The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/163881
MICROSOFT SURFACE iPad 4 Surface RT Surface Pro ____________________________________ This is the underdog, which those outside the IT department know only as "the tablet with the keyboard cover on that commercial with all the dancing people." Few are aware of the two Surface versions, RT and Pro, or their differences. The Surface design ____________________________________ Ultrabook ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Required Infrastructure Changes and Costs: With the iPad ranging in cost from $329 (iPad mini) to $829, they are certainly cost competitive with a business ultrabook. However, don't overlook other costs, such as infrastructure changes. Despite the push for paperless offices, inevitably there will be a need to print something. Some or all costs can be averted by emailing documents to secretaries to print or printing from a terminal server session, but it can't match laptop-like printing functionality. Consider Apple AirPrint or third-party print servers and services, adding printers to "guest" networks (which most organizations use), firewalls and network modifications. The cost of many of these infrastructure changes ranges from five to six figures each. Additional Thoughts: As mentioned, there should be a new iPad model released this fall. There are also plenty of changes in the upcoming iOS 7 software update. Many are centered on improving the user interface, such as the swipe-up control panel for quick access to frequently used settings and a multitasking app carousel. There are multiple new business features as well, such as control over which apps can open data from corporate accounts, what apps can access VPN, data encryption for third-party apps, single signon and revised MDM options. The ability for third-party apps to run in the background will also be a major improvement for business. Many third-party solutions have been hindered by the inability to pre-download content due to background task restrictions. There are high hopes that iOS 7 will finally address this limitation. ____________________________________ VPN services, terminal servers or remote application servers. These solutions all require Internet connectivity to function, so Internet availability (Wi-Fi and cellular) should be considered. iPads are available with cellular broadband cards. Remote access on an iPad is hindered by the lack of a mouse, which led to Citrix offering a companion app that allows the iPhone to become a touchpad for the iPad terminal server session. ___________________________________________________________ Storage Capacity Processor Thickness Weight Device Cost Recommended Accessories Accessories Cost Infrastructure Concerns Infrastructure Change Costs Various options. 128GB SSD recommended Intel i5/i7 0.61in 2.15-4 lbs $800-2,000+ Docking station $200 Windows 8 $ 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB A6X (ARM) 0.28-0.37 in 0.68-1.46 lbs $329-929 Bluetooth Keyboard Stylus Video Adaptor $170 Printing Legacy App Access $$$$ 32GB, 64GB NVIDIA Tegra (ARM) 0.37 in 1.5 lbs $499-599 Touch/Type Cover Stylus $139 Windows 8 Legacy App Access $$$ 64GB, 128GB, 256GB Intel i5 0.53 in 2 lbs $899-1,099 USB 3.0 Port Replicator Touch/Type Cover $350 Windows 8 $$ ___________________________________________________________ Peer to Peer 73