Living With The Laptop (Part 2)
Of course, to be truly portable, a personal computer has to be usable anywhere - on the train, in the taxi, on an aircraft. That puts a lot of emphasis on the battery pack, another area in which the technological revolution has been rapid. Technology has extended battery life noticeably within a very short time, and is still doing so. Just three years ago, battery life on, say, the Toshiba Tl 200, equipped with built-in rechargeable nickel cadmiums, was proudly described as up to two hours on one charge. On the latest models, however, battery times have significantly improved. The newest notebook, the Tl00LE, can run for at least three hours and with the option of a second battery pack, for at least four hours; each high energy pack, moreover can be recharged in only four hours.
Even the Toshiba with a gas plasma screen can run for the same amount of time. Such a screen is usually a notorious consumer of raw energy, the fact that one can now be run from a battery is an important indication of the shape of things to come.
This frenetic pace of development carries its own dangers. Customers need to be guided through this potential minefield and helped to avoid the problem areas. Potential users need to know their way around to take full advantage of the available technology. For instance, to do its job properly word processing letters, reports, accounts and other administrative tasks, as well as supporting the business of the company that employs it.
The screen display is an important consideration, especially if the computer will be used to present to more than one person at a time. the gas plasma screen displays used on most mains powered machines do not vary when viewed from different angles, whereas LCD ones do. So multi audience presentations demand gas plasma. Disk drives are another backed up. it obviates the need for carrying floppy disks around, is faster that the latter and altogether more convenient - although of course the units add to the initial cost. The software is of paramount importance; but specialised systems are available from companies with experience: but specific areas which can develop customised software to suit individual client's needs.
Potential users are well advised to find an established dealer who can offer impartial advice on a hardware and software system after looking at a company's or individual's requirements. It's all part of the total integration that is coming to the office and the work of those who use it. Toshiba's machines have full industry standard compatibility and are designed with built in expansion capability to cater for, say, extra memory or addition of a modem so users can keep in touch with their office mainframe computer or colleagues at other locations.
Finally, design is important in the field of portables, some machines simply do not lend themselves to being operated on the move, particularly those of the so called lunch box design. Nothing is worse when working away, possibly on an aircraft, than to have a laptop computer topple of your lap.
The good news is that nobody need now be retracted to an office to have full computing power. The even better news is that the technology shows no signs of slowing down. The advantages of power with portability will continue to set the pace for the increasingly prevalent executive on the move.***
Of course, to be truly portable, a personal computer has to be usable anywhere - on the train, in the taxi, on an aircraft. That puts a lot of emphasis on the battery pack, another area in which the technological revolution has been rapid. Technology has extended battery life noticeably within a very short time, and is still doing so. Just three years ago, battery life on, say, the Toshiba Tl 200, equipped with built-in rechargeable nickel cadmiums, was proudly described as up to two hours on one charge. On the latest models, however, battery times have significantly improved. The newest notebook, the Tl00LE, can run for at least three hours and with the option of a second battery pack, for at least four hours; each high energy pack, moreover can be recharged in only four hours.
Even the Toshiba with a gas plasma screen can run for the same amount of time. Such a screen is usually a notorious consumer of raw energy, the fact that one can now be run from a battery is an important indication of the shape of things to come.
This frenetic pace of development carries its own dangers. Customers need to be guided through this potential minefield and helped to avoid the problem areas. Potential users need to know their way around to take full advantage of the available technology. For instance, to do its job properly word processing letters, reports, accounts and other administrative tasks, as well as supporting the business of the company that employs it.
The screen display is an important consideration, especially if the computer will be used to present to more than one person at a time. the gas plasma screen displays used on most mains powered machines do not vary when viewed from different angles, whereas LCD ones do. So multi audience presentations demand gas plasma. Disk drives are another backed up. it obviates the need for carrying floppy disks around, is faster that the latter and altogether more convenient - although of course the units add to the initial cost. The software is of paramount importance; but specialised systems are available from companies with experience: but specific areas which can develop customised software to suit individual client's needs.
Potential users are well advised to find an established dealer who can offer impartial advice on a hardware and software system after looking at a company's or individual's requirements. It's all part of the total integration that is coming to the office and the work of those who use it. Toshiba's machines have full industry standard compatibility and are designed with built in expansion capability to cater for, say, extra memory or addition of a modem so users can keep in touch with their office mainframe computer or colleagues at other locations.
Finally, design is important in the field of portables, some machines simply do not lend themselves to being operated on the move, particularly those of the so called lunch box design. Nothing is worse when working away, possibly on an aircraft, than to have a laptop computer topple of your lap.
The good news is that nobody need now be retracted to an office to have full computing power. The even better news is that the technology shows no signs of slowing down. The advantages of power with portability will continue to set the pace for the increasingly prevalent executive on the move.***
