Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Are Tablets Replacing Notebook Computers? (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the computers-get-better-faster-and-cheaper-every-year dept.

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the application and the user. We're seeing tablets advertised like crazy these days, and a trip to any busy coffee shop with free wi-fi will make it obvious that while there may not be as many tablets in use as notebooks, you see a lot more of them than you did five years ago, when it seemed like Bill Gates was the only person who had one, which he tried to show off as often as he could. In 2010, Apple debuted the iPad, and before long tablets were all over the place. So, on behalf of people we know -- and there are more than a few -- who either sneer at tablet computers or aren't sure they need one, we turned to David Needle, editor of TabTimes.com, for advice on what kind of tablet to buy -- assuming we need to buy one at all.

3 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Wrong by The+Cat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Two different tools for two different tasks. Tablets are consumption tools. Computers are production tools.

    The end.

  2. Re:No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's qualify this "no" answer. If you're a power user, a tablet isn't (today) going to get the job done. But if all you want to do is check email, browse websites, maybe play a few games, and so on, a tablet is just fine. I know many people that have quit using their desktops and notebooks because a tablet is all they need.

    Desktops and notebooks have a place in the corporate world and other small businesses, and I don't see many geeks replacing their workstations with tablets. Certainly you can't effectively program on them yet and there is still a lot of software that requires a full Windows, OS X or Linux install. There may be a day when the tablet is the workstation and acts like a desktop when you're at your desk, and a tablet when you're not. But that is not quite here today for most people.

    The desktop is not dead, and tablets have not replaced notebooks. But I think we can all envision a day when that is a distinct possibility.

  3. Re:News for Nerds? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who cares? It's not like we read TFA (or for that matter, TFS) anyway.

    They could just post "Boo" and we'd go on about ... something.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!