The latest generation of miniature laptops seem to have struck a chord with many computer users, whether as employees or consumers, and it is not difficult to see why. Anyone who has carried a laptop on a business trip has quickly come to see the benefit of having as small and light a system as possible, but until recently portability carried a high price tag.

With the success of Asus and its budget-priced Eee PC, many other vendors have jumped in to take a slice of the action. But while the education and small business market are obvious targets, what about the enterprise?

The consensus among many industry observers is that mini laptops do not come up to scratch for enterprise use. The screens are too small for extended use, keyboards too cramped, and the battery life is just too short for an entire working day away from the office.

This situation may improve as the form factor evolves, but for the meantime many end-users still want these portable systems. Businesses are likely to find staff acquiring the devices out of their own pocket and using them for company business, as has already happened with PDAs and smartphones. IT departments need to be prepared for this situation, especially as they may soon be called on to support a whole host of mini laptops, whether through choice or employee pressure.