Employers are equipping mobile workers with a growing number of devices, including phones, laptops, tablets and a raft of accessories. With Covid-19, this has ramped up further with many organisation replicating office setups in employee homes with monitors, docks, cameras and audio headsets (we have launched an employee purchasing website for this very thing).
All of this is causing more cost, and more complexity for both fleet and user management.
Now is a good time to take stock of what you are spending on.

First off - what are employees being equipped with now? Let's look at the devices we're seeing in the field, their capabilities, and the crossovers in capabilities between the devices that are issued to staff:

That's around $3700 for the basics, based on standard business-quality equipment.
As you can see, there is a small amount of crossover between standard laptops and phones, a large amount between phones and tablets, but a large number of essential business and administrative tasks can only be done using a laptop computer when outside the office.
Many employees also supply a desktop computer and monitors in the office (add $1200), and monitors and a dock at home for remote working (add $800) as part of standard business continuity planning (thanks mostly to Covid-19 and earthquakes).

And more if you opt for high quality equipment. Flagship smart phones alone start at $1300+GST, and monitors can each go well in to the $1000 range.

As part of our Switch to Surface campaign, we've looked at our product portfolio to identify devices that can tick all of the above capabilities. We're also looking to see whether any one device will allow us to dial back spending and requirements on other devices. The Surface range is notable for providing unique products not available from competing brands.

When specified with the Intel Core m3 processor, the 10.5 inch Surface Go 2 tablet ticks many boxes, and it does each very well (view range here >). Well enough to dial down the specification of employer-issued smart phones (thanks to its high quality front and rear cameras, light weight and app store support).
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It's also powerful enough to replace standard laptop and desktop computers for administration and reporting tasks in Windows 10, and able to connect to multiple monitors and external keyboards for a full desktop experience. It can run the legacy software required by most enterprises and public sector teams without needing a second PC.
It's compact and interactive enough to replace any pro-quality mobile tablet, providing pen, app and touch screen support. At around 544 grams, plus Type Cover keyboard, it's a full Windows PC in the body of an entertainment tablet.

Shown with and without optional protective Type Cover keyboard and Surface Pen.

This is based on an entry level smart phone at $300 for calls and emails, plus the recommended retail price of a Surface Go 2 with 4G mobile data, 8GB memory, a Type Cover keyboard and Surface Pen. A total of around $1850+GST total instead of $3700. Note that government, education and corporate volume discounts reduce this further (contact us for details).
You can also get a discount of up to 40% off your first seed unit for volume contracts through The Laptop Company. Again, contact us for details.
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The Surface Go 2 is unique, we're not aware of any competing business-class device running Windows 10 in the same form factor and with the same performance. The closest is the larger Surface Pro series and its equivalent competitors with 12" or larger screens.

If your users have legacy monitors and accessories in the office or at home, try the Surface Dock 2 and your choice of cable connectors for existing monitors. As-per most new docking stations, the Surface Dock charges the Surface Go 2 when connected and it works with all current Surface devices. You can also use a variety of USB-C docks and docking monitors with the Surface Go 2. Contact us to test.

With potential savings at that level, we can understand if you would like to try before buying. At current we have a number of demo devices available if you want to inspect the device, or launch a pilot programme. Minimum quantities apply to the seed unit discount, so please contact us to find out more about this.

If you run your own mobile device management service, you've reduced your device count between 33 and 50% by scrapping tablets and desktops on your next fleet renewal. That means less complexity and fewer potential security holes.
If you would like to find other savings in user-management, ask us.

If you have workers on the road in enforcement, sales, construction management, healthcare, monitoring or compliance, we recommend you assess the device.
Go to https://procure.laptop.co.nz/surface/surface-go - or speak to one of our account managers to find out more.

While working from home is nothing new to many people, this year we saw the biggest and fastest shift to new workforce arrangements in human history. According to Statistics NZ, 40% of people workers in New Zealand performed at least a portion of their work remotely during Alert Levels 4 and 3. 

Yet we know from a recent survey of CFOs by PwC that the biggest concern over the next 12 months will be potential productivity loss due to 41% of remote workers lacking the technology to work effectively from home.  

Ergonomics and physical functionality are essential for setting up any home office environment. We can’t just expect our people to sit at the dining room table or on the couch, as they’ll be less productive and potentially injure themselves. 

This is why IT leaders need to find the right docking devices for powering their remote workforce – to ensure they’re healthy, productive and engaged. Here is some advice on the devices and technology you should consider for your remote workforce. 

Monitors 

Unless you want your employees to be dealing with strained eyes and necks, extra monitors are essential kit for any home office. A dual monitor configuration is what we’d suggest at a minimum, and some other factors to consider include:  

Some factors to avoid here are: 

• ​Mismatched monitors  
• Older display technology 
  
• Lack of adjustable height and angle 
  
• Poor resolution and size 
  
• Lack of compatibility 

To learn more about choose the right display, read our Monitor Guide here. 

Docking Stations 

The right docking station is essential for connecting each users’ computers and monitors. Without the right choice here, we see incompatibilities that range from wake-from-sleep issues to incorrect monitor resolutions, or a complete lack of connection. There are a variety to choose from that include: 

• Thunderbolt 3 docks 
  
• USB-C docks 
  
• USB-A or USB- 3.0 docks 
  
• Port replicators 
  
• USB Hubs 
  
• Docking Monitors 

To learn more about these options, please visit our Docking Station Guide. 

Docking Monitors 

We are seeing the increasing popularity of monitors that provide docking capability.  These are devices where peripherals such as keyboard, mouse and sometimes LAN are connected to the monitor. These are all then connected to the user’s laptop or tablet with a single cable through the following options: 

• USB-C  
  
• Thunderbolt 3  
  
• ​USB-A or USB 3.0  

Our pick for the best Docking Monitor on the market right now is the HP E27d G4 QHD Advanced Docking Monitor.  This will inspire joy on any home office desk, with clean connectivity for adding everyday accessories at the display and the ability to add a PC with just one USB-C™ cable. This docking monitor also empowers IT to remotely manage HP devices from anywhere on the network through RJ-45. 

To learn more about these options, visit our Docking Monitor Guide. 

The Laptop Company is proud to be helping NZ organisations to prepare for future disruption through reliable and flexible technology, hardware and services. Through our partnership with HP, we can deliver powerful and secure HP devices powered by Intel® processors to your team – no matter where they are.   

Need help? 

Get in touch with us today to begin optimising your device fleet with HP and The Laptop Company’s complete solution. It combines hardware, support, proactive management, and services for every stage of your users’ device lifecycles. 

If you’re looking for deal pricing or government prices for your team, please get in touch with us here.  

​There are now 3 different Surface Laptops to choose from. Which is best for which members of your team and how do they compare to the competition?  If you're considering a switch, we've created this guide for you.

Entry level. A 12.4 inch ultraportable laptop starting at 4GB memory and 64GB eMMC storage or our recommended 8GB memory with 128GB or 256GB SSD storage for business users.

Recommended for: Everyday users, students, commuters and field workers who need a light laptop on the road that can power workplace and office applications in the office and at home.
Users moving from older WXGA resolution fleet laptops will appreciate the upgraded screen, extra performance and lower weight of the new Surface Laptop Go. 

Pros: Excellent performance for content creators with Intel Iris Plus graphics, Windows Hello facial recognition, lightweight design and great application performance from an Intel Core i5 1035G7 or Intel Core i7 1065G7 processor, both offering roughly double the graphics power of the Surface Laptop Go. Excellent ergonomics with touch screen, backlit keyboard and on-screen Surface Pen support.

Cons: More expensive than the Surface Laptop Go.  Icons and text on legacy in-house software applications may appear smaller on screen due to the Surface Laptop 3 models' high resolution displays.  Not designed for frequent Pen use as screen is not designed to be detached or flip into tablet mode (see Surface Book 3 for this capability).

Mid-range: A 13.5 inch ultraportable laptop starting at 8GB memory and 128GB SSD storage for business users with high resolution display and Windows Hello facial recognition.

Recommended for: Enterprise application users, commuters and power users who run multiple windows on their screens at the same time.
Users moving from alternative mid-range business laptops will appreciate the screen quality and additional graphics performance of the Surface Laptop 3.

Recommended for: Web and application developers and power users who run multiple windows on their screens at the same time, as well as users who need a larger display and Windows accessibility features enabled for enhanced accessibility. 
Users switching from other big-screen laptops will appreciate the high screen quality and slimmer, lighter design of the Surface Laptop 3 15 inch.  Graphics performance compared to older 15 inch business laptops with dedicated graphics will be similar.

Fleet buyers in New Zealand can access a seed unit at no cost through The Laptop Company before switching to Surface when you register your interest.  Contact us now to secure yours and for terms and conditions.  Click the Contact Us button. 

​Microsoft announced its new Surface Laptop Go – a few of you might want to know whether it’s worth buying for business and how it compares.  As with most Surface devices, there's no direct competitor for the new entry-model. Here’s the run-down.

Microsoft's new entry-level laptop offering.  With a smaller 12.4 inch display, the Surface Laptop Go, slots in below the Surface Laptop 3.  Like the Surface Go 2 tablet, it's smaller, lighter and less expensive than its larger peers. 

The closest alternative in the Surface range is the entry-level Surface Laptop 3 with Intel Core i5.  
We’re omitting the entry level Surface Laptop Go from this comparison.  Although it’s powered by the same processor as the upgrade models, we don’t recommend the entry-level model’s 4GB of RAM or 64eMMC storage for business users. That model also misses out on the fingerprint reader that's standard on the upgrade models.

Bold indicates better.  *4GB Surface Laptop Go available in consumer range, 16GB model available in Platinum

Application performance from the Intel Core i5 1035G1 is generally excellent, and roughly equivalent to both the entry-level Surface Laptop 3 and other current 10th generation Intel Core i5 business laptops. It’s notably more powerful than the Surface Go 2 tablet.
The Surface Laptop Go uses the latest version of the Intel UHD ‘G1’ graphics, which is competitive with most other brand devices – but it can’t match the Intel Iris Plus ‘G7’ graphics that’s standard on the Surface Laptop 3.  The upgrade options available on the Surface Laptop 3 are also more powerful – if you want an i7 processor, or more 256GB storage, opt for the Surface Laptop 3.

The Surface Laptop Go has a smaller 12.4 inch touch screen – as with other Surface Devices this is the squarer 3:2 aspect ratio shape than most competitors widescreen displays.
The display resolution is noticeably lower the Surface Laptop 3’s 13.5 inch display with approximately one third lower horizontal and vertical resolution.  At 1536 x 1024, its resolution is lower than the typical 1920 x 1080 displays seen on other laptops.  This may be a good thing for business users given many in-house legacy software interfaces don’t work well with small screens at high resolutions.  The pixel density is roughly equivalent to a 15.6 inch Full HD screen. Not recommended for users who stack multiple documents or applications on their laptop screen at the same time, unless they want to use an external monitor. 

The Surface Laptop Go is the first Surface device not to support the Surface Pen for on-screen writing and drawing.  That's probably a moot point for most Surface Laptop users.  Unlike the Surface Book, Surface Go or Surface Pro, the Surface Laptop 3 does not have a detachable or reversible keyboard for dedicated pen users.

Both SSD versions of the Surface Laptop Go include an integrated fingerprint reader for Windows Hello authentication.  This is in place of the infrared facial recognition of the Surface Laptop 3.  The fingerprint reader is integrated into the power button for instant-on authentication. 

​Both the Surface Laptop 3 and new Surface Laptop Go are good choices for commuters, students and travellers – both are light, slim and offer good battery life.  Surface Laptop Go users miss out on the illuminated keyboard of the Surface Laptop 3, which is invaluable for presenters and travellers.
Power users, heavy admin-users and creatives should opt for the Surface Laptop 3 to enable stacking of documents onscreen, better graphics performance and should consider the 16GB upgrade. Further up the tree, the Surface Book 3 with dedicated graphics provides the highest performance and greater versatility for power users, professionals and content creators.

This provides sufficient storage for most business users and application performance that's competitive with any other 10th generation business laptop powered by Intel Core i5 despite the entry-level billing. 
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​If you’re considering switching your users to the Surface Laptop Go, please contact us for deal pricing and to book in a demo when these become available.  Being a new form-factor, it's worth trying before buying under our seed programme.
If you’re looking to switch to Surface, ask about our fleet and user migration services to make the move painless.

Some form of disruption is inevitable – it’s how we respond to disruption that counts. This year we’ve seen many of our customers quickly adapt to changing conditions and achieve new levels of success while doing so.  

Because we all rely so heavily on technology, our technology strategy plays a major role in how well prepared we are for the next disruption. With that in mind, here are some strategies you can consider for creating a more resilient workforce technology environment. 

Know where your data is, or will be – No matter your industry, your business is now run by data. It isn’t until we can’t access data, or we lose it, that we realise how crucial it is. This is why it’s essential to have reliable cloud storage, along with backup and disaster recovery solutions that can restore your business in even the worst-case scenarios.  

Keep your people secure, wherever they are – Regardless of how secure your network and your database are, it is people, devices and applications that access data. Endpoint security through regularly patched and updated devices is your first line of defence against cyber-attacks. 

Connect people to each other and customers – We’ve all done more than our fair share of web meetings this year, and this trend is set to be part of the new normal. With the right secure tools, you can keep teams connected to each other and projects. More importantly, you can stay connected to your customers in any scenario with the right cloud tools. 

Leverage managed services – No IT team is an island. To cope with the complex technology landscape today, you need to create an ecosystem of reliable technology partners. This allows you to lean on their experience and skills when you need it the most. 

Find the right devices – Although there was an element of urgency, we managed to connect Kiwi businesses to the devices they needed this year. Now we see more organisations embracing device delivery and management services that offer the flexibility to get the right devices to the right people, wherever they’re located. 

The Laptop Company is proud to be helping NZ organisations to prepare for future disruption through reliable and flexible technology, hardware and services. Through our partnership with HP, we can deliver powerful and secure HP devices powered by Intel® processors to your team – no matter where they are.  

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​Need help?

Get in touch with us today to begin optimising your device fleet with HP and The Laptop Company’s complete solution. It combines hardware, support, proactive management, and services for every stage of your users’ device lifecycles.

(Sign in to get prices and place orders or speak to your account manager)

​The events of 2020 have triggered many transformation conversations – including what we believe our workplaces should look like in the future.

Of top of mind right now is where we want our teams to be physically located each day. Although most of the country has returned to the office, the need for a more mobile workforce will likely be big component of the new normal. With the right technology and planning, we’re seeing plenty of organisations use these new arrangements to their advantage.

Collaboration is in - hot desks are out

With a third of all employees in NZ already enjoying some form of flexible work-from-home arrangement as recently as 2019, we can expect even more of our workforce to be working remotely in the future. The good news is, while everyone adjusts at different speeds, your workforce will grow to thrive in these environments.

This year has put business continuity plans to the test and there will logically be questions about the need to rely on only physical workplaces. Particularly when we’ve seen our teams take to online collaboration and actually improve their productivity.

The move from hot desking and flexible seating arrangements to work from home has been welcomed by many users. Through the course of this year, reports have emerged that organisations in New Zealand are abandoning activity-based workspaces in favour of fixed seating to help reduce the potential for unchecked community spread. Likewise, fashionable co-working desks, booths and huddle spaces have been supplanted by team members’ own sofas as they switch to virtual collaboration spaces – which for many has been a boon for productivity.

From a technology perspective, there are variety of considerations, including:

• How do we keep an increasingly mobile and remote workforce secure and productive?
• How do we ensure that each employee has the tools and technology to perform their role proficiently in any location?
• Are employees able to seamlessly connect between different workstations at their desk at home or back in the office?
• How do you manage all these services seamlessly without creating new costs and complexity for your IT teams?

Accessibility benefits everyone 

We see many organisations creating programs to extend opportunities for people with disabilities to join their team. With things like workplace desks becoming less and less essential, we can access the best and brightest minds regardless of where they live or their physical abilities.

In 2020, The Laptop Company has been assisting organisations throughout NZ to achieve flexible workplace transformations that prepare them for the workforce demands of the future. We offer a range of transformation services, including:

• switching teams from desktop workstations to laptops
• replicating work desk setups at home and work
• deploying new applications including Teams and Zoom

We’ve also been making it easier for employers to equip and manage users and their devices with services including

• Remote management services for user devices including software and operating systems
• Web portals for staff members to order work-from-home gear with home delivery
• Active management of HP Security to protect information and privacy when outside workplace and to detect potential threats
• Device health monitoring and remote deactivation capability
• Cloud migration services to allow secure anywhere-access

Are you ready to transform your workplace?

Through our partnership with HP and The Laptop Company’s remote management tools, we help organisations to transform for the future with powerful and secure HP devices powered by Intel® processors. Get in touch with us today to begin optimising your device fleet with HP and The Laptop Company. A complete solution that combines hardware, support, proactive management, and services for every stage of your users’ device lifecycles.

Contact us for pricing and availability.

Microsoft has announced a major update to the Surface Book range. While appearing fundamentally unchanged from the Surface Book 2 on the outside, there have been some important changes for power users.

Increases are bolded.

Increases are bolded.

An NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 Max-Q option is available for users seeking workstation-class driver certification and ray-tracing support.  For professionals seeking ultimate stability in engineering, architecture, VR, game design and motion pictures, the Surface Book 3 allows access to one of the best on-screen Pen experiences in a device that supports 3D work spaces.

For pricing and availability, please Contact Us or speak to your account manager at The Laptop Company.

Benchmarks source: https://www.userbenchmark.com/

Microsoft has just announced the new Surface Go 2 tablet.  With the new Intel Core M3 CPU option, this is now a viable solution for a greater number of staff.  The lightest Surface understands your handwriting, lets you draw on almost anything in Windows 10 and secure by design with S mode.  With a larger 10.5" display, the 544 gram tablet features more battery life and a new performance option for workplace applications. The following outlines the differences between the two generations:

Increases are bolded.

The entry-level Intel Pentium Gold processor receives a modest performance bump.
The most important change is the new 8th Gen Intel Core M3 option, a dual core ultra-low power processor that increases performance by approximately 64% according to Microsoft.  Faster graphics and increased SSD transfer speeds for the M3 also provide more power for teams using enterprise applications and Windows 10 Pro. 
Surface Go 2 with Core M3 and 8GB memory should exceed the performance of the entry-level 2018 Surface Pro 6 with 7th Gen Intel Core M3 and just 4GB memory.

All models now support Wi-Fi 6™, which provides more reliable high speed connections in crowded network environments. 
The Surface Go 2 can also be optioned with 4G LTE Advanced data for remote teams.

The high-quality PixelSense™ display has been increased in size to 10.5" without the overall size of the device increasing.  An increase in resolution from 1800x1200 to 1920x1280 increases usability for office applications and makes monitor resolution matching easier for users.

Manufacturer-rated battery life is increased from 9 to 10 hours, which should be sufficient for field workers and staff who are mobile throughout the day.  USB-C charging allows staff more charging options when away from their workplace

For pricing and availability, speak to your account manager at The Laptop Company or Contact us.