Grundig Consulting

You will probably pay more attention this year to your selection of a smartphone than to buying a computer.

The personal computer has been around since the early 1980s.  The original Macintosh followed shortly thereafter, in 1984.  Computers as we know them are over 25 years old.

Smartphones, on the other hand, such as the Blackberry from Research in Motion and the iPhone from Apple, are relative newcomers on the scene.  Today’s smartphones are packed with more computing power than the original computer models mentioned above.   They do many of the same things as any of today’s computers, such as accessing the internet, enabling easy communication by email and SMS (text message) and standard mobile phone capability.

What really sets then new smartphone devices apart from the PC and Mac worlds, though, is the pace of innovation in the smartphone area.  While the Blackberry defined the smarphone for several years, iPhone, a relative newcomer, has captured that imagination of many.  More importantly, Apple has released a programming toolset which enables and individuals or compans to create iPhone applications and sell them at the iPhone App Store.  Blackberry, and others, have followed suit.  Thousands of applications have been created and millions downloaded.

Why does this matter to you? IPhone and Blackberry development will continue at a feverish pace, allowing you to access more of the world from the device in your hand.  You may even find yourself using your computer a bit less as a result.

What’s the best way to decide which device to purchase?  Ask someone who has one! Do they like it?  What are the positives?  Any drawbacks? I currently have a Blackberry 8830, but am considering switching to an iPhone at some point in the near future, mainly because of the interface and applications available.

Please comment on your experience with Blackberry devices, iPhones or other smarphones.

As the holiday season approaches, more and more people are asking for my advice on which computer system to purchase this year? This pertains to home users as well as those in a business environment. In my opinion, there are two major choices which must be made: PC or Mac? Desktop or laptop?

PC or Mac? There are a lot of great systems available right now are very good prices, especially on the PC side, made by manufacturers such as Dell and and other. I recommend purchasing one of the midrange systems when shopping for a PC, whether a desktop or laptop. More installed memory, as always, improves performance. However, the extremely versatile lineup of Macintosh computers from Apple always begs inspection. The iMac, Macbook and Macbook Pro models which are available are suitable for most home or small business users. Keep in mind that by using Bootcamp, which is built into the newest version of the Mac operating systems, you can run Windows XP or Vista on a Mac without sacrificing any performance.

Desktop or laptop? These days, the price difference between laptops and desktops has narrowed, while laptops are are also nearing desktop systems in performance. Laptops can be used at home, at work or on the road. As a result, more laptops are now being sold worldwide than desktops. I recommend that you seriously consider a laptop in any debate between a laptop and desktop system. Port replicators, external monitors, keyboards and mice can be attached to a laptop systems to give it a more ergonomic feel which being used in the laptop or at home. The easy portability of a laptop is usually worth the extra cost.

What do you think are the best computer systems available this holiday season? We’d love to hear your input or answer any questions that you have.

Best wishes for a happy and productive holiday season.