Parliament succumbs

Claire Rogers reports:

Apple-loving politicians could soon be accessing work emails from their iPads and iPhones.

MPs and parliament staff must currently use BlackBerrys and Microsoft PCs to access work systems, but the Parliamentary Service is trialling software that gives email access to iPhones and iPads in response to demand from Apple enthusiasts.

I was in fact the last Mac user in Parliament. I had both a PC and a Mac in 1996/97 but finally gave the Mac up as it painful having a stand-alone machine not networked.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson said he was an avid iPad fan and greater support for Apple gadgets would boost productivity.

Mr Williamson said he took his iPad on a ministerial trip to China last year and loaded it up with briefing papers.

“You could just bring up the library and briefing notes and search for specific headings … the physical file that had all the briefing notes was four or five Wellington telephone books and they weren’t searchable. I find the whole iPad and iPhone experience so much better than the standard computer environment.”

The iPads are very good. Can’t wait for the iPad2.