Choosing a laptop or tablet
When it comes to productivity, the choice is clear
While I’ve been isolated at home, the internet and my tech devices have proven invaluable for keeping in touch, remaining informed and accomplishing a lot of work.
It has also provided me with time to mull over a question I’m often asked by many people. Should they buy a tablet or a laptop? I’ve been using both regularly and have discovered the qualified answer to that question.
It’s easy to see the similarities between a tablet and a laptop in terms of portability and function. A 13-inch laptop is not a huge increase in size over a 10inch tablet and either can be easily transported and used almost anywhere, inside or out.
Yet my laptop is a much superior productivity tool. Its hard drive will hold significantly more files, videos, music, and photos than the comparatively minuscule memory of a tablet and with its huge random access memory (RAM) the laptop can effortlessly handle numerous tasks at once. I can multitask easily on the laptop and have several windows open at the same time to check my email, type a document, edit a photo and browse the internet.
The keyboard on my laptop is much easier to use than the touch version on a tablet, although there are detachable keyboards for tablets and the tablet’s touch screen, with some practice, can compensate for lack of a mouse or touchpad. However, cutting and pasting between apps on a laptop requires a few mouse clicks rather than the precise and often difficult fingertip actions needed on my tablet’s touch screen.
Compared to a tablet’s single lightning or USB-C connector, my laptop has 3 USB ports to connect several peripherals at the same time, such as a mouse, printer or scanner, an external hard drive or flash drive, and a DVD writer. There’s also a full sized HDMI port to connect a projector or big screen TV, and a card reader to transfer photos from a digital camera.
Both devices can browse the internet but the blisteringly fast graphics processing power of the laptop makes websites load noticeably faster than on my tablet.
However, while being a shutin I’ve discovered the true advantages of a tablet compared to my functional laptop. Reading a book or newspaper on the laptop’s horizontal screen and enlarging the type or turning pages is a tedious process involving numerous mouse clicks.
On my tablet I can use an app such as Kindle or Kobo to read a book or Press Reader to peruse newspapers and magazines in a more natural vertical orientation, and enlarging the text is a simple process of expanding two fingers. I can also comfortably sit on the couch with a tablet on my knee and watch a movie, compose an email, or play a video game.
The internet is filled with free or low-cost programs for my Windows laptop, although I have to be careful about the source to avoid malware, and anti-virus software is mandatory.
On the other hand my muchused iPad and new Android tablet each has access to thousands of secure, safe and easily installed apps at the Apple App Store or Google Play for numerous functions, such as checking email and posting to social media. Also, many apps, such as Words with Friends, are only available for a tablet or smartphone.
My advice, if you only want one device, is to ascertain what you will use it for.
As a productivity tool with immense storage capacity, easy connectivity to peripherals and the benefits of a mouse and large keyboard, a laptop cannot be beat.
However, as an all-in-one entertainment portal, e-reader, digital camera and casual web browser that’s as portable as a book, I can’t replace my tablet. After a month of depending on my laptop and tablet, I’ve come to realize that, in my case, I need both.
Depending on your needs, you may be able to get along with either a laptop or tablet but, rather than flipping a coin, consider your needs when making a decision.