'Laptop vs Tablet: which one do I need?

The last few years have seen incredible advancements in portable computing but the titular question is still one that divides most people when shopping for a new device. It’s a difficult one because each has its strengths and weaknesses; each has certain tasks it is more suited to. The answer depends on your personal usage; what you use your computer for, where you want to use it and for how long at a time.

Laptops

Pro

Physical Keyboard: This makes it faster and more comfortable when you type for long periods.

Storage: If you want to store your documents locally then a laptop with 250-500GB of storage (about ten times that of the average tablet) is your best bet.

Printing: Laptops are generally more compatible with most printers because they work on a wider range of software.

Con Weight: Most laptops weigh about 2.5kg which doesn’t sound like very much, unless you’re

commuting with it. Although if you would mainly be using it at home, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Battery Life: A typical laptop has a battery life of only three hours, compared with a laptop’s seven.

Tablets

Pro

Portability: Most tablets are less than half the size and weight of a traditional laptop computer. They can also be used easily whilst out and about because a lot of the functions can be used with a single hand.

Touchscreen: Can make navigation easier for digital imaging, mouse orientated gaming and for people with certain disabilities. Some users may also find it more direct to use a stylus or finger to control the on-screen pointer rather than the mouse/trackpad.

Con

Poor internet signal: Often a problem with tablets but this could soon be a thing of the past. Usability: It can be very delicate work to navigate webpages which make use of drop-down

menus. Also websites which use Flash or Java Script can be slow or difficult to run, this includes most gaming of video-based websites.

Screen Damage: As tablet screens are handled more than laptops they have a higher chance of damage from impacts and misuse.

ENDS

Emma Murphy

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