2. The Execution

The agency already had a fairly decent desktop computer system for my friend and her coworkers. It was networked and people could check their e-mail and fill in the few Adobe Acrobat forms that were available. You'd think the bosses would evaluate how the desktop system was working before jumping off into portable computer land. But they didn't. Apparently they didn't even talk to the consultants who built and maintained the desktop system and they certainly didn't talk to the social workers.

HP's luggable dv4000 makes a great desktop replacement, but it's not for busy workers on-the-go in the field.

No, instead they wrote a grant for money to get some portable computers. They didn't even consider the array of lightweight almost full size or even ultra small laptops from companies such as Lenovo/IBM, HP, Sharp, Dell, Sony, Fujitsu and Toshiba. No, they went for the big stuff in the form of monster HP notebooks. I love these things when they're used as rarely mobile desktop replacements; see my review of HP's Pavilion DV4000 notebook A Solid Multimedia Notebook From HP. But by the time you pack them into a protective carrying case with their power supplies and an extra battery you're pushing 11 pounds.