Saul Chernos

Ease of use is critical for small office, home office and SMB computer users. Organizations with fewer than 100 employees often lack full-time IT personnel and the resources to maximize efficiency and properly maintain systems. Complexity can be an even bigger issue when mobility is added to the equation.
Simplicity is a key consideration right from the point of purchase.
"If a vendor can make it relatively easy for them to buy, in other words sell a solution rather than a product so they get everything they need, then that vendor will generally be successful in that market," said Ron Wilson, Marketing Manager, SMB and Public Sector, Toshiba of Canada Limited.
For instance, Toshiba offers configuration, docking and data back-up features on some of its notebooks, plus online support.
Small organizations often lack the time and resources to shop for systems and handle emergencies, Wilson says. "They're not technical experts. Typically, it's the owner making the IT decisions. Whereas with a medium-size or larger business that's not the case."
Cost is also vital. With base prices at $1,099 and $1,299 respectively, Toshiba's Satellite Pro M40 and M70 systems, launched in October, represent the company's least expensive commercial notebooks.
The Satellite Pro M40 and M70 each include a 40 GB hard drive, a Combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, and a 15.4-inch widescreen. The M40 weighs 2.8 kg and includes an Intel Celeron M processor and a dual-mode Wi-Fi 802.11b/g Wireless LAN. The M70 weighs 2.7 kg and comes with an Intel Pentium M processor, a dual-mode Wi-Fi 802.11a/g Wireless LAN, and serial DDR2 and ATA technologies. Satellite Pro notebooks also include Microsoft Windows XP Professional, one-year warranties, and ConfigFree wireless connectivity.
Mini Saluja, Product Manager, Toshiba of Canada Limited, said ConfigFree enables network access from multiple locations. "You can have profiles set up for your home, office, or anywhere else," she explained. "Until now, users had to change their settings every single time. With ConfigFree, you set up and save your profiles once, then click on whatever location you happen to be at, and the computer changes settings instantly and automatically."
ConfigFree simplifies the use of wireless hot-spots. "It tells you it's found a wireless device and whether it's secure or not, and asks if you want to connect," according to Saluja. "It makes it a little more user friendly, rather than going in to connect on your own."
Through ConfigFree Summit users can set up small workgroups to chat and drag-and-drop files in order to share information.
Toshiba also offers optional 40 or 60-gigabyte USB-based hard drives for simplified data back-up. "You just press a button and it syncs automatically," said Saluja.
Common docking also facilitates easy use. Toshiba has partnered with accessory provider Targus to offer universal notebook docking stations to accommodate peripherals and cables that would ordinarily connect directly to the notebook.
"All you have to do is plug or unplug your notebook from the docking station and you're on your way, instead of having to plug or unplug five or six different devices," said Jim Kirkos, Product Manager, Accessories and Services, Toshiba of Canada Limited.
Toshiba also offers support. ConfigFree's Connectivity Doctor takes users step-by-step through basic troubleshooting.
"Say you forgot to turn on your wireless antenna, or a cable isn't properly plugged in, or the IP address isn't correct. These are the kinds of problems users have 90 per cent of the time and Connectivity Doctor can help," added Saluja.
For problems Connectivity Doctor can't resolve, Toshiba has partnered with YourTechOnline.com for global, 24-hour Internet access to live technical support. Billing is per-minute, and technicians will direct users to a web portal where they literally take over the computer to fix problems such as spyware, pop-ups, homepage hijackers and viruses.
"We were getting a lot of calls that were not related to the software that we'd built into the machine, so we wanted to provide this added service," said Kirkos.

Saul Chernos

Ease of use is critical for small office, home office and SMB computer users. Organizations with fewer than 100 employees often lack full-time IT personnel and the resources to maximize efficiency and properly maintain systems. Complexity can be an even bigger issue when mobility is added to the equation.
Simplicity is a key consideration right from the point of purchase.
"If a vendor can make it relatively easy for them to buy, in other words sell a solution rather than a product so they get everything they need, then that vendor will generally be successful in that market," said Ron Wilson, Marketing Manager, SMB and Public Sector, Toshiba of Canada Limited.
For instance, Toshiba offers configuration, docking and data back-up features on some of its notebooks, plus online support.
Small organizations often lack the time and resources to shop for systems and handle emergencies, Wilson says. "They're not technical experts. Typically, it's the owner making the IT decisions. Whereas with a medium-size or larger business that's not the case."
Cost is also vital. With base prices at $1,099 and $1,299 respectively, Toshiba's Satellite Pro M40 and M70 systems, launched in October, represent the company's least expensive commercial notebooks.
The Satellite Pro M40 and M70 each include a 40 GB hard drive, a Combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, and a 15.4-inch widescreen. The M40 weighs 2.8 kg and includes an Intel Celeron M processor and a dual-mode Wi-Fi 802.11b/g Wireless LAN. The M70 weighs 2.7 kg and comes with an Intel Pentium M processor, a dual-mode Wi-Fi 802.11a/g Wireless LAN, and serial DDR2 and ATA technologies. Satellite Pro notebooks also include Microsoft Windows XP Professional, one-year warranties, and ConfigFree wireless connectivity.
Mini Saluja, Product Manager, Toshiba of Canada Limited, said ConfigFree enables network access from multiple locations. "You can have profiles set up for your home, office, or anywhere else," she explained. "Until now, users had to change their settings every single time. With ConfigFree, you set up and save your profiles once, then click on whatever location you happen to be at, and the computer changes settings instantly and automatically."
ConfigFree simplifies the use of wireless hot-spots. "It tells you it's found a wireless device and whether it's secure or not, and asks if you want to connect," according to Saluja. "It makes it a little more user friendly, rather than going in to connect on your own."
Through ConfigFree Summit users can set up small workgroups to chat and drag-and-drop files in order to share information.
Toshiba also offers optional 40 or 60-gigabyte USB-based hard drives for simplified data back-up. "You just press a button and it syncs automatically," said Saluja.
Common docking also facilitates easy use. Toshiba has partnered with accessory provider Targus to offer universal notebook docking stations to accommodate peripherals and cables that would ordinarily connect directly to the notebook.
"All you have to do is plug or unplug your notebook from the docking station and you're on your way, instead of having to plug or unplug five or six different devices," said Jim Kirkos, Product Manager, Accessories and Services, Toshiba of Canada Limited.
Toshiba also offers support. ConfigFree's Connectivity Doctor takes users step-by-step through basic troubleshooting.
"Say you forgot to turn on your wireless antenna, or a cable isn't properly plugged in, or the IP address isn't correct. These are the kinds of problems users have 90 per cent of the time and Connectivity Doctor can help," added Saluja.
For problems Connectivity Doctor can't resolve, Toshiba has partnered with YourTechOnline.com for global, 24-hour Internet access to live technical support. Billing is per-minute, and technicians will direct users to a web portal where they literally take over the computer to fix problems such as spyware, pop-ups, homepage hijackers and viruses.
"We were getting a lot of calls that were not related to the software that we'd built into the machine, so we wanted to provide this added service," said Kirkos.