iPad for Productivity? An IT perspective… Post #1

One of the exciting and sometimes challenging/frustrating aspects to my job with NSI Partners is the review and testing of new technologies.  When this is software- or browser-based, it is relatively easy to do these tests from my existing computers and devices.  From time to time, though, it is the primary computing devices and models themselves that I have to be willing to test and play with.

ipad (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

Such is the case with a recent experiment: restrict my mobile computing solution to an iPad and iPhone, ditching the powerhouse laptops I’ve gotten accustomed to in lieu of a desktop computer solution for the home office.  Why torture myself?  To see how successful I can really be performing a wide range of computing tasks while away from the office using a “truly mobile” device — one with a mobile operating system and size/design as opposed to something like a Netbook – which is just a low-powered Windows laptop with the full OS.

So for several weeks now I have been working (and studying) with this device model:  iPad 2, iPhone 4s, and powerful iMac at the home office.  The experience so far has been both liberating and frustrating, providing a benefit in some scenarios and lots of pain in others.

For the next few weeks I will write about various aspects of this experience, making the rounds on a variety of produuctivity and software categories, detailing the apps I have tested, the ones I have rejected, and what solutions are both liberating and compromising.

 Ultimately, there are 2 answers to the basic question of qhwther the iPad can be a mobile computing solution.  If you perform complex computational tasks while on the road (graphic editing, video conversion, detailed document/spreadsheet/presentation design), the iPad is not for you – at least, not as a full mobile computing solution.  On the other hand, if you tend to spend most of your mobile computing time in email, web browsers, performing limited or simple document creation, or doing a lot of remote machine access, then the iPad may well provide you a lightweight, compact, successful mobile computing solution.

Read as I post the next several weeks if you care to learn more about my experiences in this odd IT challenge…

Case Study – Remote IT Support Colorado Springs

The Challenge

TechConnect was tasked to manage the technology needs of a client with 4 separate office locations and a corporate section with over 20 separate workstations. Technology needs included security, backups, and custom industry-specific software. Client also needed to keep costs low and as predictable as possible.

The Solution

TechConnect determined that remote-access technology would allow us to do much of the work remotely, saving time and money and cutting down on overhead. To that end, we installed remote-access solutions for full remote access to all machines and VPN connectivity between stores for purposes of sharing files/folders and software client-server relationships.

We upgraded all machines in an affordable manner to high hardware and software environment standards. We also set up public and private Wifi networks at all client locations. Network security software was configured to provide security on all computers and routers, and backups for disaster recovery were set up on essential machines, utilizing offsite cloud backups for key files.

A schedule of weekly remote maintenance checks on all machines keeps all client software updated and ensures only necessary business software remains installed and properly configured. Thanks to remote-access technology, the client’s monthly maintenance cost is a fraction of a traditional IT support contract.