The Tablet. The New Future of Computing?

The tablet the new future of computing? Well, yet again it seems they are deemed the no.1 gift this Christmas and I have mentioned them in a not a very enthusiastic light before on social networking / twitter and so forth. You will probably remember my joke about Viagra, along the the lines of grandad wants a blue tablet for Christmas?

Well, as a tech savvy person I'm usually likely to be the person that buys one just to let it sit there (even if it never gets used), that latest gadget and all of that. However, when it came to the tablet device I had immediate restraint. "Why ?" You might ask "I love mine". Well let's get to point of the matter.

Really it's all down to personal choice, there's no two ways about it. You either love something or don't, something works for you or doesn't. & with me there's also logical reasoning.

a). A tablet device is at the moment not too much different than a smartphone (& not much more powerful yet either in many cases if at all) a larger smartphone in essence.
I can use the smartphone for quick access to social networking to enter simple lines of text for networking no problem, have a quick search of google on the move or sat at home on the sofa, even watch internet videos on sites such as YouTube if I so choose.

b). Things I use a computer for (apart from the above) generally need a fair amount of power. Music Production for one example. So the more powerful laptop & desktop still suit my needs more. I don't see much use when it comes to tablets in this area for example. I've seen some used as control devices, essentially as a touch pads used to control things as would a drum pad. And I've seen a few early experimental versions of DAWs appear (that also appear on smartphone) that are not really viable yet.

So I have to ask myself. "Do I really want to buy a tablet just to update lines of text to my Twitter / Facebook, or to Google that long word I haven't used since college (we've all done it), when my smartphone is already in my pocket & fully up to the task?".

You may even have an HTPC / Media center PC or plug your laptop into your tv to act as one, in which case you really wouldn't be interested in one just for watching videos or online videos.

The answer is a sound no & money would probably be best put toward a better smartphone or even more powerful laptop (for power & mobility) in such a case. & maybe this would be the same likely scenario for you too?


The pros of the tablet.  

However, this blog is not just about bashing the tablet, I'm fully aware they do have there uses. I've no doubt they are lighter than an laptop regardless of processing power limitations. Portability situations such as with that experienced by a student might mean it would be more ideal than a laptop, they can just stick one in their bag & go. Some even have a keyboard to make useful extended typing. The same for taking to the office. The programs used for such work should be more than capable for the tablet.
If you have children you could buy them one so they had access to the internet / watch their videos without hogging the home computer at less cost (in some instances) than buying them another computer.
We've even seen them used on TV before to replace the clip board with a lot more capability.

Conclusion.

It's horses for courses.
Maybe you travel a lot? Maybe the portability is for you? Maybe the meager (let's not be too harsh now) processing power meets your equally as meager needs?

If your only someone that sends the odd e-mail, watches the odd dog catch a Frisbee on YouTube, loves searching the net & shopping online and the only time you fired up a word processor was that letter you wrote to your divorce lawyer 6 years ago, then maybe the tablet is ideal for you? Maybe even as your next laptop replacement?

Maybe you're that person that just has to have one for the sake of it either way?

Or maybe in hindsight you find yourself in the same situation as me above? In which case I would advise to wait for now & probably buy a bigger better smartphone if screen size is what you pondered, if even that is indeed needed in itself?