Alicia of the Chubby Cook has an iPad. So does Bill of Joseph, Mann & Creed. Mickey from Key Bank has a tablet from Sprint. It doesn’t matter. Everyone wanted to see how his worked, too. Whenever I’ve mentioned that I need a new laptop, I’ve been told to purchase a tablet. They are light and easy to use. And of course, there is the coolness factor.
My laptop allows me to remotely check emails and to stay in contact with clients while I’m out of town. I also use it to help clients apply for coverage. I’m not worried about apps or games. 99% of the time I’m running Go To My PC. This is a business tool.
I started at the Apple Store in Legacy Village. The sales associate attempted to sell me a toy. I was trying to see if the iPad 2 would be useful. She wanted to show me all of the fun apps. Frustrated by her interruptions, I left.
The Sprint Store was worse. They didn’t have a demo unit. I asked the salesman why I would want his tablet instead of the iPad 2. His answer was that is was a matter of personal taste! I suspect the engineers had a better answer. Too bad nobody told him.
My next stop was hhgregg. They had lots of choices and the staff was very friendly. They greet everyone who enters the store, even if they are in the middle of a conversation with a different customer.
“This is the Acer. Hello. Welcome to hhgregg. It is only $399.99.”
Awkward? Sure, but some consultant must have told them that everyone needs to be greeted, no matter what. Sadly, the consultant didn’t tell them how to log on to the internet. One by one all of the salespeople and the manager on duty tried to remember the user name and password. Total failure.
Across the parking lot, Office Max had two of the smaller tablet versions.
It was time to get serious. I went to Best Buy. The sales associate, a young man in his mid-twenties, as well trained and knowledgeable. We fired up a Samsung, went to my website, and clicked on UnitedHealth One’s short term health application. The screen was bright and easy to read. The touch screen was functional. I was really felling good about this.
It didn’t work.
The tablet was fine. The insurer’s website didn’t recognize the browser. We tried a different brand. No luck. We even tried the iPad. No good.
The key is Windows Internet Explorer. Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari may be great, but they don’t get me on the websites I need for work.
I thanked the salesman, went over to COSTCO, and picked up a little Acer Aspire. $300 and very functional.
Oh well. I just wasn’t destined to be cool.