Samsung have launched its new Galaxy Tab a real IPad alternative.

The tablet features a 7-inch display and weighs 380 grams – that’s 3 inches smaller and 200 grams lighter than Apple’s iPad. The Galaxy Tab also represents a new category for Samsung, which has bundled a host of features into the portable media device targeted at mobile pioneers, tech enthusiasts and business professionals. The tablet incorporates communication via email, voice and video call with an optimised user interface.

In the current economic climate many firms are trying to find ways of protecting their income levels. Different firms adopt different strategies but broadly they fall into two camps. Using David Maisters' terminology they are either "Farmers" or "Hunters". Farmers are firms who do not replace staff lost through natural wastage and concentrate on making incremental improvements to internal efficencies. These firms adopt a bunker mentality hoping that eventually things will return to normal and they can emerge and carry on as before.

Yesterday saw the much hyped launch of Apples IPad the device which has been perhaps unfairly described as a big IPhone. I must admit I was sceptical of any real business use, I imagined that it would only really be a consumer product ideal for surfing the web whilst sat on the sofa. However having seen the specifications and looked at the interface I think it could be a useful netbook replacement.

A recent press release from the Information Commissioners Office has revealed that there have been over 800 reported data security breaches in the last two years.

One of the areas that we get involved in a lot is in helping firms trying to think strategically about their use of technology. In most firms technology is the biggest budget item after people and premises yet surprisingly little senior management time is dedicated to understanding how to get the maximum return on investment from it.

In these uncertain economic times IT budgets generally are amongst the first to feel the pinch as companies struggle to maintain their bottom line profits. Strategic projects are usually the first to be stalled or even cancelled. It is not just small businesses who adopt this approach recently Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Sir Stuart Rose announced reductions in its capital spend which includes IT by £200m according to his statement to the BBC.