iPad Upgrade

Richard, I carefully analyzed the idea of upgrading our organization by replacing a 1,000 Microsoft Surface Pro laptops with Apple iPads. We need to take into consideration that as an organization we a budget. Financial and timing are 2 main things we will have to take into perspective.

As of right now our organization is using Windows based software. The problem is our software is not compatible with the Apple iOS software. Our contract with the software will end by September so we need to make a decision soon. If we decide to switch to the iOS systems, we will have transition to train our employees into the new software. With that being said, we will loose a lot of time.

Coming from a financial point of view it will not be worth it. Every 5 years we are budgeted new equipment, and our organizations computers are only 3 years old. We have about 1,000 Surface Pros, and each one is about $900/per unit as oppose to the iPads which will be $1,100 with the attachable keyboard employees will need. We spent over $900,000 on these Microsoft laptops. If we decide to train our employees, it will cost us over $1 million dollars not including buying the new software’s for the computers. Also, keep in mind we have a budget and already went over when we bought the original computers.

Surface Pros w/ keyboard- 1,000 x 900 = 900,000

IPads w/ keyboards – 1,000 x 1,100 = 1,100,000

Training employees – $50,000

Organization budget = $1,000,000

As you can see we have already exceeded our budget, and if we transition and spend all this money it will be difficult to deal with the consequences. Since this will cost us a lot of money, and timing will be something we won’t be able to get back, I feel this will not be a good decision to make with the short time given. Our organization is working well with our softwares now and don’t feel the need to rush anything. We will renew our contract come September and will have plenty of time to think about it for this time next year.