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I’m addicted to my trusty Samsung Q1 (even though it’s due an upgrade now that it has been replaced by the Q1 Ultra).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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