Can a tablet replace a laptop?

Only you can answer that question? What do you use your laptop for?

Judging by the popularity of tablets, I currently have 3 myself, the answer is yes for many. Most use laptops primarily to check email, browse the web and social sites. A tablet would fit the bill in a more mobile design for these applications.

Where tablets are weak is generally in traditional programs and applications which you may need to run. However, tablets offer smaller, more efficient specialized applications or apps.

In my case, the answer would be no, in that I still prefer a laptop running a mainstream OS. But consider a tablet a supplementary device, more as a portable reader and for use with specialized apps.

The bear has nailed it. I view tablets as extensions of PCs and laptops. For many people a tablet is all they need. I love my Nook HD and can do lots of stuff on it. But when I need to edit RAW photo files, type letters, do taxes, etc., my laptop is invaluable and can't (yet) be replaced. My wife almost never uses her netbook anymore. The tablet does just about everything she needs. I can see a time when maybe a tablet can do 90% of what a full PC can do, but I think we're still 3 to 5 years away from that.

At first I didn't think so but I find I'm using the tablet a lot more than I ever used the laptop. And I'm using my iPhone even more than the laptop and tablet for a lot of the things I used to use the laptop for (web surfing, media, e-mail, research, photos...etc.).

That being said, I do prefer the laptop or a PC when I have a lot of typing to do...or filling out forms... or spreadsheet work. I do have a keyboard add on for my tablet but like using the laptop keyboard better for heavy typing.

For internet research the tablet works great.

If I needed to replace the laptop I think I would go with a tablet and learn to work with it.

ronmc wrote:
Would a tablet do everything a computer can do?

No, not yet. However it may do what you need it to do. What do you use your computer for? Just the basics, a tablet may work. Something very specific, a tablet only may limit you.


Oct 2013 top 10"