Comments on: Enthusiasm for tablets grows in government

By: digi_owl

digi_owl — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:22:00 +0000

Heh, i was thinking in the general sense. I do not think i have ever seen the jailbreak angle be used to put a negative light on iOS security.

By: Warren

Warren — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:15:00 +0000

turn_self_off – That … doesn’t make Android more secure, though.

By: digi_owl

digi_owl — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:25:00 +0000

I guess it is because Android have a “accept locally stored APKs” switch right in the settings, while iOS needs a exploit found after each update to provide continued functioning of the jailbreak.

By: Warren

Warren — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:29:00 +0000

Funny. Android keeps bleating about how ‘open’ its operating system is, yet it’s iOS that gets the stinkeye because it can be jailbroken?

And yeah, of course the PlayBook is more secure. That’s because you can’t even send or receive email on it natively – at least, not yet. RIM keeps saying it’ll happen eventually, of course.

By: billstewart

billstewart — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:27:00 +0000

Yes, you can jailbreak them. That’s also true of Windows machines, and Linux never put you in jail to start with.

By: jmnugent

jmnugent — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Agreeing with @JamesCraig on this one. We’ve been piloting iPad’s in a local City Gov and so far been having pretty good success with them. Obviously you can’t just toss them into Users hands without any training or education. We combine that with a Mobile.Config policy and Guidelines for use. Users in different departments are finding interesting ways to make themselves more efficient and resourceful. Features like Instant-On and 8 to 10 hours of battery life and intuitive UI make them loads more useful than a standard laptop. Business apps like Webex, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Cisco VOIP, VMWare View just to name a few (not to mention the iPad has built in Cisco IPSEC VPN). There’s tons of potential here,.. I think we’re barely beginning to scratch the surface.

By: James Craig

James Craig — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Government workers do not need walkie-talkies or radios.
Government workers do not need desks.
Government workers do not need chain saws.
Government workers do not need fighter jets.

An iPad is just a tool. Maybe it would make the work easier, more efficient for some people as with any tool. Sure, most government workers do not need iPads, but that tablet computer may help some do their jobs faster, better and/or cheaper. In those cases, iPads may be good purchases not only for the worker but for taxpayers too.

By: Cocomaan

Cocomaan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Government workers do not need ipads.

By: Stephen Rice

Stephen Rice — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:49:00 +0000

Exactly. I’m also enthusiastic about tablets and the only thing holding me back at this point is the need to exchange some of my wages for one.

By: Rob Beschizza

Rob Beschizza — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:25:00 +0000

I twitched at the memory of UK academia and its endless rows of HP shitboxes.

By: shanghaied

shanghaied — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:14:00 +0000

Pretty much this.

Of course they are enthusiastic about a piece of gadget that has been hyped repeatedly by the media in the past 12 months.

And please tell me again why one would need a laptop or indeed an iPad just to “walk around to meet and greet”.

By: Stephen Beat

Stephen Beat — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:14:00 +0000

I work for a UK university and such has been the boom in procurement requests among staff and academics for iPhones, iPads and other Mac products that our finance department has taken the step of placing an embargo on – so called – ‘vanity computing’ items. Anyone at this institution who wishes to buy a piece of Apple technology must now write a business case outlining why they need an Apple product rather than any other competing technology!

By: gber

gber — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:56:00 +0000

Funny, I was just looking at this NY times picture wondering if that was a tablet

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/world/asia/cross-border-fire-frustrates-american-troops-in-afghanistan.html?ref=world

By: nomad411

nomad411 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:55:00 +0000

You create web apps with their own security. Who needs to cripple the iPad with a ton of useless overhead. I have a windows PC at work and it’s “sooooo secure” it’s practically useless for work.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:42:00 +0000

Of course they’re enthusiastic about them – they don’t have to pay for the damn things, so why wouldn’t they be?

By: Abdul Alhazred

Abdul Alhazred — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:45:00 +0000

Now, if there was some way to jailbreak the iPad and install a custom software, perhaps developing it to provide a safer and better encrypted device..?

Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure that would break the EULA. And we couldn’t have that.