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IS SURFACE PRO A GAME CHANGER?
Yes, if integration with Outlook and document management systems is key.
It took Apple Inc. to show us what a tab- let should look like. Now, Microsoft demonstrates what a tablet should do. The Surface Pro brings Windows compatibility
to a sleek, modern tablet. It runs the full
spectrum of Windows software, giving
it a range unavailable on the iPad. This
benefits both lawyers and the IT staff
who support the devices. Though not
always the best of both worlds, the SP
combines strengths of laptops and tablets, making it a compelling option for
mobile lawyers.
Many lawyers rely on proprietary
software that exists only for Microsoft
Windows. On other tablets, they must
seek out iPad- or Android-friendly
replacements that may not work the
same as (or connect with) desktop programs. If a colleague sends a link to your
document management system instead
of the file itself, can you open that link
on an iPad? Can you edit the document
on an Android tablet? Some systems
have tablet-friendly apps, but can they
provide the same experience and tools
as a desktop PC?
You can assume that if it works on a
PC, it will work on the Surface Pro.
Security & Management. The SP
benefits from security features like
Windows 8 Pro’s built-in BitLocker feature that can encrypt the SP’s hard drive,
reducing risk. The SP also works with
centrally managed security utilities
such as virus scanners, metadata cleaners, and data management apps that
integrate with Outlook. Many of these
are incompatible with iOS and Android.
Windows 8 tablets are compatible with the PC management tools IT
departments typically use, so firms can
deploy security and software updates
via Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager. IT can use Active Direc-
tory and Group Policy to manage settings for tablet users and grant permission to access particular applications
and files.
Competitors. The SP’s security and
compatibility strengths owe to its Win-
dows 8 Pro operating system. While
other tablets can run Windows, few are
as well-reviewed. The Surface Pro is eas-
ily confused with the Surface RT, which
is less expensive and less powerful. The
RT comes with a stripped-down version
of Microsoft Office, missing Outlook.
It cannot run the add-ins that connect
Office with document management sys-
tems and metadata cleaning utilities.
Keep an eye on VDO360( www.vdo360.com) — it took the Best
Startup Company award at the Interop Conference and Expo
( www.interop.com) held in May in Las Vegas. The company designs, sources, and supplies audio and video
components for unified communications and collaboration for organizations. It won for its low-cost, high-quality USB high-definition (1080p format) videoconferencing camera (VPTZH01) that
provides wide-area coverage of a conference or meeting room. The camera supports
pan, tilt, and zoom functions and brings high-quality video to a plug-and-play (
driver-free) Mac or PC device over USB. It offers 2x optical zoom and supports RS-232
serial input control, and includes a multifunction IR remote control. It supports
Linux, Android, and Mac iOS IR remote control operation. The device has tripod bracket scre w holes for easy installation and also comes with a bracket
mount for use on room-size monitors. —Sean Doherty
BEST STARTUP
