If you are looking to refresh your business devices, you are likely wondering whether laptops or tablets are the best choice for your users.
Having spent 29 years in the IT industry, I’m accustomed to having conversations like this. In this article, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of tablets and laptops. We’ll explore the similarities and differences as well as the pros and cons of each option.
After reading this article, you’ll have all the information to decide which option is best for you and your users based on different factors.
At Kelser, we are committed to publishing articles like this with easy-to-understand information that business leaders like you need to be best equipped to handle the important technology questions facing your business.
What Is A Tablet?
This may seem like a very basic question, but it can get complicated.
People often think of tablets as Microsoft Surface and iPads (and similar devices), but since iPads are more similar in computing power to androids and phones, we aren’t including them in this category.
What Is A Laptop?
Laptops include both PCs and Apple products. Some laptops have more processing power used for gaming, engineering apps, graphics, and other high-compute activities.
In this article, we are talking about general-use laptops.
How Do Tablets And Laptops Compare?
Depending on what they are being used for, both tablets and laptops have a place in business.
Tablets
Just by way of reminder, we are not including iPads in our definition of tablets for the purposes of this article.
Like laptops, tablets are convenient, mobile devices. Let’s explore the pros and cons of tablets and some of the applications they are best suited to handle.
Advantages of Tablets
Here are some of the benefits of tablets when compared to laptops.
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Weight
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Compared to laptops, tablets are generally lighter.
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Battery Life
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In general, tablet batteries hold a charge longer than laptop batteries. Part of that is due to the reduced computing (or processing) power of tablets, so that is something to consider.
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Size
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While there are some exceptions, tablets are typically smaller than laptops.
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Portability
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Due to their smaller size and lower weight, tablets are easier to transport.
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Ease Of Use
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Whether you choose to use the touchscreen or attach a keyboard, tablets are generally easy to use.
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Cost
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While there are a variety of tablets and laptops available at a range of price points, tablets typically cost less than laptops.
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Remote Service
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Remote service is an option, adding to the convenience.
Disadvantages of Tablets
There are distinct disadvantages to tablets, too. Here are the major ones:
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Processing Power
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In general, tablets have less processing (or computing) power than laptops.
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Features
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Tablets often have fewer features and ports than laptops. And, features often come with additional costs. For example, if you want a keyboard, you’ll need to purchase it separately.
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Storage
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Storage capability on tablets is smaller because they typically use solid-state drivers.
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Onscreen Keyboard
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Although a feature that improves portability, the onscreen keyboard makes typing for extended periods tedious and difficult.
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Limited External Ports
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Many tablets are limited to the number of external ports (USB and video).
Best Uses Of Tablets
Tablets are best suited to internet browsing, checking email, and basic computing. Tablets do not have a large database capacity, so they are fine for filling out short forms or quick communication but are not well suited for larger spreadsheets or lengthy reports. They also are a better choice than laptops for taking pictures or videos.
Laptops
Laptops provide a variety of pros and cons as well. Let’s explore them.
Advantages of Laptops
Laptops are inherently better for some things, such as:
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Computing Power
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When compared to tablets, laptops have more computing power. They can run multiple applications simultaneously without affecting performance.
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Storage
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Storage capacity is greater with a laptop than with a tablet.
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Attachments
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It is easy to connect a laptop to an external storage device (i.e. external hard drive or thumb drive). There are also a larger variety of attachments, including docking stations, displays, and numerous USB devices.
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Physical Keyboard
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Typing longer documents is much easier on a laptop due to the physical keyboard.
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Screen Size
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Laptop screens are usually larger, making it easier to see and edit documents.
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Durability
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Out of the box, laptops are more durable than tablets because they come with a hard shell, which tablets typically do not.
Disadvantages Of Laptops
Along with benefits, laptops also have some negatives. These are some you should consider:
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Cost
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While you can find laptops and tablets at a variety of price points, in general laptops are more expensive than tablets.
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Weight
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There’s no getting around this one. Laptops are heavier than tablets.
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Battery Life
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While laptop batteries don’t typically hold a charge as long as tablets, that is partially due to the increased computing (or processing) power of a laptop. So, consider this carefully when exploring your options.
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Screen Size
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I realize we listed this as a pro as well; let me explain. While the larger screen makes it easier to see, it also means that the overall size of the device is larger and heavier. There is a tradeoff.
Best Uses Of Laptops
Laptops are generally best used in an office, car, or on a desk. They are good for typing longer documents and filling out forms. They are better suited for activities that use a lot of processing power, and for enterprise applications. They can handle multiple displays and accessories.
Which Is Better For My Business? A Tablet Or A Laptop?
The honest answer? It depends.
Some of the factors to consider include what you will use the device for, how much processing power you need, what your budget is, where you will use the device, and how long you need it to stay charged.
The good news is that after reading this article, you have a full understanding of the pros and cons of tablets and laptops.
We’ve covered the benefits of tablets (weight, battery life, size, portability, ease of use, cost, and remote service options) and disadvantages (processing power, features, storage, on-screen keyboard, and limited external ports).
We also explored the advantages of laptops (computing power, storage, attachments, physical keyboard, screen size, and durability) and the disadvantages (cost, weight, battery life, and screen size).
At this point, you have all of the information you need to confidently decide which devices are best for your business. Keep in mind that the best solution could be a combination of both laptops and tablets, depending on the function of your users.
In addition to managed IT support services, Kelser also provides strategic guidance to our customers ranging from project work to device management. Having said that, we know that our solution isn’t right for every business.
That’s why we publish articles like this one to provide the technology information business leaders like you need to make the best IT decisions.
Instead of telling you how great our IT support services are (although, we don’t deny that,) we prefer to focus on giving you easy-to-understand information you can use to get the right IT solutions for your business.
If though, you find yourself wondering about managed IT support read this article to learn what managed IT support includes and how much it costs.
Or, if you already know about managed IT and want to find out whether it is a good fit for your business, click the button below, fill out the short form and one of our IT experts will contact you within 24 hours (often much sooner). And, don’t worry, we won’t bombard you with emails or phone calls or sell your information.
