You are getting ready to leave your desk, and you know you will need to stay connected and get some work done on the go. Do you take your laptop, tablet, or smartphone? A tablet is sort of like a more portable notebook built on a mobile operating system platform, and brings some unique advantages to the table.
Here are five reasons that the tablet is a better choice for mobile computing than a laptop or smartphone:
Tablets are thin and light. If you have a MacBook Air, or an ultrabook, the distinction may not seem as significant, but when it comes to most laptops, a tablet is thinner, lighter, and more portable by a long shot. When you’re carrying around a bag all day, the difference between one pound and five pounds adds up. Speaking of bags, most laptops require their own luggage to transport from Point A to Point B, but you can grab a tablet on your way out the door like you’re picking up your keys or sunglasses.
2. Functionality
The tablet may not be as versatile as a laptop in the functionality department, but it is significantly better than a smartphone. Tablets have larger displays that give you more real estate to get real work done. In fact, with larger tablets the display is on par with smaller laptops, allowing you to get more done. Of course, the virtual keyboard uses up half the display, so you have less screen to work with when you’re actually working. Regardless, though, tablets beat smartphones when it comes to being productive.
3. Less Cumbersome
Have you ever tried to get work done on a laptop while riding in a taxi, or during a flight? It’s not fun. It is a project to lug the device out, and then you have to find some relatively flat, stable surface to set it on. It has to be flipped open to view the display or type on the keyboard, so that rules out any use while walking around (at least for anyone with common sense). A tablet is easy to just turn on and use in any environment.
4. Battery Life
Most tablets have battery life that is far better than laptops. Laptops are steadily improving in the longevity department, but most would still struggle to make it through a full work day, and many won’t make it to lunch. Tablets on the other hand, seem to last forever even when pushed to the limits.
5. Flexibility
A tablet sits somewhere between the smartphone and laptop in most areas, and flexibility is no exception. In many ways, a tablet can fill the role of a laptop and perform most, if not all, of the same functions. But, the tablet is also more versatile. Most can take photos, or shoot videos in addition to allowing video chat and conferencing. They also work nicely as e-readers (or in some cases the e-reader has evolved into a tablet) for accessing an entire library of books on the go. Some of these things are technically possible, but ridiculous in a practical sense with a notebook.
A tablet is ideal for some tasks, and suitable for many, but there are still a variety of scenarios where a laptop or smartphone might be a better choice. Consider the pros and cons of each mobile device, and choose the best tool for the task at hand.