Productivity on the Go
Earlier this week, I was chatting with a client about his upcoming vacation - a multi-week trip to Yosemite National Park.
Given the length of the trip, he plans to stay partially connected with his law practice in the mornings. He came to us asking for a solution to maintain productivity while away from his multi-monitor setup at the office.
Initially, we planned to set him up with a larger 16" MacBook Pro that we had on hand. Then, he mentioned that he was considering getting a new iPad.
Advances in display panels and wireless technologies have provided users with several options for remaining productive away from their desks.
Option 1: The Travel Monitor
In the last few years, the market has been flooded with portable travel monitors that are as thin or thinner than your laptop. These can range from generic sub-$100 dollar options to premium offerings from the big players like Lenovo and Dell.
A travel monitor is a second display in a tablet-like form factor. These displays connect to your laptop using HDMI or USB Type-C connections. Some monitors offer docking functionalities with additional USB ports and memory card slots.
The travel monitor is an excellent solution if you have a semi-dedicated space to work, like a hotel room desk.
Option 2: Sidecar on Apple iPad
For iPad users, Sidecar is a great feature that allows you to use your iPad as a second monitor, wired or wirelessly. We like this solution for users in the Apple ecosystem since it requires no additional hardware. The iPad can be used independently on the go (on flights, etc.).
With Apple’s recent iPad releases, this is a great time to buy a new iPad. We like the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. If you’re purchasing for your business, you should be sure to enroll in Apple Business to get perks like dedicated support and automated device enrollment.
Even though this is an Apple-centric solution, PC users are not left out in the cold. Third-party apps, like Duet, offer similar functionality for Windows devices. This solution requires additional software, which may require approval from your IT administrator.