Primary School Maths – Why teach it?

There are many people out there teaching different kinds of subject but it is mathematics which is considered to be the most beneficial and even the best for having a bright future later on. In order to be able to teach the subject to children, teachers must have a lot of determination and an ability to make them like the subject right from the beginning as it can be tough and sometimes very boring as well. Hence, primary school maths should always be taught carefully and in an interesting way for the purpose of capturing the attention of students immediately.

Interesting to Teach

Teaching maths to children at this level can be a fun process due to the fact that every day activity classes and assignment give children the chance to learn creativity and hence, both the teachers as well as the students learn in the process. At this stage, children have many bright ideas that they can share with their teachers and enhance their knowledge in many ways as well. Being one of the most fun subjects to teach to children at this level, teachers should definitely not let go of the chance of teaching primary school maths to students whenever they want or prefer.

Uniqueness of the Subject

Apart from being a great and highly fun subject to teach, it is also amongst the most practical subjects that teachers can possibly teach children. With the knowledge of counting and problem solving, children can easily learn to apply these in their daily routine in order to acquire many top notch benefits in the long run. This is what makes the subject informative and definitely worth teaching the younger generation as it gives them a lot to learn and even apply within daily life on a day to day basis in both the short and the long run.

Less Amount of Work

For teachers who are to teach maths to children at this level, one of the biggest benefits is the fact that they do not have to deal with a lot of workload. As children at this age are immensely young and do not require as much counseling and assistance in comparison with those who are older, teachers are going to find themselves with not a lot of work and that is precisely what everyone wants in the first place. Due to this, teachers can focus on many other tasks at hand and go on to teach the subject with deliberate care and attention.

High End Salaries

Teaching primary school maths to students is also a great way for earning a good amount of money. This is due to the fact that mathematics is one of those subjects that are indeed tough at all levels, which is why maths teachers are paid so much in the first place. This is amongst one of the most prominent reasons for teaching maths to children at this level as it is immensely easy and fun, and also pays a lot on the side. As not everyone can teach maths, there is seldom a shortage of such teachers and when that happens, schools and educational institutes pay a good amount of money to immediately hire the teachers they can get their hands on instantly.

Is Teaching Primary School Maths worth it?

Due to these amazing benefits, teachers have been highly recommended to go ahead and teach mathematics to children at this level as it not only allows the children to learn many things, but it also helps them in understanding and learning a lot more than they used to before. There are many job vacancies available for this position, which is why maths teachers should always continue the search until they come across the perfect job.

The Purpose of Studying Concept Maths

More and more students can be seen to be going for maths as the subject allows them to explore a wide range of different careers and it also enables them to solve many things in the daily routine. This is due to the fact that our everyday life revolves around maths and almost nothing is without it. Therefore, studying it is always highly recommended to all individuals. Concept maths is the kind which really sharpens a person’s mind and also gives people the ability to understand maths in general in a much better way. A lot of schools all over the globe have included this subject into their curriculum since there is no going ahead without it.

Enhanced Analysis

An essential reason for studying concept maths is the fact that people can enhance their analytical skills through it. With this being possible, individuals can easily score well on critical tests that demand a lot of analysis. Since analyzing is known to be an exceptionally difficult task, the best way to polish or to acquire analytical skills is to give more importance to maths in school, college and university level. Those who succeed in understanding this are most likely to have better analytical skills than others who do not.

Enhanced Brain Activity

It is very important to study concept maths due to the fact that it enables people to acquire sharp thinking skills, which they cannot acquire so easily otherwise. The subject tests the thinking limits of an individual and where most people do not attempt to think outside of the box, they are most likely to do so while studying this type of maths. In short, individuals are going to be benefitting a lot in the process of increasing thinking skills on a large scale.

Critical Thinking & Reasoning

People study this type of maths also for the purpose of enhancing their critical thinking skills as well. Since that requires a lot of reasoning in general, this subject is known to especially help it in one way or the other. Education experts have revealed that only through maths can people increase with reasoning skills and critical thinking. While there are quite a lot of others ways to achieve this, learning mathematics is considered to be the most efficient and most commonly known ones these days. Ever since the subject was invented, it has been unique and it still is to this day.

Understanding Concepts

On the other hand, the subject is also taught to people in order to get their facts and concepts straight. Mathematics is all about knowing the right concepts and applying them well. Those who figure this out soon can do exceptionally good in the subject in the long run. However, people who are looking forward to know all there is about mathematical concepts are highly suggested to go for this type of maths as its main purpose is to provide the proper kind of guidance in the matter of knowing the concepts of maths. Due to this reason, more and more people can be seen to be opting for it.

The Verdict

All in all, learning concept mathematics has a lot of short and long-term advantages that people surely do not want to miss out. It has been included in the curriculum of many schools, colleges and even universities in different parts of the world. Due to these exclusive reasons, all the interested students are highly recommended to study maths in order to benefit from all that it has to offer. Studies also reveal that people who opt for maths are also the ones who end up having the most top notch careers as their options are countless. With maths, individuals can enter purely maths-related as well as science and IT fields if they wish.

Things I Carry: Laptop, Swimsuit & Country Music

As CEO of HP, I spend a lot of time on the road, traveling around the world to meet with customers, investors and employees. Last year alone, I spent more than 60% of my time traveling.

While I’m accustomed to frequent travel and moving at a fast pace, there are a few things I always try to carry and can’t go without. These help me stay focused, tune out the noise and provide the flexibility I need whether I’m at home or on the road.

Staying Focused

Since competing in high school, I’ve tried to make swimming a part of my regular routine. The physical exercise and time alone in a pool is a great outlet for focusing my thoughts and relieving stress. When I’m in town, I start my day at a local public pool where I’m enrolled in a Masters Swimming program. When traveling, I always carry a swimsuit and try to stay at a location near a pool so I can get in a morning swim regardless of time zone.

Tuning Out the Noise

As any member of my team who has spent time with me in a car will tell you, I’m a big fan of Country music. Some favorites include George Strait, Brooks & Dunn and Shania Twain. I keep my phone loaded with playlists that I use to tune out the noise and help me concentrate while traveling. Our CFO, Cathie Lesjak, shares a similar appreciation for Country music – sometimes when we’re working late you can hear Country playing from our cubicles.

Flexibility On and Off the Clock

I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t include at least one plug for HP. One item I can’t travel without is the HP Envy x2, our latest laptop/tablet hybrid. It’s lightweight and easy to carry on trips. While on a plane, I use it as a notebook to send emails and handle work. When I want to unwind, I slide off the screen and use it as a tablet to watch a movie and decompress. I have to work efficiently when I’m on the go and the Envy x2 helps me get the job done wherever I happen to be.

Universal Docking Station Dual Monitor for Laptop and Desktop

Multitasking is the evergreen trendy word. It is always desirable to have one thing with lots of other features in it, which is in demand for computer accessory as well. We always have to face the problem of  managing bunch of wire around our laptop or desktop, which can be called an important evil. A universal docking station can sail us through our difficulties by reducing the bunch of wire. Universal docking station is the product which does multitask by providing a single port for all the peripheral devices that we commonly use with or computer.

The product supports up to 6 additional USB display. HDMI, VGA and DVI monitor port supports resolution up to 2048*1152/1920*1200. There are different video mode is available in the product like extended Desktop mode, mirror desktop mode and primary mode. Along with video, it supports 5.1-channel surround sound through DMI interface and of course input is available for headset and microphone.

The product comprises of 4 USB 2.0 port, 2 USB 3.0 port and one USB 3.0 gigabyte Ethernet network port. The 4 USB 2.0 port can be used for devices such as scanner, digital camera, keyboard, mouse, printer, joystick etc. and the other two USB 3.0 port helps in transferring data at the speed of 5gbps.The third USB 3.0 Ethernet port supports IEEE 802.3, 802.3ab and full duplex operation with IEEE 802.3x flow control. One fast charging port with charging current can charge your smart phone faster.

The product is perfect for all the personal computer like laptop, desktop and Ultra book. It can bring relieve from those unwanted web of wires around the computer. For customer`s convenience, these product is  available on e-commerce platform as well, which makes it easy to buy. Due to its multitasking ability and easy to use design, product falls under the list of most popular products.

Generation Z - It's Not Your Grandpa's Laptop

Julian, my 12 year old son, had an interesting thought today. He and his brother just started GenZLink, an agency helping organizations seeking to inspire and connect with Generation Z. I asked him if he would write up his thoughts. I usually find the boys more inspiring than anyone I know, so I figured maybe someone else might also. Who knows? He says…

The kids of today are different from the kids before us. A very big difference is the new technology, mostly computers and other digital devices. Adults and kids have very different views of computers. Adults in the modern age got computers when they were older, so their memories of computers are using them for boring, lonely 'work.' My generation uses computers for fun and games with friends; creating happy memories all the time. We also use them for creative expression.  

My generation and the generations before us grew up with different kinds of ways to entertain ourselves and connect to the world. Members of my generation entertain ourselves by playing on our computers or other devices, whereas the generations before entertained themselves by watching TV, drawing, playing games, etc. When my generation looks at a computer, they think of good times and freedom - just like how the generation before us waited for their favorite TV characters’ next episode and thought of good times, common thoughts, and freedom.

Today’s adults used to have common characters like Samantha, Darrin, and Tabitha on "Bewitched," or Gilligan, The Skipper, and Thurston Howell on "Gilligan’s Island." The kids nowadays all know about Steve from Minecraft, Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach from Mario, and at least a few Pokemon characters. 

Cars (maybe a family station wagon), bikes, landlines, and the newspaper used to be the connection to humanity for the kids before my generation. They used to ride to places, like a mall, to socialize and hang out with friends. They wanted to read the newspaper because it connected them to the rest of the world. Now, computers are a major connection to humanity. Kids today socialize by Skyping their friends and playing games together. Friends get together with their laptops - playing or making games or apps. It’s not all as unhealthy as it sounds, though. We also play games where we exercise: Think Wii Sports and Wipeout on the Wii. And, we don't leave home without our Fitbits; which connect back to our laptops or phones.

Computers are changing how kids do everything. My generation uses computers to do everything the generation before us used to do and more.

Frankly, even this collaborative post - it’s a ‘family memory,’ clearly something I couldn’t have done on two separate laptops at a kitchen table on Google Drive when I was 12 years old in 1977. We’re even looking up (and bantering) about appropriate grammar usage together to get this written.  And, now we’re battling out the right image. We’ve decided that ‘cats sell,’ and we’ve even started talking about the 'Cute cat theory of digital activism.'  We figure this cat and mouse image will inspire your eyeballs, and it’s in memory of our now lost Muffin.  

If this post was boring, we humbly apologize. If you are inspired to share some inter-generational digital moments, we appreciate it and maybe someone else will too.  Thank you.  

Written in collaboration with Julian and his Dad (me). Julian is the co-Founder of GenZLink.  Dan is the President and CEO of CaseStack, a Board Member ofThe Center for Retailing Excellence, and the author of Collaborate: The Art of We.

My Asus 2-in-1 Windows 10 Laptop Review

It has been ages since I have actually owned my own copy of Windows. Recently I decided to give Microsoft another go and purchased a modest Asus 2-in-1 laptop. I already own an Asus Chromebook Flip which I have really enjoyed using even though ChromeOS is a bit limited for offline use and some advanced functionality and I am not really a Linux guy on the desktop. The reason I went for the Asus was based on that experience.

So where are we now. Well I have had the laptop for the better part of a week and I definitely have some opinions about it and of course the installed OS, Windows which is a key component to the use of a device these days. For the record as most of you may know I am pretty committed to the Apple ecosystem. I own an iPad, iPhone, MacBook Pro and do almost everything on a day to day basis on these devices. I really love them all and they do make my life very productive so for me to head back to Windows after all of this time was tough.

What were my reasons for doing this, I would say curiosity, there has been so much hype about the “New” Microsoft and that Windows 10 was the best of all the prior OSs they have released and really works well. I wanted to find out for myself. Yes I use Fusion on my Mac so I am able to run Windows but really I believe the best way to experience anything is to use the product as your main source rather  than on an as needed basis. The second reason is price. Yes! Macs are awesome but so are their prices. I am not going to discuss if they are worth it or not in this article, I will leave that for another day. Finally as much as I love Apple I wanted a bit more flexibility, with my main need to have a Tablet, Touch Screen and full laptop in a very small portable device that I can easy carry anywhere.

So I bought myself a relatively inexpensive laptop already knowing the limitations such as performance etc. but like I said this has a purpose so playing the latest games was not on my agenda.

The laptop itself I think is pretty handsome, it is a gun metal grey color and feels super solid. The tablet when detached is not heavy and is not thick although the edge is rather large but that does not make it bulky in any way. The screen resolution is pretty low by todays standards but again I was aware of that and the quality is really good with deep blacks and sharp colors and whites which makes up for it. In terms of speed well it has 4gb of memory, something I rarely think about anymore thanks to Apple and a 64mb eMMC. All of this combines to make a pretty good experience. On the battery side it lasts probably 6+ hours if you are using it on WiFI and with some anger, or maybe longer. It does not charge very fast but it is not terrible, I have seen worse.

I use mainly online resources, Office 2016 and a handful of other apps. None of these are very resource intensive and as long as you don’t want to open too many things at the same time it performs adequately. I am conscious of this so keep open apps to a minimum.

So up until now I would say that all has been pretty okay. I mean we are not talking amazing, it is a restricted experience but still not terrible and quite usable.

Let’s talk about what I don’t care for. Firstly Windows 10. While it is an improvement there are just so many basic functions missing. It feels like Windows is still trying to be a jack of all trades and ends up as a master of none. For example in docked mode it behaves just like normal windows. Frustrating at times, multiple clicks to get to many simple items, cluttered in most places. With a touch screen device it would be nice to have a better touch experience. When un-docked it converts to “Tablet” mode. This does not always work as advertised and sometimes apps just do not work well, are formatted incorrectly or you cannot exit them, get to the keyboard easily and so on. These are not major issues but once you have used an iPad or Mac you realize they are issues nonetheless. Then the OS itself is super buggy still. Sometimes a right click works, sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes performance is great and then it slows down terribly ad becomes all jerky and hard to do anything and it feels like a netbook all over again, windows move when they shouldn't, the login screen has a password then a passcode then reverts back to a password system for no reason at all. These again are things that Apple owners don’t care about anymore. They trust that Apple will provide them with a great experience no matter what device they choose, of course that comes at a price.

Then there are the apps themselves. Firstly I want to talk about Office 2016. I have a subscription to Office 365. The laptop came pre-installed with Office Mobile as well. So I downloaded and logged into my Office 365 on Word but that did not translate to any other apps, just Word I had to do it for each and every office app. Yes I know I could use my Windows Login to my Live account but that takes away my flexibility to just use this as a laptop and not feel tied to a service. I use multiple services already and do not like the integrated Live login feature. The laptop of course also comes pre-installed with other “stuff” like candy Crush. Really Asus or Microsoft or whomever thought it was a good idea on a severely constrained device to include rubbish like this. So of course I did not leave these but went about cleaning up, but really should that be something I should be doing. It feels like buying a new car and then when you get it they have loaded it up with free trials from stores all of the place all in paper bags on the seats for me.

There are some also pretty poor inclusions such as the front and rear cameras which I think are from a 1990s era phone. They really should just not bother at all I mean it’s a tablet and laptop it doesn’t need to take pictures as well. I suppose the front camera might be useful for Skype but it is very poor quality so you are better off using just voice. The keyboard is also very light and of course the tablet is much heavier so when docked and maybe on your lap it has the tendency to fall over backwards. This is easily rectified by putting it on a hard surface and in some ways understandable from a weight perspective but they could have been smarter and included a pop out stand on the back of the tablet to stop that happening very easily.

Next up we have the issue of Windows and the hardware not always in sync. An example is when I closed the laptop prior to my flight expecting it to sleep and conserve power only to find when I opened it 8 hours later that it was almost dead because it hadn’t gone to sleep at all. I am not certain who to blame here but this really is something that they need to get right 100% of the time or my confidence in the  laptop is severely reduced. The SDHC card slot as well lets the card stick out just slightly and I have already lost (and then found again) 1 card. I compared this to my Asus Chromebook and the same issue does not exist on that tablet so this is an Asus design issue!

Windows is also still very buggy and the apps for Windows just do not have the polish of Mac or iPad apps that are similar. Take for example Zinio a magazine reader I use on all my devices. On my Mac and iPad the experience is similar and works flawlessly but on the Windows device it is hit and miss. Windows also stops loading apps and you need to re-install them. This has plagued Windows for so long now I thought it would be solved. I haven’t re-installed an  app on my Mac in years and in fact I rarely even restart my Mac or iPad but I have already restarted my new Windows device multiple times. It is also laggy, not this would be fine if it was all the time I suppose but it isn’t, you can be working away and then things just slow down and then speed up again. This must be a Windows issue and usually happens in Word or similar.

So what do I really like about this laptop. Firstly the size and for the price build quality feels very good in most respects. The Tablet when undocked is also pretty good and definitely a good replacement for an older iPad or Android tablet. Being able to dock and use an almost proper keyboard, it’s not 100% but again the limitation is the size which I can live with. It still feels pretty good to type on. The expandable memory options via either USB on the keyboard (although it is 2.0) and the SDHC on the tablet itself is also welcome with the limited internal storage. I have however already lost a SDHC card which popped out which is a bit of a worry about that part of the device so I am contemplating not expanding the storage as I explained above already.

I also really liked the price, it was $299 and I feel as if that is an excellent price point for the features on offer. The main issue is my confidence in them working all of the time and that is why this could never be my primary laptop. It’s fine on a short use basis but as a permanent replacement for a Mac or even an iPad it will be hard until they get the basics right. But I do like the concept a lot and if these things improve I see a good future for these devices and I certainly appreciate the price point very much.

In summary these are my feelings. The device is a reasonable blend of hardware but with a few minor issues that are not insurmountable. The OS is what it is, you just have to realize that Windows is still buggy and not focused on any platform but rather all platforms. The hardware is good, not great but it passes especially when you consider this price point. If you can get behind these issues then this is a pretty cool laptop that I am not as unhappy with as I expected I might be and in some ways I am really surprised and actually quite like many aspects of this device when it gets it right.

I bought mine at the Microsoft Store in San Francisco, I wanted to check it out first and compare it to the other more expensive laptops and 2-in-1s including the Microsoft Surface Book and Microsoft Surface both of which are probably more comparable in price at least the latest Mac’s.

Head over here if you want to check it out: bit.ly/asus2in1

The Laptop Millionaire: How Anyone Can Escape the 9 to 5 and Make Money Online [book review]

This book starts strong. Imagine Rich Dad Poor Dad meets The 4-Hour Workweek. (Two great books I recommend.) Unfortunately, I only liked the Introduction chapter of this book. The author provides excellent short definitions of money, value, andbusiness. 

Reading the introduction is worth the small price to pay for a used copy of this book. However, I don't recommend the other 230 pages. Do you really believe you can get rich quick with your laptop and an Internet connection?

Imagine making $1,000 to $10,000 or more per month from passive income. This book sells that idea. It offers a lot of tips and success stories of how you can stay at home—or travel—while making money with SEO, ads on YouTube/Facebook/Twitter, banner ads, affiliate sites, Internet marketing, newsletters, webinars, and e-books.

If you want to make more money, asking yourself, "How can I make more money?" is the wrong place to start!
— The Laptop Millionaire

[ Amazon ]

SONY VAIO Laptop Touchscreem i5 intel core (sve14aj16l 750GB HDD 6GB RAM) @$185 pc used in good working condition

WTS:

QTY 150pcs x SONY VAIO Laptop Touchscreem i5 intel core (sve14aj16l 750GB HDD 6GB RAM) @$185 pc  used in good working condition

Kingma Group Limited
ADD: 25/F Cheung Kong Center 2 Queen's Road Central Hong Kong
Phone: +852-3071 7639
Fax: +852 2700 3731
Skype: Traceyeminkg@hotmail.com
E:Tracey@kingma-group.com

Never Buy the $299 Laptop for Your Business

Build quality: what is it? It's why your Pro Series laptop still works after it is accidently sat on and dropped, and also why that $299 Holiday Bundle dies 91 days after purchase.

When looking to purchase a desktop, laptop or tablet, there are typically two distinct classes of hardware: the Business Class, and the Consumer Class. Right off the bat you will notice several things about the Business class models; in this case laptops:

• Metal Hinges and reinforcements - the screen opens and feels stiff, does not wobble, aluminum top and sides for extra protection
• Tighter fit and finish, less flex on the case, and a reinforced/aluminum top cover to prevent accidental screen damage
• Features like backlit keyboard, biometric reader & full 10-key keyboard
• Typically these models have extended warranties and next day on-site service
• You are running a "Pro" version of the Operating System, giving you business features not available to a Home version
• There is no "trialware" that bombards you as soon as you power on
• The hardware is current, and will not be too slow to run applications next year

Other not so evident engineering enhancements and considerations for a Business model laptop includes:

• Matte LCD coating, which prevents shine and reflection. Consumer models typically have very shiny screens, which look good in optimal lighting, but can be difficult to use in direct sunlight.
• VGA ports: many Consumer grade laptops dropped the VGA option, so if you need to hook up quickly to a projector or monitor, it may be a challenge
• Higher quality fans, more bearings in the fans allowing faster speeds, longer life & less noise
• More than one fan - many entry level laptops have 1 cooling fan blowing out the bottom, or side. Block that one vent, and you will cause serious damage
• Reinforced Standoffs on the mainboard- the reason your charging port gets loose and will not charge is there are only one or two pins holding it into the mainboard. Business class machines have four or more. After a few good tugs on the charger cable, a Consumer quality laptop will need a DC (power) jack repair.
• Tear-Down time is very important to a technician and ultimately to your repair cost. Business class machines typically come apart in logical order with just a few screws, where Consumer grade laptops typically need to go to a depot to repair due to the complexity of reassembling it correctly.
• Parts Availability is something that is rarely considered, but it would be nice if 2 years from now they had the mainboard available without a long wait. Consumer products typically have a one year parts availability before the model is retired, where Business models are typically three years, coinciding with your three year warranty

Consumer Class Desktops typically have low end processors, and non-upgradable RAM or limited options preventing you from installing add on cards. When purchasing a Business class machine, you are usually presented with many options to customize to your needs. You can add RAM at the build time to save money as well. Some other considerations to think about when selecting a desktop:

• Business Class Desktops typically have dual monitor capability where consumer models will need a better video card
• Consumer Desktops are physically lighter, using more aluminum and less steel and copper. Copper is used to dissipate heat, and aluminum is very ineffective at dissipating heat, but is much cheaper.
• In many cases, the ultra-cheap desktops are actually low end laptop mainboards mounted in a large and mostly empty case. These desktops are nothing more than netbooks, and are not really designed to do anything but office work.
• To keep costs down even more, companies allow trialware to be installed, like 60 day antivirus trials.

When it comes to tablets, there is a REAL distinct difference between a Consumer "no name" tablet, and a name brand tablet. Most notably:

• Active vs Passive & Touch sensitivity on the screen- on low end models, your finger will be hurting by the end of a browsing session. Passive LCDs require pressure to detect a touch, where active detect heat and electric currents in your fingers.
• Screen Glare & viewing angle- the cheaper the tablet, the more direct you need to look at it to see the colors correctly, and the less sun you can have before you see nothing but glare
• Battery Life on lower priced tablets suffers greatly as a good Lithium Polymer battery is not cheap, so many cheaper tablets use NiMH which can store much less energy than lithium.
• Some of the cheapest tablets do not use Google Play, essentially making them absolutely useless except as Internet tablets

When it comes time to purchase new technology, seriously consider the Return on Investment (ROI) you want from the item. If you are satisfied with a year of use from a new computer, many consumer level devices would be a decent choice.Most business would find having to switch PCs, change data, reinstall programs etc., yearly to stay current more trouble than its worth. In the long run, typically your costs to retire the old PC and set up the new PC would exceed the extra you would have spent on the Business Class three year warranty machine.

My rule of thumb is to buy slightly bigger than you need at the current moment, allowing for growth. Having to re-buy larger PCs, or bigger server down the road will cost exponentially more than doing it up front. Technology is an investment in your company, don't go cheap-o!

Disclaimer: this is my personal opinion on Business class vs. Consumer class hardware based on first hand experience diagnosing failures in the field.

What Happened When I Left My Laptop at Home

A few weeks back I went to LA on business. I was going to attend the Digital Banking Summit where those of us in fintech compared notes on what is going on in our shared industry and how to evolve within it. The trip was sure to be a great one with the promise of new connections, increased knowledge, imparted insights and way better sushi than what I can get in Charlotte.

As I packed, I went through the usual process of doing my "outfit-a-day" planning and packing. Once done, I brought my suitcase to our foyer and left it there. When my Uber arrived in the morning, I'd just grab my luggage and go.

Everything was all set with my suitcase.

And then I looked over at my briefcase.

Bringing my laptop and having to take it out at security. Worst case, the security guards at the airport would have me turn it on and off in front of them. I'd have to count my laptop’s briefcase as my "second bag". The scarcity of space in the overhead compartments on the plane is always an issue these days and keeping my briefcase at my feet during the flight would make that miniscule space seem even smaller. In recent years, it seemed that there wasn't enough room to open my laptop and use it while on the plane anyway.

In short, I thought how nice it would be if I did not need to bring my laptop to LA.

Then I made a snap decision and decided that I would leave my laptop at home for the three days.

I decided I would use it as an opportunity to do an experiment with my new mobile device. I had purchased a Samsung Note 3 a few months earlier, trading in my iPhone 4S. I did so because the Note is a phablet and I simply wanted to manage my life on a larger screen. I decided to use my LA trip to see if I could manage my work life for three days on my new phablet, without my laptop.

It led to some pretty interesting observations, which follow below:

• The basics were covered nicely – The basics of being tapped into the home office involves reading emails, making necessary phone calls and using IM. On my phablet, the basics are a pleasure. I can read emails with greater ease on the large screen, make phone calls even if the large device looks unusual next to my head, and converse on IM with great ease. Simply put, having a phablet makes just about everything easier.
  

• I could read the websites that I pulled up – As each speakers at the Digital Banking Summit stood up and started their presentation, I pulled up the website for the companies that the speakers worked for. I could read everything on the phablet, even if the sites in question were not responsively designed for viewing on a mobile device. It was refreshing when contrasted against my memories of trying to use an iPhone for looking at websites.

• I could review most documents with ease – A couple of times each day, I would step out of the summit and dial into a meeting. Reviewing a Word document and/or a PowerPoint deck was often involved. In all cases, I was able to pull up the PowerPoint or Word doc on the phablet and take part in the review without issues. I could even read the text on the PowerPoint slides that I had pulled up on my phablet. I remember this being a major issue on my smaller iPhone, even to the point of being infeasible.

• Excel..... not so much – When asked to review some financial information in an Excel spreadsheet, I found that this was just about impossible. Excel on a small form factor still has a way to go before you can reasonably move through tabs, sheets and cells. In this case, my phablet was as inefficient as my iPhone used to be.

• I couldn’t create artifacts, not a small issue – If I had needed to make edits to a document, or create something from the ground-up, I would've needed to borrow a colleague's laptop. That did not happen, but it would've been an issue if that had arisen. Phablets and smart phones have a major functionality gap in creating Microsoft Office artifacts today. And there is certainly no meaningful competitor to Office on the market today that runs on Apple or Android.

In short, for those three days my phablet met my needs. Not having to travel with the laptop was indeed a pleasure. And I enjoyed the summit without that large distraction sitting on the table in front of me throughout the day.

Could I use a phablet as my "go-to" device all of the time? Not at this time. Creating MS Office documents remains a big part of how I move information. And not having that ability on my phablet, combined with the fact that the screen is perhaps a bit small for such a use, means that it cannot replace my laptop at this time. But a tablet mounted in a keyboard with a viable version of MS Office? That would likely do the trick.

Bottom line, mobile devices and what we use them for is changing at this time. The perfect device and device size remain to be determined. We should watch with interest at the changing form factors in mobile and anticipate the need to adapt.