Meanwhile, ZDNet’s “Netbooks just want to be free” reports on the Asus bundle available in the UK, which gets you an Eee PC 2GG and a USB modem with a two-year data contract. That has got to be worth thinking about for a mobile workforce.

I’m addicted to my trusty Samsung Q1 (even though it’s due an upgrade now that it has been replaced by the Q1 Ultra). It is super compact and obviates the need for a keyboard with its touch screen. The poor windows tablet seems like it has been languishing a bit of late, which is a shame, as I think it is the most underrated piece of productivity technology out there. Apple might even be heading into the tablet scene itself, according to filings discussed by Apple Insider.

The Windows Tablet built in journal application is great, but Microsoft OneNote takes the concept onto a whole other level (nice example from lifehacker: Microsoft OneNote is a Note-Taking Power Tool - over 100 comments on that post). Tony Lock even blogged over at IT-Director.com “Time To Take the Tablet – Vista’s unsung platform” singing its praises and asking ”why is there very little marketing of this platform or associated business solutions? “.

Tablet PCs get away from the sub-standard sized keyboards that limit the usability of many ultra portables out there. Removing the keyboard constraint also allows for an even smaller machine. That makes an ideal tool for field automation applications and mobile workers. Standard applications can be used, rather than having to write or source apps for the various different flavours of mobile platform. Additionally, the devices are low power and the costs are low and still falling – ticking the green and ecomonical boxes.

Putting the keyboard to one side for a minute (no pun intended), UMPCs/Netbooks also make great cloud computing clients. GigaOM suggests a nice list of ideal features in “What Makes a Cloud Computer?” and reminds me that I should revisit my Digital Nomad check list).

If you are fed up of expensive laptops going astray, and want to reduce employee wear and tear from carrying huge laptops, this is a nice alternative path to getting mobile workers up and going. When you or the team get back into the office, just plug into a full size screen, a USB keyboard and a mouse and you can do the desktop thing – at lower power.

Looking to get a mobile user up and going? It might not be too long until you just point them to the nearest mobile phone shop!

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Mobile Workers

An increasing percentage of the business workforce have escaped the office. In the early 90′s remote working just meant having a desktop PC at home, these days it is having a laptop in your bag. Much has changed with the technology in between.

Last week Dell unveiled a new range of laptops targeted at all of us ‘digital nomads’ (“Dell Takes Business Laptops to New Latitudes” – slightly cringeworthy press release title, slides on slideshare here). Anyway, I like the digital nomad phrase – it sums up the modern business-tech lifestyle so well: wandering the wild universe with a laptop and clutch of other gadgets. So much more becoming than ‘road warrior’ or ‘mobile user’. I am now a digital nomad.

So, what does the nomad need in their tent? The full answer is another post, but focussing down on the laptop piece, here is my wish list:

• Enough battery power to get me through the working day.
• Or at least a power supply that doesn’t wrench my arm off with its bulk.
• Enough screen real-estate to do some meaningful work.
• And/or the ability to plug into an external screen and run at high resolution.
• Decent network connectivity (that means bluetooth/usb for mobile, and decent WiFi)
• Enough USB sockets and juice to charge my other gadgets.

The new Dell range manages all of that, with some nice features to boot:

• 19 hours battery life on some of the models (E6400) – enough to get through the day (if not two).
• Highly compact power supply (about the size of a Blackberry – interesting comparison pic).
• Charging from the USB ports, even when the laptop is off.

The last feature got me very excited. Thankfully James Governor (Redmonk) calmed me down by reminding me that the Asus Eee PC and others have had this feature for a while. Nonetheless, it is surprisingly useful and sorely missing from my current laptop. One feature I do already have, which is now in the Dell range, is a backlit keyboard – essential for those of us who endure long train journeys or try to type at the back of a darkened conference room. 

For those that want to do the big screen thing, there is the E6400 and E6500. However, having lugged a 17″ MBP around for a while, I’m more interested in the ultraportables: E4200 and E4300 (I’m after something in red – very Redcatco – I love the idea of branded laptops).

A couple of other things to bear in mind, depending on your CSR stance. Dell has been making very good progress on the ‘green’ front, managing to steer clear of most of the greenwash. I like the low power consumption (be green AND reduce the electricity bills). Likewise, the  backwards compatibility of the power bricks means that they can be reused – I’m amazed by how many people (including me) keep two or more power supplies these days – one for the office, one for the road and sometimes even one for home.

We’re less convinced on the carbon neutral front. Dell is jumping through the CO2 hoops with the very best of them (“Dell meets Carbon Neutral Goal Ahead of Schedule“), but we really wish that the industry wouldn’t. Consuming resources, then planting a tree is nowhere near as effective as minimizing the natural resource consumed during manufacture, and making products with a long life and good reuse capabilities. Dell is doing well on those fronts, and the laptops have Energy Star 4.0-compliance, so good job there. Environmental preach over…

Weight is another big issue for the digital nomad, and the machines don’t disappoint there. It really is something to think about – a light machine and a good laptop case are almost a health and safety requirement these days.

There are also some discussion forums for us digital nomads to swap tips on the Digital Nomad Site. Nice touch Dell.

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