By Ann Braley-Smith

Do you have room for your PC?

Computer companies are helping health professionals make the most of small workspaces, thanks to efficient new small form factor PCs, notebooks, and servers.

The past few years have had PC engineers looking for ways to get the most capability into the smallest form possible-so that computers no longer eat up small desks or tight workspace. Nurses' stations, doctor's offices, emergency rooms and more-many health professionals are finding overcrowding a problem at the workplace, and small form PCs are one way to confront the space constraints.

According to leading industry analyst Gartner Group, a small-form PC is defined as weighing less than five kilograms (about 11 pounds) and having no PCI expansion slots (ZDNet, August 2001). On average, small-form PCs are approximately 36 percent smaller than regular desktop PCs. They feature simple, modular designs and are generally priced less than standard PCs.

Even by that definition, there is confusion as to what "small form factor" means, according to Gartner. In fact, very few small form PCs today fit Gartner's original definition. Most, for instance, incorporate expansion slots, but still maintain a slim profile and otherwise pared-down design. While the definition may be blurring, Gartner says small-form PCs carry certain advantages-and disadvantages-when compared to their standard PC counterparts.

Advantages include:

• low cost to ship and store
• greater reliability due to simple design
• more manageability
• faster, more affordable technical support

Disadvantages include:

• TCO benefits have been unclear to IT decision makers
• inability to keep up with processor technology

The increased demand for smaller PCs has also given notebook technology a boost in the healthcare industry-and for businesses overall. According to IDG, 30 million notebook computers will ship in 2003. And the notebooks-which have historically been marketed to mobile professionals-are saving space, not unlike the small-form PC counterparts. Plus, companies are continuing to improve notebook processor power and keep prices competitive.

However, small form factor PCs cost significantly less than even the barest-boned notebook, making them the most likely candidates for tight workplaces-and tight budgets.

From MPC

To learn more about our small form factor ClientPro business PCs, click here.

To learn more about the MPC TransPort® family of notebooks, click here.

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