Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Laptops v. Desktops, what do users prefer?

Hi all,
<excuse the technical aspects fot the non-techies>
I am running a server-client system, server is Small Business Server 2003 premium ed, and the clients run Vista Business ed.
We have 7 clients, all are workstations (desktops) and 1 is a laptop (my roaming computer) accessing my network via securely encrypted wireless access point. The laptop is for my patient care, and the desktops for staff members at their stations (check in, check out, M.A., biller, medical student, my desk).

In terms of speed, my system works great, server is very fast. All clients have 2GB RAM and are at least 2.0 GHz processors.

I am wondering how other users compare, and what they prefer: laptops or desktops in the rooms?

Sincerely,

Adam:

I think the big question would be whether you were planning to leave the computer in the exam room when you complete an encounter.

If so, I would advise a desktop. You can put the guts of it under cover and leave the more-easily-replaced peripherals exposed to the "tender mercies" of your patients (not to mention blood, pus and saliva).

The advantages of laptops arise via decreased space demands and portability. I use one in my outpatient clinic, where I have to take my workplace with me, and I then sit in one small place and have my patients come to me. Those encounters are mostly talk, and little risk of biohazard spattering my laptop's keyboard.

In the office setting, I also felt funny walking into the room and unfolding a laptop, and I never found a suitable cart to transport it.

Laptop keyboards tend to be less comfortable. I get wrist strain easily, and require a big ergonomic wireless keyboard.

Laptops also require a bit more thought if you plan to incorporate speech recognition.

I devised an interesting approach using a "slate" computer, but have been unable to exploit it so far.

There is some discussion on related issues in this thread:

http://www.amazingcharts.com/ub/ubb...ill&topic=0&Search=true#Post4103

Thanks for the information Brian.
Intersting points. Bert told me same, desktops in the rooms.
Finances and space are tight at the moment, so laptop will have to work for now, but I like the input from others. it will help motivate me to purchase the necessary computers (I have 3 exam rooms, 2 of which I use regularly) once funds are available.
Thanks,

Adam,
I am using Dell Inspiron 6000 laptops in my exam rooms, all hard-wired. These have bigger keyboards. My rooms are large enough that I can put these on the old-time wheeled type-writer tables (much cheaper than those tables specifically called laptop stands). I also use a connected mouse as I have never liked the touch pads on laptops. I can then turn the laptop/table around so that, while sitting on my stool, I am directly facing the patient. I can easily maneuver myself to be in front of the patient whether they are in the chair or on the exam table. In my old office I hated having to turn my back to the patient while I entered info into the computer on the counter. When I stand to examine the patient, or when I leave the room, I can easily move the table out of my way and out of the way of the flying pus and blood. This is working extremely well for me.

Leslie

Leslie:

Could you copy/paste a link to a picture of one of these wonderful wheeled typewriter stands? I would love to see an example.

Thanks!

http://www.bush-furniture-online.com/bush_OP529C.html

Leslie

Perfect! I can see that working very well for you. Thanks.

My energies have been spent trying to find a "laptop stand" that I could wheel unobtrusively into the room. There is no such thing.

If the stand is small enough to be unobtrusive, then it is rickety and clatters as it moves over the threshold, and tends to tip over, especially if helped along by little imps.

If the stand is bottom-heavy and sturdy, and has large enough wheels to move easily across the threshold, then it is generally too large to wheel into a smallish room.

Both kinds can be found at reasonable expense, but I only trust the larger kind (such as yours) with my laptop, and I just don't have room for one in my exam room.

Thanks Leslie. That looks cool. I might just have to buy, and it's cheap enough. I agree with Brian that carrying it into/out of rooms is a bit clumsy.

Kind of like Brian's fantasy of a little wheely stand that doesn't exist, I thought of using a sling that I could wear the laptop around my shoulder or something....but that would be clumsy too.

Oh, they exist - I bought one!

Very smooth ride; not rickety at all. Looked good! You will see similar models rolling down the hospital halls of major hospitals. Got it on eBay, a steal at $300.

I just found that the real life one was just a little bigger than would fit comfortably in my exam rooms.

I have a bunch of links to good stands, all the fruit of my past research. I will post it, if you like.

Adam, one last question: will your laptop fold up into a tablet/slate? If it will, I have a great idea for you.

No Brian, it's a standard laptop.
I've seen too many beat up pharma rep tablet computers with screens that don't work well and short battery lives...I didn't want to invest in something less durable or slower processing speed than the one I'm using.

And, could you please post the information you have on lap top stands? Much appreciated.
Thank you.

Don't sell the slates short. I've got a couple of Fujitsu refurbs with extended life batteries that will last all day, and that was last generation's technology.

They're getting bigger and better screens, longer battery life, and even pretty good built-in speech recognition. They have the potential to be the ultimate EHR terminal solution someday.

Links will follow...

Here are the links, or at least the ones that are still valid.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs..._CAT=Computer%20Workstations&index=6

http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=231&s=1010&ID=44944&P=F

http://www.avcarts.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=AO1331&PiID=326581&refid=FR73-AO1331_326581

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1477420&CatId=609

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1477429&CatId=609

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?page=1&Nav=|c:609|&Sort=3&Recs=10

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1210528

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1248618

http://www.iboxtech.ca/products/carts_floor_mounts.html

Here's the one I bought on eBay:

http://www.infologixsys.com/pictures/products/User-Guide-SL-TS-Computer-Cart-Rev-02.pdf

Very sweet, but it hasn't worked out as planned...

thanks Brian

Leslie:

When you first mentioned a typewriter table, this was all I could visualize!



Which would be pretty stylish, you know?

HA HA HA..I wish I had that!!! Considering my old Royal Electric Typewriter that I used in college is bringing "collectors" prices, no telling what that thing would be worth!!
Now, also tell me how you got that picture in your post.

Leslie

Me too. Actually I was envisioning one of those 60'-70's all steel models that went up and down on wheels via a pedal, with the fold down side wings to boot.

So how are all of you adding these neat pictures? This is sometihng I had been asking Vinny about for some time now. As I've said before sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Some of these pics are great folks.

I didn't know we could do it until Al started posting pics the other day!

You just have to get an account at a photo hosting site such as PhotoBucket (which is free).

http://photobucket.com/

Then, you have to upload a graphic (which isn't hard).

Then, you have to do a full "Reply" (not a "Quick Reply"). When you do, there's a little button marked "Enter an Image", and you enter in the web location of your image.

For example, the location of the one above is "http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh220/bcmd_photo/typewriter_table.jpg", which you can see by right-clicking on it and selecting "Properties".

When you preview or post, the picture appears!

OK, I am going to see if this works. If so, to remain on topic, this is where I would really like to store my laptop.

Leslie

Congratulations on posting the image, but...

Hmmm.... can't quite make that out, Leslie!

I could make a guess, but wouldn't wish to embarrass myself if I'm wrong.

Maybe post a little bigger version?

But this only works as a link to one of these "the photo is saved and linked to at another site" kind of things. So I have to use a photobucket type of service (free yes, but I don't want my personal pics on the web) to then link it back to the posting I make. I can not simply copy from like, My Pictures, let's say on my computer and then paste it into my posting here, right? It sure would be nice to be able to do that too. Thanks none the less.

As you can see I really do believe in keeping most of one's private stuff, private in terms of the web. It is a darn free for all out there right now. We never posted our kids baby pics from the hospital on those free service sites and stuff. Too many weirdos out there... Not with my kids thank-you very much. Just like with CCHITT, not with mine or my families PHI. But I sure do love the pictures....

You are correct, hockeyref.

I wouldn't put any personal pics up either.

I think this kind of thing will be helpful if someone wants to post a screen shot of a problem, though.

When I left my old group practice to go solo, I loved the idea of EMR because of space and cost savings vs. paper, but hated the idea of sitting facing a computer and typing away while talking with a patient, only looking at them occasionally - absolutely contrary to my vision of the small town doc I was trying to evolve into - so this is what I did:

I bought a Lenovo Thinkvantage X60 tablet PC running Windows Vista. It can be used as a standard laptop, but also has a reversible screen that lays down like a tablet and on which I write directly, rather than typing at all. The handwriting recognition is standard with the PC and outstanding in its ability. This thing interprets my chicken scratch better than my staff ever could (I received honors in writing like a doctor in Med School). It is very fast and integrates very well with AC. I have no problem with battery life, plugging it in to the wall to recharge while I am sitting at my desk over my noon break. I connect wirelessly with the standard out-of-the-box router I got from my DSL provider and wireless HP multifunction laser printer at the front desk.

My solution for the stand is to pull the foot rest out (not the stirrups) on my 1940's vintage exam table which is angled in the middle of the room and use it to rest my tablet while facing the patient directly. It's the ultimate melding of traditional and modern and I rarely have to look away from the patient. I get equal numbers of compliments on my classic antique table as I do on my cool modern charting system, often from the same patient. AND they appreciate being able to sit in a more comfortable side chair than perched on an exam table for the interview portion of the exam.

I'm doing a similar thing as Parkda. I place the laptop at the foot of the table, and sit facing the patient but perhaps slanted at a 15 degree angle away from the patient. I can type and look at a patient at the same time.

I also using multiple templates, hence I spend little time looking at the computer. I'm getting the hand of it. I like the wireless, if I forgot to print something from the room and I'm standing at the desk....I can open the laptop and print from the front desk. It's really cool.