Software strategies and more…

After 11 months as a consultant, I took a job as a global analyst and consultant dealing with leading technology vendors in the business cloud space. In my job, I cover emerging technologies and trends in the business applications space that include financial applications, customer relationship management, business intelligence, collaboration software, and more.

As all companies do, I was issued a laptop computer as part of my job. I put it on my desk fired up a cranky old version of Windows (XP), put the laptop lock in place, and left it there. I use it once a day to sort my emails into folders, and access the few intercompany resources I cannot connect to from the web.

Instead, I use my personal laptop. I prefer it, much like the way I prefer my phone. It fits me, it allows me to get my job done, and its has what I need in terms of software, horsepower and tools needed to help my customers.

Here are the reasons I will not use my perfectly good work device.

1. My official work computer, and its locked software environment, lacks the context I need to my job effectively.
2. The laptops work policies prevent me from supporting and troubleshooting problems or tools I need when on the road.
3. The lack of ability to collaborate with my customers – dropbox, skype, Adobe ROME and more apps that are not supported by my IT dept. so not allowed on the “official” laptop.
4. I hate old software, seriously Windows XP? Office 2003? and other crapware the company ‘approves’?
5. Battery, form factor, etc. give me my 9-cell battery, backlit screen (so I can read outside), access to movies for the many flights, and i7 processor so I spend less time waiting and more time doing…

Sorry IT department, I’ll stick with my own kit. But thanks for the paperweight.

<Addition March 2011 on BYOD and IT Security>

Reflecting on this blog post and a recent meeting I had with Paul Muller VP Strategic Marketing @ HP, I realize that my choice is far from unique.

With the increase trend by companies and professionals with regards to the cosumerization of IT there is a growing acceptance (or invasion) of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Often this device is the personal mobile phone – commonly an Apple iPhone or a Droid phone versus or in addition to the companies standard issue Blackberry or Nokia.

These devices are quickly being joined by tablets and laptops brought in by users (like me) and connected to company networks via ‘gray’ wifi zones. These may not be directly connected to core network, but are connected to web-based services. Increasingly with the adoption of Apple’s iPad companies are using third party stores to validate applications but then deliver data directly for use by employees. This will undoubtedly continue to give IT departments fits until Apple (and others) start offering some type of enterprise store that enterprises can use to bring in-house and begin serving up many of the custom apps they have developed.

Nonetheless, people like me will be an increasing demographic that the IT department will have to deal with. For the IT departments seeking insight into securing their environment with the growing number of BYODs out there, I encourage them to look at a recent presentation given at a session I attended.

You can access the presentation on BYOC trends and how IT departments can address new treats surrounding cyber security here.

Okay, so I read a lot. Not as much as I’d like but I am working on that.

Working in IT as analyst, consultant and product manager for over 15 years I found myself saddled with a lot of reading documents. So between these, a notebook, and a sundry of other stuff it often meant I was carting around 20 lbs of misc. To address this I switched to a backpack years ago, but still I eventually hoped to rid myself of all that extra weight.

So finally I broke down an bought a Sony eReader! I chose it over the Kindle from Amazon for several reasons:

1. It handled all the formats I needed from Microsoft Word to PDF to various ePUB
2. It had a touch screen (I bought the Sony PRS 600S)
3. It had a stylus and a means for me to make notes and highlights as I read, plus I could use the reader and its basic text and note taking functions to record information from a meeting, take notes on the fly, and bring these easily back onto my notebook.
4. The price was right, thesource.ca offered them for $199.99 ($50 bucks less than anyone else!) and the $200 mark for a quality eBook reader was the ‘magic’ point for my pocket book.
5. I liked the style better, I found the Kindle ugly and the keyboard annoying given I’d only need it for the odd on-line purchase. And (a very important point)…
6. I loved the fact that Sony had integrated with the Toronto Pubic Library allowing me to check out books on-line rather than go to the library. Given I buy most books on-line this was a HUGE reason to take the plunge and save myself the $20-$25 a book that I’ll only read once from Chapters! (So note to self, check out 8 books soon to recoup the costs!)

So I’ve been using it for almost a week now. I admit it has taken a little getting used to. I do wish it had a blue-tooth sync option for the laptop so I wouldn’t need to connect it every time. But of course Sony got cheap and makes you buy a proper charger separately so syncing with the USB also charges the device. I do wish it had a wifi sync as well for me to subscribe to newspapers (the next model up does this), but between the extra $100 and the fees for NYTimes or others it quickly became uneconomical, so I’ll solider on without this feature…

I am happy with the purchase, esp once I have figured how to effectively turn a page  (the touch screen isn’t as sensitive as an iPad) both on screen and via the buttons on the front of the eReader. I love the form factor, its a bit big for a pocket, but fits in my blazer pockets easily. And its light, really light. I thought I wanted the black version , but ended up with the silver. Turns out that the silver actually blends well with the e-ink screen and does a great job of just ‘disappearing’ when you are reading.

So now my commuting weight has fallen dramatically. I have taken advantage of on-line syncing technology, a fabulous new smart phone (Nokia e71), a 16 GB flash drive, and now the eReader to carry all the information I need and access the most important via the web on my phone, office PC, home iMac, home ThinkPad when ever and where ever. For commuting, having all my data in devices that allow me freedom and without the encumbrance of 20 lbs of baggage is wonderful.

For those pros out there tired of a ton of paper weighing them down, those that find themselves with loads of legal, financial, technical docs etc, I’d recommend looking to an eBook reader asap. Between this a smart phone and web storage you should be saving your back for old age!

I continue to be impressed with what I can do with my new phone, a Nokia E71. I purchased the phone about a month ago when the screen died on my HTC Touch Pro. I worked at Microsoft when it was issued to me and I was at the time impressed with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile. Boy was I ever wrong.

I moved to the Nokia for two main reasons after researching Blackberry, Android and iPhone. the first was my need to stay on my Bell Canada contract and so cost was an issue and the second was phone call quality. I’d always enjoyed how the Nokia sounded when I had one years ago.

I have been both surprised and happy with this phone as both a smart phone and regular phone. the features’ build quality and availability of applications has been great. Miles ahead of Windows Mobile and for my needs up there with the iPhone.

In fact, I just wrote this blog on the phone using Nokia’s WordPress app. so if you are in the market I highly recommend this phone to anyone and everyone.