In my job as a Network and Server engineer (ha!) I'm expected to use my laptop in various ways to perform my duties.
As I have just taken delivery of a Dell XPS10 Windows RT Tablet, I've decided to see how many of my duties I can perform on this tablet.
I also intend to carry out the same experiment wih my Android tablet, and then either pass the torch to one of my iPad wielding colleagues or borrow one of their iPads to keep the tests the same.

My duties include visiting sites, schools and working at the office, using Teamviewer, RDP, VPN, and various web apps.  I'm going to be documenting how often I need to go back to my proper laptop, how often I need to hit the charger, any specific apps I use to perform the apps, etc.

Is there anything else people would like to know?
Our company website has a blog, and this will go on there eventually, but I'm hoping to draw traffic here too.

so your going to use use your personal device & connect it to your employers customer networks & devices?
instant dismissal where I work.

Main thing I'd like to know is the amount of time it takes  to do a task. Tablets are convenient but touchscreens are slower to type with IMHO.

I'm sure if Soopah asked, his work would let him try it if it's a proper test, I'm sure they're all for trying to figure out what the best tool for the job is.

Quote from: Eggtastico on February 25, 2013, 07:31:36 AM
so your going to use use your personal device & connect it to your employers customer networks & devices?
instant dismissal where I work.

Byod is increasing in popularity in the UK. Providing you have the controls in place it should be safe enough. Still not as secure as not allowing it to happen.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Quote from: zpyder on February 25, 2013, 07:34:23 AM
Main thing I'd like to know is the amount of time it takes  to do a task. Tablets are convenient but touchscreens are slower to type with IMHO.

I'm sure if Soopah asked, his work would let him try it if it's a proper test, I'm sure they're all for trying to figure out what the best tool for the job is.

I can type pretty rapid on my iPad tbh, I've had people come up to me in a coffee shop exclaim at the pace I'm typing. It's just muscle memory and you have to develop that first.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

It's my own device, but currently configured in line with our work guidelines.  It's no different to connecting my work laptop to the networks.

I'm mostly using the keyboard/battery dock, instead of using the on screen keyboard. 

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on February 25, 2013, 10:42:04 AM

Quote from: Eggtastico on February 25, 2013, 07:31:36 AM
so your going to use use your personal device & connect it to your employers customer networks & devices?
instant dismissal where I work.

Byod is increasing in popularity in the UK.

not anywhere Ive worked & Any company that do - deserve any trouble they do get.
Only places I know of where you can use your own device, is to connect to a web based citrix session or something similar.
Funnily enough - only Ipad & Iphone are permitted. They have found to many security issues with other devices & operating systems that retain breadcrumbs of data.

Quote from: soopahfly on February 25, 2013, 12:52:27 PM
It's my own device, but currently configured in line with our work guidelines.  It's no different to connecting my work laptop to the networks.

I'm mostly using the keyboard/battery dock, instead of using the on screen keyboard. 

im sure there are websites you would visit on your personal device that you would not visit on a company laptop.


Nice to know how lax the company you work for are about things like this. Hopefully they dont get a major incident at one customer & dont spread to another.

Quote from: Eggtastico on February 25, 2013, 15:43:00 PM

Quote from: soopahfly on February 25, 2013, 12:52:27 PM
It's my own device, but currently configured in line with our work guidelines.  It's no different to connecting my work laptop to the networks.

I'm mostly using the keyboard/battery dock, instead of using the on screen keyboard. 

im sure there are websites you would visit on your personal device that you would not visit on a company laptop.


Nice to know how lax the company you work for are about things like this. Hopefully they dont get a major incident at one customer & dont spread to another.

Whilst this tablet is being used for this test, there will be no shady browsing.  I've got numerous other laptop and desktops for that.  This was put back to an out the box status before doing this test.  Precautions have been taken.  You're really blowing it out of proportion.

Quote from: soopahfly on February 25, 2013, 16:13:52 PM

Quote from: Eggtastico on February 25, 2013, 15:43:00 PM

Quote from: soopahfly on February 25, 2013, 12:52:27 PM
It's my own device, but currently configured in line with our work guidelines.  It's no different to connecting my work laptop to the networks.

I'm mostly using the keyboard/battery dock, instead of using the on screen keyboard. 

im sure there are websites you would visit on your personal device that you would not visit on a company laptop.


Nice to know how lax the company you work for are about things like this. Hopefully they dont get a major incident at one customer & dont spread to another.

Whilst this tablet is being used for this test, there will be no shady browsing.  I've got numerous other laptop and desktops for that.  This was put back to an out the box status before doing this test.  Precautions have been taken.  You're really blowing it out of proportion.

well as long as your bosses are happy for you to continue, go for it.

I wouldn't be doing it otherwise!  There is the potential for me to be less productive, and I needed them to be aware of that.


With how I got on today, sat on our company network I managed to support clients all day long using just the tablet.  Apart from two occasions.

I needed to remotely log onto a customers PC using Teamviewer.  Windows RT Store has Teamviewer Touch which requires Version 8 of the TV software.  We're still on Version 6 so I had to swap back to the PC.

Second instance was when I started to create my WIM image for the various schools Windows 7 Upgrade, There's no virtual PC software available for RT, so again the Laptop was used.
This was a pretty exceptional circumstance to be fair, that I wouldn't have expected the tablet to cope with anyway.

The rest of the quoting, RDP/VPN stuff was supported from the tablet, and no issues.

I've found Worknotes Pro to be quite a handy free app to keep track of the tasks and various stuff I need to quote for and stuff I need to remember to do.  It integrates with my Skydrive and as it's a Metro app, it's available for my desktop.
http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-gb/app/work-notes-pro/3d084cc4-90b6-44cc-8cd7-1fd746cd0707

It's apparent that the App store is very young, and some of the usual tools I use are not available or no alternative.
So far though, it's been a productive day, except when the technical director walked over, undocked it from the keyboard and wandered off having a play with it.

Started work at 8:30 this morning, 100% battery.  Battery as of 18:20 - 77%
I'm anticipating that I'll be able to complete the most tasks, and be the most productive on the Windows RT tablet.  With the Android and iPad, it would be anybodies guess.

One thing I'm hoping to have a crack at is Remote Applications.  I've not quite got my Server 2012 working quite how I want it yet, and we've not upgraded yet at work so that may have to come later.

Given I've seen work laptops installed with games and other assorted software. Including VPN software for a rival company (wife of employee), I fail to see the difference.

At least with exchange compatible devices you have remote wipe, policy based lockdown and auditing.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on February 25, 2013, 19:09:34 PM
Given I've seen work laptops installed with games and other assorted software. Including VPN software for a rival company (wife of employee), I fail to see the difference.

At least with exchange compatible devices you have remote wipe, policy based lockdown and auditing.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Thats just bad it policy. You still work for logica?

I don't see what difference it makes as to who owns the kit.

Quote from: soopahfly on February 25, 2013, 21:44:48 PM
I don't see what difference it makes as to who owns the kit.

impact testing? a few months ago someone plugged their personal laptop into the network (was supposed to have plugged it into a broadband port - but plugged it in the wrong port). Firstly viruses got flagged up, 2ndly they had a DHCP server running on their laptop, which decided to give out IP addresses.

It makes a big difference to their kit if its not locked down, as you have no idea what is on the equipment.
Guess its not a problem until something bad happens!