Techaisle Blog

Dell continues to show that it is serious about small businesses. In an economy where consumer purchases are slowing down, small businesses are continuing to refresh their technology and are showing growth rate in IT spends.

Dell today introduced the Vostro V131, a thin, powerful, and sleek laptop designed specifically for small businesses. It is an ultrathin laptop housing Intel® Core i3 or i5 processors, geared towards maximizing small business productivity. A removable 6-cell battery with 2nd generation Intel Core processors, both available as an option, is expected
to deliver up to 9.5 hours of battery life, allowing SMB users to work virtually anytime, anywhere.

Techaisle’s small business survey shows that not only enhancing IT is important for small businesses but also improving productivity through automation is extremely important. Among the newer technologies that they are currently investing in include: Windows 7, refresh of PCs and servers, as well as smart phones. It is quite clear that small businesses are seriously looking at enhancing their IT infrastructure, migrating from older technologies to more modern hardware platforms are key initiatives for reducing cost of operations. Over 60% of small businesses think that it is time for a refresh of their PCs and servers. To that extent, the timing for the introduction of Vostro V131 could not be any better.

Not only is Vostro V131 designed for improved productivity and enhanced mobility as
repeatedly by small businesses, but the laptop has also addressed the need for data security and backup. Remote back up and disaster recovery is still a top of the mind IT initiative for small businesses.

The Vostro V131 has very useful collaboration options including a full HD camera, SRS Premium Voice Pro, digital array mics and built-in Skype. In addition, the laptop offers two USB 3.0 ports, a chiclet keyboard with a backlit option, and quick launch keys. These additional collaboration features play extremely well into the new small business workplace scenario. Techaisle’s small business mobility report shows usage of relevant collaboration applications used by SMBs when traveling.

Of the options available in My Business Toolkit, that comes loaded on V131 (from September onwards), the most appropriate and useful for a small business are the Ruby Receptionists, a virtual reception service and Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Services.

Speaking about the announcement, Sam Burd, Vice-President of Dell’s Consumer & SMB Product Group said, “We designed the Vostro V131 to deliver fast, uninterrupted multitasking for today’s business challenges, the result is a feature-rich laptop for mobile professionals who want full performance to support their technology demands without sacrificing design and portability. In addition, the V131 offers services and software solutions that improve productivity and data security.”

V131’s starting price available on Dell.com is US$499 with a Celeron processor and a backlit keyboard which is a great price for a small business. An i3 based model is available for US$599. The price point is even better for small business owners that may be contemplating using Tablets instead of notebooks. V131 not only serves as a great content creator but also a secure and reliable collaboration tool while enhancing productivity.

We fully recommend it.

Anurag Agrawal
Techaisle

There is a continuum from smartphones to notebooks, with a variety of sizes and operating systems. The market will continue to be in a state of flux for several years before showing any signs of stable continuum.

• Widespread adoption of cloud-based apps as well as VDI will make the OS and form factor comparatively less important

• Apple will continue to have the “cool” factor in its favor, especially for those using non-office apps

• While most vendors have not been able to match Apple’s cost/price advantage (which continues to exist despite its cool factor). However, this will change as Nokia (along with new vendors from low cost economies) begin to manufacture mobile devices in large numbers at low prices

• Android developers have had the flexibility of implementing their own versions of Android (in order to distinguish themselves) although this is like to become less of a factor in the future but that itself becomes a problem of consistency and uniformity

• Apple’s advantage in terms of no. of apps will soon diminish due to several factors:
  
  
  • Of the hundreds of 1000s of apps, only a few hundred bring in majority of revenues. Most Apple ISVs are part-time developers or unprofitable and will disappear from the market
  
  
  • The vast number of Windows-based apps developers will quickly adapt their apps to Windows mobile, diminishing Apple’s apps advantage and give businesses more relevant business-related apps
  
  
  • While currently, the focus is on horizontal apps, vendors will find it increasingly important to develop vertical apps  to expand the user base and obtain higher margins
  
  
  

• Businesses will need to support multiple devices/mobile operating systems – making remote mobile device management an expanding market. Telcos, hosting companies and channel partners will play an important role in enabling that support

• Additionally, synching up different devices will also become more important and VDI will help in achieving that objective

It is too early to project future shares of various device forms and mobile operating systems as the market will continue to be in a state of flux in the next few years. We cannot write off Microsoft Mobile or Nokia. They will helped due to their vast size and resources, deep commitment and large number of users/developers.

On the other hand, Android developers/devices are a varied lot, with each having a low share of the market. WebOS (Palm, now owned by HP) has some promise but it is unlikely to regain its glory days of late 90s. RIM is the most at risk due to the proliferation of new devices and mobile operating systems

Although smartphones have the potential of increasing their employee productivity, it will happen only for those employees who are smart enough themselves.

Anurag Agrawal
Techaisle