In The News
3 tips for building products for a workforce that’s on the go
18−September−2020The ongoing pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, most significantly in the way we work.
Work-from-home arrangements, as a result of lockdowns and safe distancing measures, have become the norm all around the world. And even as economies begin to reopen, flexible working arrangements are likely to remain as people move between their homes and offices as necessary.
This means that businesses looking to connect with enterprise customers need to ensure that their products address the needs of a workforce that’s on the move.
Having the right wares
In developing products for enterprises, software and hardware are both important components of the process.
There is a whole array of software tools available that enable flexible work arrangements, from business management solutions to video-conferencing platforms and everything in between.
But such tools are useless if workers don’t have the right devices to run these programs on.
“Both hardware and software need to work together to provide a seamless experience for users,” says Wong Wai Meng, general manager of product strategy for mobile computing solutions, devices, and IoT at personal computer manufacturer Dynabook.
“Without the right hardware, the software may not run efficiently at all,” she adds. This can affect the way the user works and negatively impact their productivity.
Dynabook was the client solutions arm of Japanese conglomerate Toshiba until 2018, when financial difficulties led to fellow electronics manufacturer Sharp Corporation acquiring a majority stake in the business. Earlier this year, Dynabook became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sharp after the company bought the remaining shares from Toshiba.
With over 30 years of experience in building computers and other devices for users, Dynabook is familiar with the demands of enterprise customers when it comes to the products they use.
According to Wong, there are three things companies need to keep in mind when creating products to meet the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce.
1. Design differentiation
The first thing businesses need to be aware of is that design is a key differentiator. With numerous companies offering various products and solutions for enterprises, good design will help separate them from the rest of the pack.
“Companies should have a clear understanding of the target business segment and customers of the product that they are developing,” says Wong. This understanding will help inform the product development process.
User interface and user experience are talked about a lot in discussions around product development, and for good reason.
After all, a user that has a smooth and enjoyable experience with a well-designed product is a happy user, and happy users are likely to be returning customers.
Companies need to consider and address key aspects of the user experience in order to ensure that their customers will be satisfied with their product.
2. Usability is key
A product’s features must be helpful to users. This goes hand-in-hand with the earlier point on user design: When customers struggle to use a product, things will end only in frustration.
Photo credit: Christina Morillo / Pexels
There is no sense in stuffing a product full with features and functionalities if they don’t actually benefit users at the end of the day or if they make the product too difficult to operate.
This is especially true among enterprise customers who are looking for solutions that can help them work more effectively.
“Great usability features help increase efficiency and productivity,” affirms Wong.
Dynabook’s customers want to be able to work from anywhere, without needing a variety of accessories or cables in order to do so.
So to serve their needs, the company’s products have multi-port capabilities. Whether it’s having sufficient USB ports for flash drives and wireless mice or projecting slides on a screen using an HDMI cable, users won’t need to worry about having the right adapters or dongles for any given situation, affording them flexibility and convenience as they work.
3. The importance of security
Lastly, Wong is of the view that integrating security and data protection into a product is key so that end users have “complete peace of mind,” whether they’re in the office or working from home.
Security has been a particular point of focus in product development in recent years.
Data breaches cost businesses in Southeast Asia about US$$2.71 million per organization in 2020. And financial losses aside, data breaches can cause customers to lose trust in a company – something that can be especially damning with enterprise products, as sensitive business information could be at risk.
Dynabook addresses the question of security by ensuring that every step of the development process is conducted in-house. This guarantees greater security and higher product quality, and reduces third-party risk that may arise from outsourcing other parts of product development.
Similarly, businesses need to make certain that they have oversight over all aspects of product development to assure clients of that security
Meeting customer needs
While Wong’s advice is geared toward hardware manufacturers, the logic applies to software companies as well. After all, creating a great product is all about addressing user needs and making the entire user experience as seamless and fuss-free as possible.
Product development is a never-ending journey, and companies are constantly evolving to address their customers’ changing demands.
Ultimately, the most important thing a business has to do is to ensure that the products they’re building are meeting real customer needs.
Originally known as Toshiba, Dynabook is a personal computer manufacturer that strives to maximize productivity at work through best-in-market quality and reliability and by creating intelligent designs with smart features.
Its newest offering, the Portege X30L-G, is one of the lightest 13.3” laptops on the market, with a 10th gen Intel Core processor and full connectivity. Find out more about the Portege X30L-G.
This article was originally published in Techinasia.com
https://www.techinasia.com/3-tips-building-products-workforce
Superlight 13.3” laptop is just 837g, has HDMI, USB, & USB-C ports so dongles not needed
30−July−2020
Those who bring their work laptops home on a regular basis would know the joy of travelling without the added encumbrance every once in a while.
It’s a bit of a throwback to the liberating feeling of not needing to lug your laptop everywhere once the holidays roll around, back in your student days.
There’s just one problem, which is that the undercurrent of anxiety that comes from knowing a work-related crisis situation will probably crop up when you are least prepared.
Thus, having your laptop with you at all times is probably the only way to keep this cosmic conspiracy at bay.
Here’s why the Dynabook* Portégé X30L-G deserves some serious consideration, whether you’re someone who’s had to draft a long email (or worse - edit a spreadsheet) on your phone, or if you just happen to carry your laptop around a lot.
(*Dynabook is a brand that is both new and established, because it was formerly known as Toshiba, up till a rebranding exercise was done in 2019.)
837 grams
For starters, Dynabook says that the laptop weighs 870 grams.
The unit we received, however, weighed just 837 grams.
837 grams for real, no helium balloons attached.
Its featherweight quality is the first thing that strikes you when you get your hands on it, which is why this is something you need to experience for yourself in order to believe it.
Taking it out of the box, my immediate reaction was to ask the colleagues around me to have a feel of it as well, just to make sure that it wasn’t my imagination.
Then, I almost had to put aside some degree of disbelief to hit the power button - there was, after all, good reason to suspect that a laptop this light might not have its battery installed.
Then, I almost had to put aside some degree of disbelief to hit the power button - there was, after all, good reason to suspect that a laptop this light might not have its battery installed.
It’s not actually lighter than a physical notebook of around the same size, but it really does come close.
Noted with thanks.
How is it so impossibly light?
In short, magnesium alloy.
This is the same material used in car seats, luggage, and cameras, as it’s both light and strong.
Compared to the aluminium alloy usually found on laptops, magnesium alloy is up to one-third lighter, according to A*STAR researchers.
It also doesn’t dent as easily, which perhaps explains why the Portégé X30L-G has been tested with an equipment testing standard used by the US military, known as MIL-STD-810G.
Appearance
The Portégé X30L-G comes in an attractive dark blue colour which Dynabook calls Onyx Blue. It’s got a smooth matte finish, instead of the slick metal exterior one will find on many laptops these days.
Might not turn heads, but its looks will probably grow on you.
While it’s been designed as a compact business laptop, its design certainly isn’t austere.
Key measurements:
Weight: 0.837kg
Height: 17.9mm
Width: 308.8mm
Depth: 211.6mm
All the right ports in all the right places
It’s probably fair to say that ever since phones stopped coming with headphone jacks, ports have become an oft-overlooked feature in electronic devices.
You might be surprised to see that the entire contents of the box consisted of the laptop, its charger, and the necessary protective cardboard, nothing more.
Which is perhaps a sign that the laptop is truly all-in-one, in a tidy package.
You probably wouldn’t use all the ports at the same time, but hey, you could.
With all the ports provided, you can finally say goodbye (and good riddance) to dongles.
One should never have to choose between using earphones and charging a device.
On the left side of the laptop is where you’d plug in the charger, a USB-C cable, a HDMI cable, earphones, and a micro-SD card.
Both ports are USB 3.0, by the way.
On the right side, there’s a slot for a laptop lock, an ethernet cable, two USB-3.0 ports, and an LED indicating whether the device is switched on or off.
Besides no longer needing dongles, you can confidently leave the charger behind as well for shorter outings, as the battery life of the Portégé X30L-G is certainly respectable, with an estimated maximum of 14.5 hours of usage on a single charge.
There’s also a fast-charging feature which allows you to get four hours of use out of a 30-minute charge.
Glare-free, energy-efficient display
If you spend a lot of time looking at screens every day, you’ll definitely appreciate the matte finish on the Portégé X30L-G 13.3-inch screen, which cuts glare and reflection.
Crispy.
There’s also the fact that Dynabook uses a new type of display technology called IGZO (which stands for “indium gallium zinc oxide”), instead of the previous tech, which uses amorphous silicon (aSi) instead.
IGZO is said to be 80%-90% more energy efficient, which in turn makes for better battery life.
This explains why the laptop’s battery is only rated at 2700mAh, which is close to what some larger tablets pack these days, which of course, helps to bring down the weight.
Technology aside, the Portégé X30L-G’s 1920x1080 Full High-Definition display is capable of pumping out 470 nits of brightness, which means that the screen is still able to produce crisp images, even under bright light.
This means that you could -- in theory -- use it at the beach or by the pool, if you’d like.
Performance
The Portégé X30L-G is certainly not a lightweight when it comes to performance.
It’s not been designed for video editing or gaming, but will do perfectly fine for office applications, multi-tasking, and browsing with multiple tabs open, thanks to the 8GB of onboard RAM.
Crispy.
You’ll also be able to decide how much power you need, with the following customisable specifications available:
Processor: Intel Core i5 / Intel Core i7 (different variants available)
RAM: 8GB onboard RAM, expandable up to a whopping 24GB
Storage: 256GB/ 512GB and 1TB+Optane 32GB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drives (SSD)
Buying it
The Dynabook X30L is available in the Singapore market now. Find out more on Dynabook’s website (asia.dynabook.com), or contact sales staff via email at willie.tan@dynabook.com.
This sponsored article by Dynabook allowed the writer to find out the weight of many everyday items.
This article was originally published in Mothership.com
https://mothership.sg/2020/07/dynabook-x30l-g-superlight-laptop/
Pick up the Dynabook Portégé X30L-G, the world’s lightest
13.3-inch laptop
22−July−2020
If you are looking for a thin and light business laptop today, there are a number of choices in the market. However, none with a 13.3-inch screen would be as light as the Dynabook Portégé X30L-G.
The latest laptop from the manufacturer Dynabook draws on the lineage of previous Toshiba Portégé laptops, which are renowned globally for being among the world’s more portable machines even before the word “ultraportable” was commonly used.
In 2019, Toshiba’s PC business was rebranded Dynabook, which is a name well known in Japan. New Dynabook laptops draw on the best of Toshiba’s laptop designs, including its well-loved thin-and-light models.
How light is light? Well, the Portégé X30L-G tips the scales at just 870g, well below rivals in the class which hover around the 1kg mark but often go over that.
Whether you are simply carrying it around your home during a work-from-home period or lugging it on your commute to the office, the lightweight design will make a clear difference every day.
Being light does not mean the Portégé X30L-G is light on features, either. On the contrary, it packs in the latest hardware as well as connectivity options, a big plus for businesses looking to boost mobility.
For starters, the laptop packs a battery with that supports up to 14.5 hours of operation, longer than a typical workday.
If you have to rush off between meetings, a quick-charge feature lets you juice up the battery quickly as well. Plugging in the laptop for 30 minutes recharges the battery for four hours of usage.
And unlike many other ultraportables, you don’t have to carry additional adapters to plug in your peripherals while you are out and about.
On one side of the Portégé X30L-G is a USB 3.1 Type C port, an HDMI port and a Micro SD card reader. On the other, you have two USB 3.0 ports and a full-sized Ethernet port. Few other laptops offer such options, even if they have bulkier, heavier chassis.
What sets the Portégé X30L-G apart is its many unique features. It features a well-regarded Sharp IGZO display, which offers a brighter, anti-glare screen that reduces eye strain.
Security is another important feature. The Portégé X30L-G has its own proprietary BIOS, the only laptop in the industry to do so. This keeps out potential malware that may make use of vulnerabilities in the firmware to steal data from a user.
To further enhance security, the laptop also comes with a large touchpad that has an integrated fingerprint reader. This enables safer access to the laptop while enabling two-factor authentication for an additional layer of security.
Aimed at business users, the new Dynabook laptop also delivers higher mobility, productivity and connectivity. To do this, it first has to be built to be sturdy, so it is ready for the road.
The honeycomb structure of the chassis makes the machine compact yet durable enough to withstand the everyday knocks that it is expected to experience. In fact, it has been tested for the MIL-STD-810G military standard.
A spill-proof keyboard also keeps out small volumes of accidental spills, because life is unpredictable. The keyboard is backlit too for ease of use in dim situations.
The Portégé X30L-G also brings the performance that business users expect. It will handle everyday tasks that could vary from simple e-mail and spreadsheets to video editing.
The laptop comes with the latest 10th-gen Intel Core processors, with the option of either a Core i5 or Core i7. It sports 8GB of DDR4 memory and has storage capabilities of 256GB, 512GB or 1TB on a PCIe NVMe solid state drive.
If you are thinking of connecting up wirelessly, the Portégé X30L-G has you covered as well. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard that promises faster links over the air.
And finally, if you are expecting more video calls in the coming months, the laptop is ready for that as well.
Its built-in HD webcam with dual microphones will enable you to have clear and fuss-free communication with co-workers as well as customers in a virtual meeting.
Experience Portégé X30L-G for your business today with the Dynabook Experience Program. More here.
This article was originally published in TechGoondu.com
https://www.techgoondu.com/2020/07/22/pick-up-the-dynabook-portege-x30l-g-the-worlds-lightest-
13-3-inch-laptop/
We Made Our Boss Ditch His Laptop For Dynabook's Latest Business Laptop For A Week
20−July−2020
Laptops are probably the lifeblood of every working professional and entrepreneur.
This is even more so in the unprecedented times we live in. With working from home slowly becoming the norm, we need our laptops to do so much more than just sending emails.
Business laptops have to be durable, versatile as well as portable to allow work on the go — from taking it from home to the office, to bringing it out for external meetings or work events.
With the array of laptops available in the market, selecting a business laptop is serious work. Taking a look at 2020 models, Dynabook Singapore launched earlier this year its Portégé X30L-G.
Fans of Toshiba will be pleased to know that Dynabook is the rebranding of the personal notebook computer giant’s PC unit, signaling the brand’s zeal to constantly evolve with innovation.
The rebranding efforts took place just last year, but Dynabook has already established itself as a global brand. Though it has an impressive product range of business laptops, they all have one thing in common: they’re created for business success.
The Portégé X30L-G in particular promises to have been “built with the modern day enterprise workforce in mind.”
To test this claim, we decided to let our boss Jacky Yap, who is also the co-founder of GRVTY Media, ditch his laptop for the Dynabook Portégé X30L-G for a week to see if it’s worth the swap.
The World’s Lightest^ 13.3” Laptop With Full Connectivity
At just 870g*, this laptop is a game-changer.
When it first arrived at the Vulcan Post office, the team was pleasantly surprised, and we marvelled at how our laptops — even the MacBook Air — felt clunky in comparison.
So light it can be carried with our fingertips / Image: Vulcan Post
When the laptop was handed over to Jacky, he was skeptical. His reaction wasn’t surprising — it’s a common perception that features have to be sacrificed to keep a device light.
Keep business data secure with fingerprint recognition / Image: Vulcan Post
This is hardly the case for the Portégé X30L-G. Although it’s light in weight, it’s heavy in value.
It is powered by the latest 10th generation Intel® Core™ processors and exceeds Microsoft’s Modern Device standard, which is the benchmark for modern computing devices.
Moreover, its security features are top-notch. With Portégé X30L-G, you can keep your business data secure with additional layers of security like face and fingerprint recognition — this is perfect for Jacky who had set his password as a string of consecutive numbers during the setup.
Built For Business Mobility
After using a MacBook Pro 13” for years, Jacky is inevitably used to lugging the 1.4kg device around. Using the world’s lightest 13.3” laptop on a daily basis for the past week was a completely different experience, so much so that one day he even forgot the laptop was in his bag.
The laptop is so light that I can bring it to, and from, work everyday without any problems at all. With my other laptops, I used to get shoulder aches from carrying them around everywhere.
I’m always on-the-go and my laptop follows me everywhere, so weight is an important factor for me.
– Jacky Yap, co-founder of GRVTY MediaEven though it weighs a mere 870g, the compact business laptop is highly durable. Dynabook is one of the few brands that produce their laptops fully in-house, with testings done by experts to ensure high quality and endurance.
Their laptops are tested to military standard MIL-STD 810G, and subjected to other rigorous tests such as H.A.L.T (High Accelerated Life Test), drop, spill and pressure tests to ensure the physical durability needed when constantly being on the move.
Uncompromised Connectivity
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G’s extensive range of ports / Image: Vulcan Post
Despite being light and compact, the Portégé X30L-G still has impressive multi-port capabilities.
With a full-sized HDMI, USB 3.0 and USB Type-C ports, mSD card slot, 3.5mm audio and Ethernet, the laptop offers plenty of options. As someone who is used to a MacBook that has only USB Type C ports, the Dynabook’s extensive range of ports was a welcome change.
During editorial meetings, there was no need to fumble around for a HDMI cable before presentation slides could be shown.
Designed For Productivity
Brighter, anti-glare screen / Image: Vulcan Post
The Portégé X30L-G also has a quick charge feature that allows one to recharge up to four hours with just 30 minutes of charging.
It also has an astoundingly long battery life of up to 14.5 hours. In this aspect, Jacky’s MacBook Pro seems to pale in comparison.
I am on my laptop more than eight hours a day, and I think my MacBook battery life just doesn’t cut it. I have to charge it up at least once a day.
With the Dynabook, I don’t have to worry if my laptop will suddenly run out of battery, or spend time looking around for power sources.
– Jacky Yap, co-founder of GRVTY MediaWith the Dynabook Portégé X30L-G, not a single charge was needed during working hours. There were no more requests to borrow chargers, even if he did not have his Dynabook charger with him.
The laptop’s brighter, anti-glare screen also allows for users to work for long hours without straining their eyes.
Tailored To All Business Needs
From design to engineering, it is obvious that the Dynabook was created with a business professional in mind, with features that enhance productivity and provide good user experience.
After spending a week with the Dynabook Portégé X30L-G, Jacky was sold.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to be so impressed by the Dynabook. Somehow they managed to fit multiple USB ports, expandable RAM and storage, and all these other features into a sleek and lightweight device,” he said.
With all the focus placed on working-from-home lately, making the switch to a business laptop could be pivotal to your productivity. Dynabook’s business laptops are divided into three categories:
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Business Essential: Laptops like the Satellite Pro L40 are carefully designed for small and medium businesses and can be relied on to complete daily essential operations productively and efficiently.
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Business Enhanced: The laptops in this series are specially designed for business needs and with features to deliver a powerful performance.
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Business Premium: Laptops like the Portégé X30L-G are the best in range products for business — ultra-light, and catered for busy professionals.
Company laptops are made even more relevant in today’s business world, and allow employees to maintain their productivity levels despite working remotely. Other pros include keeping all your company data safe and secure, and providing employees with reliable tools to streamline efficiency.
The output at work is very closely tied to how well one’s machine works. With Dynabook’s large range of products, you can easily select a model that will suit your team and its needs.
From busy professionals to businesses of all sizes, there’s bound to be something for everyone. What’s great is that the Dynabook Experience Programme allows businesses to undergo a free 14-day trial before committing to any purchases.
For more information, check out Dynabook’s website here or send the team an enquiry.
This article was originally published in vulcanpost.com
https://vulcanpost.com/704746/dynabook-business-laptop/
^ Based on 13” laptops with 10th generation Intel Core U Series processors as of December 27 2019, research conducted by Dynabook Inc.
* Weight may vary depending on product configuration, vendor components, manufacturing variability and options selected.
This article was written in collaboration with Dynabook.
Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post