Computer Repair in Kalamazoo

The computer is still the “king of the castle” when it comes to productivity, but more and more people are turning to mobile devices out of necessity or just because it’s more convenient than pulling out the laptop. Some of our clients regularly depend on their tablets to get work done and so have asked us for application recommendations. We thought we’d pass that information on to you!

The following list was compiled from client comments, reviews or our own research. Since each individual works their own way, your “mileage may vary”.

Get a Keyboard

If you’re serious about using a tablet for work, one of the first things you need is a keyboard for typing. There is a vast market of bluetooth keyboards to support Android and iOS as well as Windows-based tablets like the Microsoft Surface. It might be a pain to carry around even a small, lightweight keyboard, but you more than make up for that in productivity. The time it takes to compose even a single message is vastly reduced with the use of a standard keyboard.

Word, Excel, and Powerpoint

Microsoft Office is the de facto standard when it comes to business productivity. These mobile versions ensure that you have maximum document compatibility while away from the office. They have been designed for mobile with a touchscreen interface for ease of viewing & editing of documents, spreadsheets and presentations. The best part is that basic viewing & editing is free! There is built-in file storage integration with Microsoft OneDrive and they also have cloud support for services like Box and DropBox. With an Office 365 subscription, you can also get the full versions and additional OneDrive storage.

Outlook

Do you use Outlook at your business? Then you may want to have this app on your tablet or smartphone as well. The app makes all of your email, attachments, contacts and calendars easily accessible and with a similar feel to the desktop program. Swipe gestures let you easily control your email. It works with email hosted with Exchange, Office 365, Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo Mail and iCloud email accounts.

Google Drive

Drive (Google cloud service) tightly integrates with other Google offerings. You can upload and download any file to and from Drive. The file sharing and collaboration features let you easily work on shared projects with your co-workers. Easy configuration of sharing settings, folder structure, quick access to recent files and details, and built-in viewing of documents, PDFs, photos and videos make for a very useful cloud storage tool for whatever mobile OS you use. If you’re on Android or using Google Apps for Work, then you should definitely get familiar with the full line of Drive apps (Docs, Sheets and Slides). These apps can also open and do basic editing of Microsoft Office documents.

Evernote

Evernote works with nearly every computer, phone and mobile device out there. You can save anything to it and search by keyword, tag or even printed and handwritten text inside images. Evernote’s greatest feat is the ability to capture notes, pics, any kind of data – anywhere! That same data is then available to you wherever/whenever you need it, from whatever device you are using. Now there is Evernote Business which adds even more team collaboration. The free version lets you upload 60MB per month. Paid subscriptions will increase that amount.

Dropbox

One of the originators of the cloud storage boom, Dropbox is still one of the most popular choices and arguably the most well known. For many businesses, it’s the go-to application for their cloud storage and sharing needs. Dropbox is an online storage vault for your files, documents, photos or other data that you can access anywhere, even offline. You can also use Dropbox to collaboratively share files & projects.

Any.Do

Are you a list maker? If so, Any.Do is perfect for you, for creating to-do lists, reminders, events and notes for getting things done. Create any task (via voice or keyboard). Easily categorize and mark them completed. The touch screen-oriented interface lets you drag and drop with ease. Reminder notifications can alert time-sensitive items to your attention. Syncing and sharing features let you share tasks/lists with friends or colleagues.

Additional Accessories

Depending on the tablet you have, there are also a number of accessories that can help you get things done. Voice headsets make Internet calling or conferencing easy. Micro-SD cards expand your storage, and some tablets support using USB flash drives over an on-the-go adapter (Android micro-usb charging port to a female USB port). There are even USB flash drives made to plug directly into the micro-usb port. When it comes to keeping your device powered, you can also use an external battery pack to cut down on plugging in. There is also a surprising number of solar-powered chargers on the market if you want to work from the beach and anti-glare covers made for the most popular tablets to keep the sun from interfering with your business.

We like to provide you with tools & education to make it easier to get the most out of your computer. We are always available for questions or if you just need an opinion on some software. For issues beyond the scope of those, our repair shop is open Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm. No appointment needed!

Geek Easy Computers – Making Technology Easier!

Adonis Pointer is a photographer, a collector of vintage razors, and a certified technology geek! Adonis has been involved in computer technology since well, a LONG time! He has been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry from sales to repair to training to consulting. As the Social Media Manager he writes the majority of the posts on the Geek Easy Computers blog.