Which is the best device for a Mobile Advisor?

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What's new with the Web Action Team

Author: Karl Krist

Published on: March 19, 2013

If you work outside of the office occasionally, regularly, or constantly, you probably need to bring some computing devices with you. In this video I present a few of the devices that ANR is supplying to Advisors and discuss some of the pros and cons of each type of device.

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Comments: 8

Comments:

by Dennis Pittenger

on March 19, 2013 at 10:32 AM

Karl: Very helpful! Thanks a bunch! We need this type of
non-biased review of tech stuff.

Dennis

by Franz Niederholzer

on March 19, 2013 at 5:51 PM

Karl: Thanks very much for the support. As we cover more and more ground, this kind of review/advice is great.
Franz

by Cheryl Wilen

on March 20, 2013 at 8:33 AM

Nice review. I actually use a Panasonic toughbook. It is light enough, a full laptop, and can take all the bumps and shocks of travel. I put a SSD in it. I think Lenovo has some that are also a bit more rugged and light as well but at lower price point. Next, you should do a video of cases for the devices. I found my IPad screen was cracked which led me to spend about 4 hours deciding on what kind of case to get (Otterbox/Lifeproof/etc.)

by Charles G Go

on March 20, 2013 at 11:03 AM

Thanks KArl... I respectfully disagree, you are the computer expert and can navigate regardless of operating systems. On the user end, in my opinion, there is a big difference in operating systems, windows or mac OS,Linux, etc... and consequently, the daily computing experience.

I have a Macbook Pro 2011, and it just flatly outruns the PC due to the operating system. I run a SSD like Cheryl, and up the memory to 8 MB, similar to the latest macbook pro with flash drive. Start-up is so fast, 2-3 secs... Last time I had a PC, I had to get tea or coffee then come back just to get to start-up! SPSS and other software runs so much faster too. And I spend less time worrying about virus and anti-virus... Plus the battery life on my Mac last, day long or up to 8 hours. And there is a Mac Office so software is not an issue.

Just my two cents, hope that helps....

Reply by Karl Krist

on March 20, 2013 at 11:32 AM

Charles-

No problem with the disagreement. I did not include the MacBook in the review, so it is good to hear another voice.

Many of my comments had to do with the form factor of the equipment (laptop vs. tablet), rather than the operating system. I did compare the iOS devices (iPad, etc) to the Android and Windows mobile devices. I find that the full sized iPad is limiting for the size, and I would recommend a Windows device. On the other hand, the 7" iPad offers a good match between functionality and portability.

Many of the advantages you find with the SSD are available on most new high-end laptops, no matter which operating system you are using. You'll find the fast start-up speed on quite a few new computers. My Surface starts up in only a few seconds, and I agree that this is a great feature.

Regarding the operating system, and Mac vs. Windows, they are both very good systems with their fans and detractors. We work in an organization that has allowed for personal choice, which I think is a very good thing.

by John M Harper

on March 20, 2013 at 2:16 PM

Hi Karl, Good overview!
For those with Ipads or Iphones, the QuickOffice Pro app lets you work in the MS Office environment. Of course not as full-featured as real Office but the word and excel are very good for rough draft and field data collection. The QuicPoint (PowerPoint) will allow you to do presentations from either but you will need a Ipad/phone cable connector that hooks to the vga port of a conventional projector. Of course you can also hook to HDMI for better viewing pleasure. The link below has a list of connectors. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/ipad_accessories/cables_docks.

by Marianne Bird

on March 20, 2013 at 3:13 PM

This was very helpful, Karl. Working with photos--very large files--is part of what I hope to do on my new device. Is the Dell UltraBook the right choice for me?

by Myriam Grajales-Hall

on March 22, 2013 at 3:24 PM

Brujo Blanco, a very helpful video! I'll be stopping by your "booth" at the conference to look at the Dell Ultrabook and MS Surface RT and Pro. I need to replace my 8 year-old Sony laptop, and want to see what fits my needs best. Gracias y hasta entonces,