One of the great advantages of migrating from Windows XP – or even Windows 7 – is the variety of PC form factors that become available to your business. While there were touchscreen tablets available in the Windows XP and 7 eras, those operating systems weren’t designed specifically for touch, and the range of devices was limited. Now, the PC comes in almost any configuration you can think of. Here we explain how various form factors can be exploited by your company.
Hybrids
There has been a surge of innovation in the laptop/tablet hybrid arena since Windows 8 was launched in 2012. Devices such as the HP EliteBook Revolve 810 G1 Tablet offer the best of both worlds: a conventional laptop configuration with a full QWERTY keyboard, married with a rotatable screen that can be folded back over the keyboard and used as a touchscreen tablet.
There are numerous business scenarios where such a versatile device comes into its own. Sales staff giving presentations no longer need to get clients to crowd around the front of a laptop or find a projector; they can simply flip the screen round to face their audience and use their fingers to swipe from slide to slide.
Staff working in the field can take advantage of the optional HP Executive Tablet Pen to help them fill in electronic forms, or use Windows 8’s built-in handwriting recognition to transcribe jotted notes into editable text. And given that the EliteBook meets military standards for drop, vibration, functional shock, and temperature extremes at both ends of the scale, the IT department can rest assured that it will survive life on the road.
And when there are emails to be dealt with at the end of the working day, the Elitebook has a full-sized, backlit keyboard, a long-lasting battery life of 8 hours and 15 minutes, and 802.11n Wi-Fi and a micro SIM slot to ensure staff will get a connection wherever they are.
Ultrabooks
When portability is paramount, Ultrabooks are the business weapon of choice. Mandated by Intel to be lightweight, yet powerful, Ultrabooks are a superb choice for the mobile executive who doesn’t want to be burdened with a hefty laptop bag as they travel between meetings.
The very latest Ultrabooks will include Intel’s 4th Generation Core processors, which boast as much processing power as the previous generation, yet make a huge difference to battery life, truly delivering on the vision of a laptop that lasts the entire working day without having to be recharged at the mains.
Many of the Ultrabooks on the market today also come with touchscreen technology, meaning you can take full advantage of the touch-friendly tiles on the Windows 8.1 Start screen when you want to catch up on the day’s news, scan your emails, or browse the web, and then revert to touchpad and keyboard controls when there’s serious work to be done in the conventional Windows desktop.
HP’s business-grade Ultrabooks also include features and accessories that make the devices practical on the road and at your office desk. The HP EliteBook Folio 9470m Ultrabook, for example, is only 0.75in thick, yet still manages to include built-in VGA, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and three USB 3 ports, meaning you won’t need to fill your laptop bag with a selection of dongles to connect to a second screen or the office network.
The Folio has optional 3G or 4G LTE connectivity, allowing staff to carry on working in places where Wi-Fi is patchy or non-existent, such as airport departure lounges. An optional fingerprint reader and integrated smart card reader will help to ensure that thieves can’t gain access to sensitive company data if the Ultrabook is lost or stolen.
When staff return to the office after a business trip, they can simply slide their Folio into the optional HP UltraSlim Docking Station and carry on working with external keyboard, display and accessories, while the laptop recharges it battery. With the unrivalled power of an Intel Core i7 processor inside, there are no business tasks that this powerful Ultrabook won’t be able to handle.
Desktops
Although Windows 8 has revitalised mobile computing, there’s still plenty on offer for those who do their work at the desktop.
For power workers, the HP Z420 Workstation offers extraordinary processing muscle thanks to its Intel Xeon E5 processor (with up to eight discrete processing cores), 8GB of RAM, and a configurable range of high-end AMD or Nvidia graphics cards. For those who don’t need the touchscreen facilities, the PC can be pre-loaded with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit using the Windows 8 downgrade rights.
For those who need processing power without the desktop tower, the amazing HP Z1 Workstation is a stunning 27in all-in-one with a difference. It can be snapped open, providing full access to the processor, memory and graphics card slots so that the components can be easily swapped out or upgraded at a later date, delivering the kind of future-proofing that is generally absent from all-in-ones.
And for those who want full desktop power in offices where desk space is at a premium, the HP Z230 Small Form Factor Workstation squeezes an Intel Xeon E3-1225v3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 1TB hard disk into a form factor that’s roughly the same size as a hardback book. That’s 61% smaller than a regular PC tower.
Trade up
If you’re planning to replace your Windows XP machines with new hybrids, Ultrabooks or desktops, HP is currently offering up to £150 back when you trade-in your old PCs for selected models. Visit the HP website for more details of how you can take advantage of this offer ahead of April’s Windows XP support cut-off deadline.
For more advice on transforming your business, visit HP BusinessNow
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