It’s no secret that Mediafly is in the business of leveraging enterprise mobility solutions for some of the largest organizations in the US. Companies that have adopted our apps as a service platform for their own use cite the “tailor as you talk” interactivity, the unparalleled security capabilities, and the breakneck implementation time as some of the main reasons they choose our solutions. While we are in the process of discussing any team’s shift to a more mobilized workforce, one question reigns supreme: which device does Mediafly recommend for mobilizing modern business processes?
In this blog series, Mediafly will look closely at which devices currently perform the best with our offerings and attempt to find the next potential mobility sweet spot. Currently, the two tablets that are optimized for enterprise-wide mobility are Apple’s iPad Mini (Retina) and Lenovo’s ThinkPad 8.
iPad Mini Retina
The iPad Mini Retina is still the reigning champ in the enterprise mobility space. It has the best combination of performance, battery life, and usability. With a large ecosystem of enterprise and consumer apps, the familiarity and user preference for Apple’s current tablet make it the current platform of choice for mobility. The iPad Mini Retina weighs just under a pound, measures under 8” lengthwise, and has an excellent battery life (9-10 hours). With Data + WiFi connectivity available for the latest models, the cost for the newest Mini is a steep $530. However, the wide consumer adoption rate and familiarity with iOS devices will make employee on-boarding less of a hassle than other tablets. Last, but not least – Microsoft just released Office for the iPad. This means content can easily be created, edited, and shared, all within the mobile device. This is where the iPad was previously missing the core functionality that laptops provide for enterprise users. The Office Suite can be downloaded read-only for free in the App Store. A subscription to Office 365 will be required to edit and save content. The subscription price for a team of 300 people will cost around $180 annually.
Cons: Additional must-have accessories like HDMI and VGA adaptors come at a high price. No split-screen multitasking view.
ThinkPad 8
Lenovo made waves at CES 2014 with the unveiling of the ThinkPad 8 enterprise tablet. The ThinkPad 8 runs Windows 8.1 on a high resolution 8″ display. The sleek tablet, like the Mini, also weighs under a pound. 2 GB of ram, 8 hours of continuous battery life, and micro USB/HDMI slots make it a very practical device for business. This tablet is specifically designed with the enterprise in mind. Rather than having to purchase and download MS Office apps separately, the ThinkPad 8 comes with these essential content creation apps bundled as part of the product. With split-screen multitasking built into Windows 8.1, productivity does not bat an eye. Currently, only the WiFi version is available, listed at $400 on Lenovo’s website. I’d expect a Data & WiFi enabled model to release in the early fall for closer to $500. Enterprise users with a preference for Windows will feel no remorse with this tablet – it’s the top of the line tablet and the first one designed specifically for business.
Cons: Data model not yet available. Stylus and keyboard not included. Fewer apps available in Windows store compared to Apple store.
‘Sweet Spot’ Opportunity
Enterprise users require the ability to modify an Excel spreadsheet, drag PowerPoint slides around, and type up a product description report in Word. This is the core of business content creation and the process should not be inferior on a mobile device. The other half of the mobility sweet spot is connectivity. A tablet should be able to access the web with or without a WiFi connection. This is what makes devices truly mobile, and ultimately increases productivity for enterprise users. For now, the two tablets that come the closest to this dream device are the iPad Mini with Retina and the ThinkPad 8.
In your opinion, what device setup would you choose if you were to mobilize hundreds of salespeople? What features matter the most to you? Stay tuned for more ‘Sweet Spot’ discussion posts coming next week.
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