The market today offers myriad shapes and sizes of computing devices.  Which form-factor best fits the situations that your business demands of you?  Consider the following situations and the pros and cons of various device forms: the desktop computer, laptop, netbook, tablet, convertible, and smart phone. Choose one that performs well whenever duty calls at your business.
 

At a desk

In this archetypical computing scenario you have the convenience of sitting at a desk to compute.  Presumably no sacrifices in the way of performance would be acceptable since the task at hand is priority number one.  In this scenario the desktop is king.  The form is oriented around comfort and speed.  Tried and true, this device form is pound-for-pound the fastest and cheapest when you have the luxury of dedicating yourself to your work.

• High performers: desktop, laptop and convertible
• Poor fits: netbook, smart phone and tablet (performance and inputs sacrificed to achieve form)

In a meeting

In this scenario you need to complete a small computing task while in a meeting.  At times this is a task related to the meeting at hand but occasionally it is not.  A discreet interaction with an unimposing device is a top priority in either scenario.  The smart phone is the champ here, allowing you to shoot off an email or browse to a web page in the palm of your hand without distracting others in the meeting.

• High performers: smart phone, tablet and netbook (the latter are less tactful)
• Poor fits: desktop, laptop and convertible (using one of these can derail your meeting or send the message that you have more important things to do)

While eating or drinking

Sometimes duty calls during lunch, dinner or while refueling with a cup of coffee.  Multitasking consumption and computing requires that the device doesn't need to be held.  Likewise, the form will need to support one-handed interaction.  The laptop can support itself and typically embeds the mouse in the keyboard which is great for single-handed use.  This is a photo finish between laptop and the other high performers in this area – so don't rule them out!

• High performers: laptop, convertible, netbook
• Poor fits: desktop (separate mouse and keyboard), tablet, smart phone

Traveling

Doing business sometimes means taking business trips. This means you may need to compute sitting on a bus, flying in a plane, in a coffee shop or standing in the staging areas in between.  Mobility and the ability to be used while standing are key when traveling.  This device will also need to function as your primary workstation while on the road.  The convertible is the only device that satisfies all of these functions.  However, the best fit for your travel depends on your travel habits.

• High performers: convertible, netbook, tablet
• Poor fits: desktop, smart phone (lacking as a primary workstation)

On the couch

Sometimes hitting the twelfth or thirteenth hour of a work day finds you finishing up loose ends while trying to recover some mental health by taking in a television show.  Devices that work well here also double well for leisure computing.  The key features are portability, comfortable interaction while sitting, and aesthetic presentation.  The tablet takes the cake here.  The on-screen keyboard lends itself well to leisurely input.  The full-sized screen makes it easy to read or take in a video, but isn't weighed down by an accompanying keyboard.

• High performers: tablet, netbook, convertible
• Poor fits: desktop, laptop, smart phone

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