A Study in Tablet Rental Usage Reveals Dark Depths of Mobility Appeal

Staples Advantage, the B2B version of Staples, just came forward with a series of studies investigating tablet adaption. And while we didn’t exactly need justification for our massive iPad and tablet rental inventory, it’s always nice to know.

According to Staples, "About 80 percent of tablet owners say they enjoy an improved work/life balance because of the technology and cite the following business benefits."

Tablet incorporation yielded an increase in productivity to the tune of sixty percent.

Most users – 75 percent – use their tablets to check email. About 30 percent use tablets to edit and review documents.

But an overwhelming trend becomes apparent when the data is investigated more carefully. Nearly all of those polled claimed that mobility was the primary reason that they sought out tablets.

The adaption of tablets has skyrocketed phenomenally, to the point where industry bellwethers like HP have considered pulling out of the PC market entirely. If the driver for that trend is mobility, tech manufacturers everywhere should take heed.

If a product is worth developing, it’s probably going to need to be fairly mobile.

So mobile users can take their tablets with them... in to places like airplanes, trains and bathroom stalls. Yes. Bathroom stalls.

Staples released yet another study demonstrating that nearly 35 percent of tablet owners use their device in the bathroom. According to a rep from Staples, "Being able to tuck a tablet into a portfolio or small bag was more important than the ability to video conference, the device's operating system or easy access to office email and VPN."

We can certainly understand that part of it.

Ed Ludwigson, the vice president of Staples Advantage, came forward with his own thoughts on the matter. Ludwigson said "Tablets offer fantastic convenience and a better work/life balance, making it easy for employees to keep information with them and utilize business apps, no matter where they go." He added, "For employers, the benefit is having a more productive workforce that's always connected to what's happening at the office."

Or in a bathroom stall.