.11a/b/g). From $1,999. www.fujitsu.com Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet As the thinnest and lightest 12-inch convertible tablet available, this ThinkPad offers the full functionality of Lenovo’s notebook series, yet the screen swivels around 180-degrees and lies flat to become a Tablet PC for handwritten notes using the stylus pen. Powered by Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, the X41 includes the ThinkVantage Active Protection System, rescue and recovery service and a shock-absorbent hard drive. From $1,799. www.lenovo.com Acer TravelMate C310 Another stellar tablet/laptop convertible is the award-winning TravelMate C310 from Acer with its huge 14.1-inch XGA display, integrated optical drive for CD and DVD playback and recording, 4-in-1 card reader, up to 100GB hard drive and host of wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. $1,499. www.acer.com
Gear Oops, we mean “personal productivity device” story. Here’s the latest crop of tiny tech tools that are generating some buzz. Look over the latest crop of electronic wanna-haves and you might recall the classic Saturday Night Live pseudo-commercial plugging a new all-purpose product called Shimmer: it’s “a floor wax and a dessert topping!” Lately, the hottest gadgets have doubled as something else. It’s a handheld computer and a digital camera! It’s a cell phone and a Web browser! (And it’ll fit in your pocket, too!) Cool? Very. Convenient? Unquestionably. Superior? Well … In general, do-it-all devices have marginal track records. Take a hyped hybrid from a couple of years back: the combination desktop fax/scanner/printer/copier. Manufacturers billed the multifunction machine as the perfect space saver for small businesses. Instead buyers often got a quick refresher course in Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will. Not to mention the combo-device corollary: When one thing goes wrong, so does everything else. So it’s easy to view current Shimmer successors with a healthy skepticism. Still, they’re undeniably sexy, with none more seductive than the proposed Origami. Unveiled at trade shows last fall, the paperback-book-sized prototype contains a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a digital camcorder, an MP3 audio player, an Internet-access device, and E-mail and videoconferencing terminals. The aptly named Origami, which folds and pivots for various functions, weighs a mere 10 ounces. But don’t look for it just yet. Manufacturer National Semiconductor Corp. isn’t saying exactly when (or whether) Origami will hit the shelves or what you’ll pay when it does. Already available: Handspring’s long-awaited Treo, a device that functions as a PDA, a cell phone, and a wireless-messaging and Web-access unit. Treo’s standard model, which debuted in February, retails for $399. Handspring expects to release a $599 color-screen version later this year. Both run on the Palm operating system; buyers can choose either the standard Graffiti handwriting-recognition system or a tiny thumb keyboard. On all models, the device’s cover flips up to transform it into a phone. Despite its triple capability, the 5.2-ounce Treo feels lighter and slimmer than most single-function handheld gadgets. Of course, you’re still looking at a microscopic gray-scale screen. Treo’s debut models lack analog phone and voice-activated-dialing capability. And it’s unclear if even true technophiles will want to phone home by holding a handheld computer up to their ears. Continuing the smaller-is-better theme is Fujitsu PC Corp.’s LifeBook P Series notebook computer. Fujitsu, among the computer makers racing to build the lightest laptop, pared its latest contender to 2.8 pounds stripped (3.4 pounds with its optical drive) and just over 1.5 inches thick. Despite its skinny profile, the $1,500 LifeBook P, which debuted in December, comes with a built-in slot for either a CD-RW/DVD drive or an extra battery that will power the machine for up to 14.5 hours. There are, of course, tradeoffs. The LifeBook’s keyboard is about 10% smaller than a full-size keyboard, a serious drawback for the ham-handed. Touch typists will hate the odd shift-key location (above the slash, rather than next to it). Finally, there’s the little 10.6-inch screen, a size and shape widely seen in Japan but probably disconcerting, at least initially, for American users. Most likely to grab headlines: the Tablet PC. The device, about the size of a legal pad, recognizes handwriting scribbled on its surface and is a fully functional PC with a touch screen. Tablets are flat, sleek (2 inches thick), and lightweight (less than 3 pounds). Several computer makers — including Acer, Compaq, Fujitsu PC, and Toshiba — will build the Microsoft-powered machines. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, who says he’s already using an electronic slate, predicts that by 2006 it “will be the most popular form of PC sold in America.” Others aren’t so sure. Does the world really need yet another handheld computer? And writing-recognition technology in general still stinks. Ask any handheld user who’s scribbled “Meet with Fred Emerson” and ended up with “Mzte wth fmd-at emermhon.” But stay tuned: Gates expects sales to start late this year. Anne Stuart is a senior writer at Inc. The Inc Life How to Host the Perfect Weekend Buy Now, Pay Later The Quiet CEO Toy Story Please E-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.
Bulletin Board Business travelers aren’t the only ones enamored of their ever smaller, ever lighter laptop computers. Thieves love them, too. Nearly 320,000 laptops were stolen in the United States in 1999, up from 208,000 in 1995, according to Safeware, an Ohio-based insurance company that specializes in computer coverage. In 1999 alone, Safeware says, losses exceeded $800 million. And that was just for the equipment itself, not for data that might have been worth far more. When it comes to preventing theft, nothing beats awareness. Treat your machine as if it were your wallet. Don’t flash it around. Carry it yourself. Never leave it unattended in public. Other options for protecting portables include: Cable locks. One end wraps around a post or a piece of furniture and the other fits into the notebook’s built-in security slot (standard on most models). Computer Security Products Inc., among others, makes generic locks for many computers. Alarms. Motion-detectors like Port .com’s DEFCON alarm snap onto computers and shriek if the device is touched or moved. Port.com also makes cases with built-in alarms. A road-warrior variation: TrackIT’s two-piece system includes a key-chain remote for the owner and an alarm for the computer. If a thief swipes the ma- chine, its alarm wails within seconds. Built-in security. Some new laptops come with smart cards that lock computers or disk drives when they’re not in use. Acer’s latest TravelMate model replaces passwords with fingerprint recognition; if a would-be user’s prints don’t match those in the TravelMate’s memory, the computer won’t boot. Tracking devices. Using methods similar to those of the LoJack vehicle- retrieval system, several services now help authorities recover stolen computers (including CyberAngel, Computrace, and zTrace). Users install “stealth software” on their hard drives. If somebody steals the machine and goes online with it, the software automatically signals the tracking service, which can pinpoint the user’s location by telephone number or address. Local police handle the rest. Bulletin Board Meetings within Meetings Do-It-Yourself Networking Laptop Insecurity Things We Love: A Nightlight for Laptops Meet the New Boss Copying Web Design: How Much Is Too Much? Hostage Situation Please e-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.
