By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Tablets have become more than handy adjuncts to desktops and notebooks. They are now mobile productivity devices, here are two of the best in the business.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2 now runs Windows 8.1 and can handle touch-focused applications as well as native PC desktop applications. For business users looking for a secure, reliable and powerful tablet that’s relatively portable and can quickly transform from content consumption device to an all-day notebook replacement, the Surface Pro 2 is one of the best solutions in the market today.
Superb build-quality, ample battery life, updated Intel Core processors and good selection of keyboard add-ons and accessories plus Microsoft’s constant updates and improvements make the Surface Pro 2 a business standout that can handle everything from mail, presentations, spreadsheets, conferencing and corporate Windows software.
The issues of dismal battery life, inability to be used on a lap from the first generation have been addressed by the improved software, better power management and the new Intel architecture. The Surface Pro 2 also has a great selection of storage capacities including ranging from 64GB (don’t get that one) up to 512GB plus the ability to add even more expansion via microSD card. The type keyboard, now backlit, is just as good as many laptop keyboards and the included stylus is surprisingly useful for those instances where signatures or longhand editing is required.
Apple iPad Air
The iPad Air has become the most formidable business tablet of 2014. Adoption in the corporate world is happening at a dramatic rate and now that the iPad can run Microsoft Office natively, it is a bona fide content creation device. Software manufacturers are just starting to take advantage of the iPad Air’s 64-Bit processor and we’re seeing marquee desktop apps like Adobe Lightroom come to the iPad slowly but surely.
There’s not doubt that the iPad Air is spearheading the post-pc revolution. With models that have both WiFi and 4G-LTE connectivity as well as larger capacities including a new 128GB variant, the iPad Air is still one of the thinnest and lightest tablets while being one of the most powerful
Another thing in the iPad Air’s favour is the large ecosystem of accessories and peripherals including keyboard cases that extend functionality exponentially.
The iPad is the fifth of a generation of Apple tablets that have been constantly refined and improved over the years. It is the most portable non-mini tablet and still the most formidable tablet in the market, that’s why its adoption into the corporate and BYOD environments has been unprecedented.
