History shows that the types of computers available have evolved quickly in just the last decade than they have in the entire history of the computer. Ever since the computer’s earliest days, the intention has always been that we’d be forever tied down to a desk when working on one. Now it’s strictly a personal preference as mobile devices become the standard in how we use a computer while on the go.
Despite types of computer still evolving at the time of this blog, where we’re at now can tell you a lot about the past as well as where we’re going. For a business using the “Bring Your Own Device” policy, you should be aware of all the types of computers in your company and how much IT support they may need.
Desktop Computers
The desktop is still very much alive, despite so many critics saying desktops are going extinct in favor of mobile devices. Many people still prefer working on a desktop since not all mobile devices have the features yet that desktops do. That mostly comes down to speed and storage capability.
We all know desktops have Mac and PC adherents. Both are still equal, though it’s true that those who use Windows on PC’s are going to be more vulnerable to viruses. This isn’t to say Apple’s Macs aren’t also vulnerable, and may be more so in the future as more viruses are made to attack Mac’s operating systems.
The good news is that desktops are much cheaper than laptops or even some mobile devices. Many are also much less bulky, especially the recent iMacs, despite costing more.
Laptops
Your company no doubt has laptops around, even if they’re slowly starting to integrate with tablet devices. That hasn’t happened fully yet, and a laptop can still be either useful or a burden, depending on how you use it. Most of them (like Apple’s MacBook Pro) are very light and thin, yet still quite expensive for attaining those qualities.
These can also be vulnerable to viruses because of the constant connecting to other devices, plus Wi-Fi threats from intruders. Security in those departments can be very lax in some companies without certain IT policies.
Smartphones
Still called “mobile phones”, a smartphone has turned into something resembling a smaller computer. Internet surfing is now standard on smartphones as well as gaming capability. So far, not many people use them for work, unless it’s for email or texting.
They’re frequently included in the BYOD policies in companies where they can be very vulnerable. One reason is because some companies don’t realize how many of their employees are using a smartphone for their work. This lack of accountability can make your own smartphone all the more prone to hackers or other cyber threats.
Tablets
The iPad is arguably the greatest invention in mobile computing ever invented to date. Yet, they already have plenty of competition in the world of tablets. In another decade, we may all be using something quite different, especially in integrating with the capabilities of a laptop. This doesn’t stop many people from using tablets for their work thanks to touchscreen capability and easy access to multimedia. An iPad has probably been used at least once in nearly every company worldwide, whether for personal work, or for presentations.
In things we designate a computer, you could also call a server the same thing. They’re really the backbone of where we store everything. A company has to rely on servers, and they need to be maintained by technicians who know how to protect your data.
Even gaming consoles are considered a computer, even if they weren’t really considered that way before. Many now offer Internet browsing capability, which means they may be starting to slowly evolve into something more comprehensively useful.
You’re going to need a good IT service to help monitor and take care of these devices. We can do that for you here at 4 Corner IT with our IT support, backup, and cloud storage capability. We have you covered from every angle. We’re also consultants so we can give you real-world field experience on preventing problems before they happen.
Contact us so we can help monitor all the above computers being used in your company. We’ll make sure they’re fully protected so you won’t have to worry about chaos when something goes wrong.
