What are your options?
There are many computers that are half laptop, half tablet coming onto the market. Unless you are on the road constantly then these convertible tablets/laptops are possibly not the best option as they are expensive and not always high speed.
However, because of the growth of these, it means that laptops are less cool, and you may pick up a good one for a good price. This allows you to operate with a reliable laptop and potentially a tablet also. You could get both for under $1500.
More important is the software you choose; basically you have three choices: Google, Apple or Microsoft. All have capable word processing, spreadsheets and email programs, and other useful features.
The biggest difference is that Google has to be connected to the internet at all times to work,
while the Apple and Microsoft ones do not.
Pricing is also different: Apple’s iWork suite is free, Google is free for most of its services and Microsoft offers outright and subscription payment options.
Subscription payment options are the big change in software licencing: instead of buying your licence outright, you pay a monthly or yearly subscription, giving you more flexibility to change computers or even install your software on multiple computers. This helps if you always want access to the latest features, but if you are still using the same software for years then you might end up paying a little more.
One advantage of subscription software is that the pace of new features is rapid to encourage you to keep subscribing. For example, Microsoft’s Office 365 has had these major upgrades over the past few months: new apps for Android and Apple phones, new features to SharePoint and One Drive, and Office for iPad released.
What you choose is your decision, but factor in what you are familiar with, how many devices you use and what your farm business looks like.
One thing to consider when making changes to your system is getting your own email domain, e.g. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You don’t need to change internet provider, but it gives you the flexibility to pick and choose provider in the future without being tied to an @xtra or @farmside email address.
It also means you will not suffer any of the security issues many Telecom customers have experienced over the past few months. Setting up is easy; contact us at Ripped Orange for a fact sheet.
Another point to consider is backup; most services offer cloud backup, and this is worth considering if you have a decent internet connection. Otherwise, or in addition, a portable hard drive that you back up is a good idea.
• David Jackson, of Canterbury, studied at Lincoln University and has worked in agribusiness. Ripped Orange is a technology training company www.rippedorange.co.nz
