While advances in computer hardware seem to appear everyday, it is infrequent that any such advancements truly mean anything to the mobile real estate agent. For the most part, real estate technology applications don’t require much processing power. This means that most real estate agents won’t see any noticeable difference in the use of a brand-new, cutting-edge laptop and one that is a year or 2 old.
Although I did say that it is infrequent that a significant technology advancement is introduced, we are on the verge of 2 such advancements. In fact, these 2 changes in laptop technology are so revolutionary that they are bound to influence the purchases of the mobile real estate agent for years to come.
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Any computer technician will tell you that laptop hard drives are prone to failure, much more so than desktop hard drives. This can be attributed to the bumps and bruises experienced from being a mobile device. No matter how careful you are with your laptop, your hard drive has most likely been knocked around a bit.
Hard drives are also one of the biggest drains on laptop batteries. The process of spinning the hard drive platters sucks a large amount of power.
Solid state drives solve both of these problems. By using flash memory (like thumbdrives, digitial cameras and small MP3 players), solid state drives are able to perform the same tasks as a traditional hard drive, but with no moving parts. No spinning platters means that energy consumption is reduced greatly and the durability of the drives is improved.
Toshiba is about to release the world’s very first laptop with a solid state drive. The Portege R500-S5003 will include a 64GB solid state drive. Upon its release, The Portege R500, with its solid state drive, 7mm thick DVD-RW drive and LED screen, will be the most advanced ultraportable to date.
LED Displays
A discussion on laptop battery life is not complete without talking about the power usage of the display. There is a reason that energy comsumption profiles on laptops dim the display when running off of battery. The display is one of the largest users of battery power of any laptop component.
The newly introduced use of LED lights in laptop displays instead of the traditional cold cathode fluorescent light is drastically changing the way we look at laptop screens. LED produces a brighter, whiter light than fluorescent while consuming far less power. LED lights are also smaller, making screens using them about half as thick as other screens.
LED screens are partly responsible for the recent promotion of ultra-thin laptops. My favorite of these new breed of computer is Dell’s XPS M1330. This 13.1”, media-intensive laptop could be the best blend of business mobility and personal life functionality all housed in a machine that stands barely over 1 inch tall.
Keep these 2 new technologies in mind when you purchase your next laptop computer. The LED screens are becoming quite prevalent, by the end of the year all laptop manufacturers should have an LED option or model.
The solid state drives may take a bit longer to become mainstream. You will start to see them in high-end, ultraportable machines. A hybrid drive (a traditional hard drive with flash memory onboard) may become more popular with manufacturers until the cost of solid state drives comes down and their capacity goes up.
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About Chad A. Johnson
I can see how these 2 advances in laptop tech can be a boon to real estate agents, but I think most agents aren't too concerned with upgrading to the latest technology, even if it means their info will be safer.
There are several notebooks that already have SSD drives as options. The m1330 that you mentioned is just one. I don't know of any other than the Toshiba that have 64 GB drives. But the 32 GB drives have been out for a little while now.
Thanks for keeping all of us ignoramus realtors up to date. I have all I can do to sell homes. I don't know how I could ever keep up with the technology on my own.I took the liberty of posting a ling to your post from my blog at http://www.realestatetwincities.net/minneapolis-m… Your site is a worthwhile resource.
[...] for Real Estate. Agents try to stay on top of the technology with posts like The Future of Mobile Real Estate Technology is Upon Us. Hmmm. This site is mobile compatible, except for the idx search (searches for home from data [...]
Our industry is in the midst of change based on technology, and we are all looking at foreclosures.
Today, there is stable over the counter capability for the new Realtor of the future. First we will be changing basic concepts, such as I need a desktop or a laptop. These choices have been due to the cost of equipment, but today that is no longer true.Why not have a strong base computer with a very light – small one for travel that provides internet and e-mail and GPS on a screen large enough to actually use in a car safely. there are many software solutions for keeping the two in sync. An example would be the new Asus 900 or 1000 $549 & $699, both with Windows XP or Linux, both with solid state ( small drives ). But remember they are not your computer but your internet and e-mail mobile device. With the new cellphones and "tethering" you have a complete internet mobile system that is small light and very portable – but different. Yes the new mobile phones will do the same thing but on a 1 1/2 inch screen ????? capability is not the same as usability.
Second our marketing is changing from paper based to electronic Video, Photo, Pod Casts and Blogs ( websites will become part of the past – because they are not interactive ). The above portable internet -email solution also will handle these new functions because the will be web based and not hardware intensive to view. You create -& store back home or on your hosted blog.
Third the client of the future does not want marketing they want your ability to give them a straight answer to their questions. What we are seeing is the relationship is starting very early on well run blogs without the agent even knowing the client. But most importantly the client is old word " bonding" with the agent online. when they are ready to buy sell rent whatever they call that agent. This is happening time after time in our office today, bascily about six months after an agent get his or her blog rolling.
Good luck to all, remember Technology only works when You use it, after you have learned what it can do for you.