Tablets and PCs Converge: Users Can Have It All with Dell s Venue Pro Tablets. February 2014 TBR

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1 Tablets and PCs Converge: Users Can Have It All with Dell s Venue Pro Tablets February 2014 TBR T EC H N O LO G Y B U S I N ES S R ES EAR C H, I N C.

2 Contents Introduction... 1 Now Is the Time to Evaluate a New Computing Platform... 1 Two Streams of Device Development Converge to Make a Winning Combination... 2 Tablet Strengths and Weaknesses... 2 PC Strengths and Weaknesses... 3 Conclusion... 4 About TBR... 5 For more information... 5 Dell Windows 8 Tablets February Technology Business Research, Inc.

3 Two-in-one Windows tablets such as Dell s Venue 11 Pro strike the perfect balance between traditional PC capabilities and mobile device portability Introduction TBR believes a new and powerful personal computing solution is emerging, one that will soon become the default configuration for most business users and for many consumers. Recent developments in tablets and PCs have come together to create a powerful tablet-centered system based on the mature Windows PC operating system that combines, without compromise, the virtues of tablets, notebooks and desktops. For most users, this system not only meets their requirements, but also extends their capabilities, contributing to greater productivity and increased satisfaction. The new Dell Venue 11 Pro is a solid implementation of this new type of platform and should be considered when evaluating any client product refresh. Changing business conditions, as well as the emergence of this new platform, make it a good time for many companies to re-evaluate their personal computing platforms and to act on their analyses. Now Is the Time to Evaluate a New Computing Platform TBR believes companies need to understand the potential of this new personal computing platform to improve their businesses and begin to act based on this understanding. The business advantages of a single platform for mobile and stationary computing are substantial, especially as employees increasingly access data and documents from locations outside the office. A single platform streamlines network complexity and addresses the trend of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend for IT while making it easier for employees to gain access to the resources they need to complete their tasks. The importance of a personal computer, long a business necessity, to a business continues to increase. More business communication is funneled through these devices, through , instant messaging, video conferencing and converged communication. Data and document collaboration capabilities are increasing. Social media plays a growing role. The increased importance of analytics has augmented the PC role in planning and budgeting. Mobility is becoming more prevalent in business, in part because ubiquitous network connectivity has made it possible for mobile workers to be more productive. Even workers who do not travel for business use portable devices to stay connected when away from the office and when away from their desks when at work. Mobile devices and connectivity allow workers to be productive more hours of the day, increasing the time devoted to work, shortening turnaround time for communication and reducing downtime between tasks. Having two types of device that likely use different operating systems increases complexity for employees and businesses, as different devices require different approaches to management and software. The new Windows 8.1 tablets, with accessory keyboards and docks, solve these problems for both users and IT. Additionally, a single device platform allows employees to embrace the mobility offered by BYOD, but without creating security or device management issues for IT. TBR estimates that nearly 75% of enterprises support BYOD, and further Industry research indicates that BYOD can add up to 460 hours of productivity per year, per mobile employee. A streamlined device fleet that combines the best features of desktop PCs, notebook PCs and consumer tablets helps reduce the number of devices IT is tasked with managing and allows users to be productive wherever and whenever they are working. 1 Dell Windows 8 Tablets February Technology Business Research, Inc.

4 TBR believes the new platforms are ready for deployment. As with all technology, there will be improvement, but the platforms newly available in the latter part of 2013, based on Windows 8.1 and the new generation of Intel processors and chipsets, are fully realized and capable implementations of a platform that will remain important, probably dominant, for the foreseeable future. As new use cases for tablets emerge from vertical markets such finance and healthcare markets where device portability and performance are at premiums the new wave of Windows 8.1 tablets are designed to cater to and enhance the productivity of these new, highly-mobile users. By August 2014, TBR estimates Windows 8.1 will account for 10% of all Windows PCs, further underscoring the need for companies to understand the potential and impact of this new personal computing platform. Two Streams of Device Development Converge to Make a Winning Combination The success of the ipad, introduced in 2010, drove innovation throughout the personal computing industry. Since then, there has been rapid development in hardware, software and online ecosystems. Tablet innovations drove improvements in PCs, which, in turn, propelled the evolution of tablets. On both platforms, users demanded, and received, better processors, batteries and screens. An organization s capital and operating costs declined as a result. Operating systems, applications and application delivery systems improved radically, and increased attention was paid to ease learning, use and maintenance,. Vendors improved both the aesthetics and the utility of the physical devices, making the devices more reliable and reducing maintenance costs. Security, management and integration with other systems were addressed, and network complexity was reduced, streamlining the integration of new devices into an organization. Until now, tablets and PCs had different strengths and weaknesses. Often these strengths and weaknesses were complementary; where one platform was strong, the other was weak. Now, with the refinement of Microsoft s Windows 8 operating system in version 8.1 and the arrival of Intel s newest families of processors and chipsets, two separate development streams have converged to create the Windows 2-in-1 tablet, a complete platform that combines the virtues of tablets and PCs and minimizes their drawbacks. Tablet Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths: The first tablet of the current generation, the ipad, was an immediate hit. Its popularity was helped by Apple s astute marketing and Steve Jobs showmanship, but its unique, touch-based UI delivered for users. Buyers continue to use it and enjoy using it. TBR s research shows that tablet owners are very satisfied with their tablets, irrespective of operating systems, and that they use them frequently for a range of tasks, especially reading , browsing the Web and consuming content. Portability is the obvious strength of these thin, lightweight devices, but their advantages go beyond how easy it is to carry them. Ease of use, ease of learning, and ease of installing and upgrading software are important to users. The fact that they are always on with no waiting for use is very important, as are batteries that allow them to be used all day. Portability goes beyond small size and lightweight. TBR believes tablets are also good at extending the user s computing capabilities beyond the typical PC use scenario: seated with hands on the keyboard and pointing device. With tablets, users can access information while away from the PC, while standing or while seated not in front of the PC. This keeps people connected and available for interaction. Tablets are also less intrusive than PCs when the 2 Dell Windows 8 Tablets February Technology Business Research, Inc.

5 user is speaking with another person, making them better in many face-to-face interactions in sales, education and healthcare settings. Weaknesses: Tablets are limited in capabilities, however, when compared with PCs. Users recognize this and accept tablets limitations, which helps explain tablets high satisfaction ratings. Specifically, tablets, or at least tablets other than Windows 8 tablets, are poor at content creation. Most productivity software available for these platforms are limited-feature versions that try to emulate others with mixed success. The lack of a physical keyboard limits users ability to type text. Even with accessory keyboards, the lack of a high-resolution pointing device or even arrow keys makes it hard to edit text. Most tablets do not support multiple windows and have awkward systems for copy and paste. Taken together, the limit to a touch UI and inadequate support for typing in the operating system have led most tablet users to treat the tablet as a companion device to PCs. A large majority of tablet owners in TBR studies own a PC, and most consider the PC to be their primary device. In a business environment, the non-windows tablets are a challenge for IT. Existing and familiar management and security software do not work with the new operating systems, and few software vendors are offering alternatives. Support staff must be trained on new platforms, or multiple staffs maintained for each platform. For good reason, IT is resistant to adding new types of devices and new operating systems to the network. All mobile devices pose security challenges. Their mobility makes them more likely to be lost or stolen, and they lose their major benefit of being always on and always available if a secure password is required each time they are used. Tablets other than Windows tablets do not play well with others. Critical software, especially the Windows Office productivity suite, is not available for ios and Android tablets. Despite the huge numbers of mostly consumer apps available for ios and Android tablets, there are many commercial and institutional gaps in their software catalogs. Data integration and application support are a problem. Non-Windows tablets are also difficult to integrate into physical systems. They don t have the common ports and drivers necessary for them to work with printers, scanners, monitors and the network. PC Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths: PCs, especially Windows PCs, have evolved to be powerful, flexible, manageable tools easily integrated into business day-to-day operations. In effect, tablet weaknesses turn into strengths for PCs. PCs are optimized for content creation, with the software and physical I/O devices to make it as easy as possible to write text and create presentations and spreadsheets. PCs are the most common type of device on most business networks, and vendors compete to provide the best tools for management, security, integration and support. The Windows software library is huge, densely populated with mature, refined applications, including specialized applications. Many companies have custom-built Windows applications. 3 Dell Windows 8 Tablets February Technology Business Research, Inc.

6 Weaknesses: Traditional notebook and desktop PCs are useful only when users are seated in front of them, and the devices are not as portable and always on. Even notebook PCs in sleep mode have to be turned on, delaying productivity and making common tasks, such as checking and calendars, more complex and arduous compared to when using tablets. Conclusion Tablets such as such as Dell s Venue 11 Pro combine both worlds. From a network perspective, the devices are a conventional PC for security, management and support. For users, they are a do-it-all device: A tablet featuring a high-performance, responsive touch screen A notebook PC with the tight integration of a keyboard and all-day battery life And proven desktop PC performance when used with a docking station to which a keyboard, mouse, display and network connection are provided Thanks to new Intel processors and technology, the tablets provide ample power and battery life. For many users, Atom and Bay Trail processors are sufficient, and Haswell processors are also available for the Venue 11. Windows 8.1 also plays an important role in the value proposition of Venue 11 tablets, as the integration of touch screen and the traditional interface provides complete tablet and PC experiences, and the underlying Windows 8.1 source software ensures software compatibility as enterprises transition from Windows XP, 7 and 8 devices. For IT, Windows 8.1 tablets are solutions for common problems associated with integrating new mobile devices into an enterprise s network. The single, yet familiar, operating system across tablets, desktop PCs (when a tablet is docked) and notebook PCs (when a tablet uses a keyboard accessory) allows IT to more effectively deploy and support their new fleet of devices and the accompanying Windows licenses: one license per Windows 8.1 tablet versus three for each traditional form factor. For users, the benefit is a consistent UI across all their important and frequently-used applications, regardless of the form factor they elect to use. Windows 8.1 also offers improved management tools that benefit IT and a user s experience. Venue 11 tablets leverage Microsoft s System Center Configuration Manager and Dell s KACE software to streamline OS, driver and application installation. Users reap the benefit of having a proven, stable image power their tablet, resulting in less downtime and application anxiety as their roles evolve to incorporate the benefits of mobility. Furthermore, Windows 8.1 offers a full spectrum of malware resistance, device encryption that allows device encryption allows enterprises to protect data on lost or stolen devices and secure boot process that prevents malware from infecting a Windows device by ensuring anti-malware engines load before any third-party device drivers or applications. Users experience less downtime due to malware or viruses, and are freed to safely use their device on virtually any public or private network. Through an ongoing focus to develop innovative, multimode hardware designs that support high levels of productivity and performance regardless of the form factor selected, as well as providing a single, unified operating systems that reduces end-point management complexities, Dell s Venue Pro tablets are ready to meet the diverse and shifting demands of today s enterprise users, IT requirements and applications. -xxx- 4 Dell Windows 8 Tablets February Technology Business Research, Inc.

7 About TBR Technology Business Research, Inc. is a leading independent technology market research and consulting firm specializing in the business and financial analyses of hardware, software, professional services, telecom and enterprise network vendors, and operators. TBR Serving a global clientele, TBR provides timely and actionable market research and business intelligence in formats that are tailored to clients needs. Our analysts are available to further address client-specific issues or information needs on an inquiry or proprietary consulting basis. For more information TBR has been empowering corporate decision makers since For more information, visit This report is based on information made available to the public by the vendor and other public sources. No representation is made that this information is accurate or complete. Technology Business Research will not be held liable or responsible for any decisions that are made based on this information. The information contained in this report and all other TBR products is not and should not be construed to be investment advice. TBR does not make any recommendations or provide any advice regarding the value, purchase, sale or retention of securities. This report is copyright-protected and supplied for the sole use of the recipient. Contact Technology Business Research, Inc. for permission to reproduce. 5 Dell Windows 8 Tablets February Technology Business Research, Inc.