Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/58400
now small and often hidden away — and a keyboard with a mouse. Other users, who justify the additional costs on the grounds of travel, flexibility or seniority, receive notebook PCs, which have become increasingly lighter, cheaper and more powerful — the lifecycle of notebooks definitely obeys Moore's law. But the walls are coming down around that carefully prepared citadel of privilege — the IT staff are no longer the force majeure arbiters of what device can access the system and how a user is required to access it. The drivers behind this change are complex and worth considering. First, there is accessibility. Traditionally, PCs were expensive items — this is no longer the case. Even trendy handheld devices might come at a price that makes them an eye-wateringly expensive gift, but they are still within on individual's budget. Users, therefore, can and do know which device they prefer. There is also a certain amount of expectation — users expect to personalize the device, although corporate IT teams have traditionally fought against that. But why should a user not be able to choose different wallpapers, access their chosen music or even download applications which they use regularly in their daily, if not corporate, life? While this was a cause of complaint for the previous working population, for Generation Y and, more so, the Millennials, it is an absolute requirement. Then, of course, we move to the tricky issue of ease. Traditional Microsoft Windows-based PCs have never been easy — they are fine when working with loaded ILTA White Paper 27