Tablets have become the most recent must-have gadget, with many of the major consumer technology companies producing different versions, including the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. However, they appear to sell themselves more on appearance, brand identity and existing popularity than on any particular technical advantages or unique functionality. In reality, they do little that can’t be done by a laptop or smartphone (which many tablet owners or prospective buyers already own.) So, with this in mind, it is interesting to try and understand why so much hype has developed around tablets and why they are taking the gadget market by storm.
Hardware
Perhaps the biggest and certainly the most obvious benefit of a traditional laptop over a tablet is the included hardware that comes with the former. For a start, a sizeable and easy to use keyboard is an integral part of any laptop whereas typing on a tablet either involves an unreliable touchscreen or laying out for an additional detachable keyboard accessory. Laptop keyboards generally allow for easier and quicker typing. In addition, laptops are usually complemented by larger screens with higher resolutions, making them better for everything from browsing the Internet to watching films and viewing photographs. It is important to remember also that laptops are still portable and, if treated properly, can still offer extensive battery life.
Durability
Tablets may have a sleek and shiny appearance but often suffer as a result of not being wholly robust. They have a touchscreen which needs to be in flawless condition to work properly and can be easily damaged by a small drop or other sudden movement. In addition, they are overly slender and lack a reassuring solidity which means that a potentially damaging accident is quite possible. Laptops on the other hand are far more robust with a tough plastic casing and the ability to fold the screen in to protect it from every day wear and tear. Therefore a laptop is much more of an investment for the future as it is likely to last longer.
Storage and Memory
Most laptops have a memory which is approaching or indeed greater than ten times the size of the average tablet. This means that, for the average user, all their photos, music, documents and videos can be stored on their laptop and thus be accessed with a simple tap of the keys. Tablets on the other hand require the user to be picky about which files they keep on the device (with certain formats not even being supported on all tablets) and therefore often require backing up on a PC or laptop, making the tablet seem somewhat superfluous.
Web browsing
In modern times, perhaps the biggest use of any consumer computing device is to access the Internet, browse websites and access all the resources of this information superhighway. On a laptop this is effortless and, with a good connection, will encounter few problems; on a tablet, it is a different story. Websites that run a large quantity of Javascript, such as online shopping or banking, will struggle to display properly or run efficiently on a tablet and therefore may well necessitate downloading a specifically-tailored app. This seems to be more than a little counterproductive.
Overall, the case presented would suggest that a tablet can do little that a laptop and/or smartphone can’t do and therefore does not fill a genuine gap in the market. In addition, there are certain other options, such as an iPad kiosk from Evoke, which seem to make the decision to buy a tablet the reserve of those with more money than sense.
This guest post has been created by Evoke Kiosks.
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