The debate as to how useful tablets are to us has been raging for a while now. The argument is that a tablet neither provides full PC functionality nor is it truly as capable as a smartphone.
I have been using an iPad tablet for several weeks now. I also use a netbook, have access to a personal desktop PC, and have an array of smartphones at my disposal.
In addition, Dayo has had a Samsung Galaxy Tab around for sometime and I have had some hands-on time with it. This certainly gives me a broader view of the subject at hand than most users have.
So, what are my thoughts on the subject?
In a nutshell, a tablet is really neither here nor there. It is an expensive novelty that does everything without excelling at any.
You can make a call on the Galaxy Tab, for example, but it is not as convenient as making a call on a smartphone. holding that 7″ guy to your ears is bound to get you a recommendation to see a shrink. Of course, you can use a set of earphones as Dayo does, but that isn’t as natural as simply using a phone for calls.
The iPad has a good web browser with AJAX support, yet because of the touch nature of the display, I find that I cannot drag and drop widgets in WordPress for example. I have to switch to my netbook or desktop to do that. Now, that is annoying. Start here; switch there to do this; switch back to complete the task. Why not just use my netbook from scratch?
Text entry and manipulation on tablets is good, but comes nowhere close to typing on a full netbook/PC keyboard, or on the keyboard of the Nokia E7 for example.
Watching movies on tablets is cool, but at best it is just as good as doing so on a netbook. You don’t want to hold a tablet in your hands all through a 1 hour 45 minute flick. Trust me.
The only area that a tablet (at least the ones I have used) seem to have an advantage over nebooks and many smartphones is in the area of battery performance. Both the iPad and the Tab perform well in this area, not running out of juice till you are well at home in the evening. Most netbooks don’t last more than 4 hours, and many modern smartphones don’t make it through a work day.
In addition, a tablet is always-on just like a smartphone is. This is another edge that tablets have over netbooks and PCs. Yet, the smartphone is superior to the tablet in that and similar aspects.
Do You Really Need A Tablet?
In my opinion, most people do not. A tablet suffices for most basic computing tasks of the average person. However, once you step beyond basic needs, there is little practical justification for having a tablet.
For now, people with more than basic mobile computing needs are better off sticking with a smartphone and netbook combination. Between those two devices, all of your needs are taken care of.
Oh, do pardon me, but if you are into making a good impression, an iPad, Galaxy Tab or PlayBook in hand at that executive or business meeting certainly won’t hurt your image.
This post was written by
Mobile/web, serial lifestyle entrepreneur, speaker, MC/moderator, & writer. Owned over 80 mobiles & counting. That little extra edge of insanity...
Follow him on Twitter @Mister_Mobility.
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July 8th, 2011 at 1:34 pm Browsing with
‘Oh, do pardon me, but if you are into making a good impression, an iPad, Galaxy Tab or PlayBook in hand at that executive or business meeting certainly won’t hurt your image.’
Do not judge a book buy its cover.
- Enigma
Do not judge an Executive by the tablet he is clutching
- Anonymous
To make money, meet a need / want. Or, trap the lemmings in a distortion field of perceived needfulness, then keep smililing to your money vault.
- UnKnown
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July 8th, 2011 at 1:44 pm Browsing with
Seriously, What we really need is further improvement in electronic miniaturisation, specifically at the processor level
That way, we have a true PC in the size of a tablet.
A tablet can NEVER supplant a smartphone (as regards portability), but It will eventually replace a PC (as it gets more modularized and powerful.)
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July 8th, 2011 at 7:30 pm Browsing with
Candid Opinion
I see a Tablet as a bigger smartphone/ a device that extends the efficiency of a smartphone.
With time it is sure that tablets will be ok for the basic computer needs of most people.
The screen size of the tablets makes everything come to life.
I am getting a tablet becos of the following reasons.
It is much more convinient for me to sit in the living room and watch a movie on it when my family is watching something else on the TV.
The books and magazines fully make use of the screen size and I am already loving to read more
The games on this device is becoming better day by day. A couple of weeks ago i played Mortal Kombat against a family friend on the ipad.
Apps makes life easy. They make u feel like you have a different device
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July 8th, 2011 at 9:27 pm Browsing with
i had a hands on experience with an acer iconia A500 android tablet and a dell inspiron duo windows 7 tablet/netbk combo. and my person conclusion is for ‘efizi’ d android tablet is it, but for seriouss work nothing beats the inspiron duo win7 tablet. like Yomi said, the only issue with the dell is the battery life.
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July 9th, 2011 at 11:00 am Browsing with
I think owning a tablet is more like a fashion statement now..and it make you look savvy in business meetings.If Windows 8 is implemented on tablet.. I think it will bring the tablet closer to a PC in functionality.
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July 10th, 2011 at 2:29 pm Browsing with
That was a good write up. Says it all. I am known to always wanna get the next big thing in mobile technology in my family. So it surprises people that I am yet to get a tablet since their launch over a year ago.
The reasons are just as started above. My galaxy s does all as started above and even a lot more. more apps and games are implemented for my screen size than for any of the android tabs. So why would I want to get a tab? If for screen size & more functionality my laptop is there.
I don’t think I will get any of these tabs until they can handle not only pc functionalities but with adequate apps available for the os they will be running on at that time. I am not optimistic about the windows 8 even if it will run better pc tasks on tabs because it won’t have apps like the smartphone’s market.
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