Print Full Article Print This Page Download the PDF E-Mail This URL

Web Pads

Cow Patty's, a hamburger restaurant (motto: "The Best Burgers Fast, and That's No Bull"), is trying to establish a presence in the Boston metro area but is running into staffing problems. The labor market for the type of worker Patty's is seeking is tight, and competition for first-rate food-service workers is fierce, with regional chains like Patty's vying with mom-and-pop sandwich shops as well as the big burger titans. Patty's problem? The company requires background checks for all potential employees, and to protect workers' privacy these checks originate only from the firm's home office, in Green Bay, Wis. An applicant fills out a paper form, the local manager faxes it to Green Bay, then an HR person takes the form, examines it and transmits the information to the contractor that does the security checks. Meanwhile, top-quality prospective employees have been snatched up by competitors not hindered by such hiring delays. Local managers are ready to throw in the spatula.

But wait, it's IT to the rescue. Patty's home office distributes tablet devices to each location. The devices are linked via 802.11b and VPN to both the home office and the security contractor. Applicants use a virtual keypad to enter their information into a customized form, which is then transmitted immediately. Hiring approval times are cut in half, and Cow Patty's is back on track.

Tablets, aka Web pads, are a technology that didn't quite make it in the consumer space but is looking to make a comeback in the enterprise. We tested five Web pads (four running Microsoft Windows and one Linux model) and awarded the blue ribbon to SonicBlue's ProGear. Cheap it ain't, but the unit's dependable networking and top-notch application support should keep you ahead of the herd.