Why do ppl buy tablets?

RobertoMoir

kuepper wrote: »

If you've got a laptop and a smartphone why do ppl buy tablets?

Because the purchaser believes that the tablet solves a different problem to either of the above two devices? An example of this might be the Kindle Fire HD that I have.

Because more than one person wants to use the laptop at once, and the things they want to use it for can be achieved either more cheaply or more conveniantly on a tablet? For example, watching BBC iPlayer in bed, perhaps?

googler

kuepper wrote: »

If you've got a laptop and a smartphone why do ppl buy tablets?

Because the laptop isn't portable enough, and the screen on the phone is too small.

I can hold the tablet in my left (weak) hand, but need both hands to lift the laptop.

The laptop's battery expires after minutes, the tablet's lasts 10 hours.

mummyroysof3

I bought an iPad to use to study mostly as well as usual surfing and games. My laptop is on its way out I think so it means I only use it now for typing up my assignments. My youngest son with a learning disability also has a few games on it and likes to watch peppy pig on it sometimes in situations where it helps to calm him down too

earthstorm

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Then why not tether it and use your phone's existing data allowance then? No need for extra mobile broadband packages or dongles.

Because a PAYG phone does not have a set data allowance unless you have a tariff that includes Data, but why use Data allowance at £30 a month on your smartphone when you are paying for Broadband and can use Wifi.
The £5 a month for BlackBerry services allows you to use BBM etc. and browse the internet using 3G at no further costs from your smartphone, so you dont use any inflated data charges.

Blackjack2013

If only the tablet/laptops were cheaper!! getting a touchscreen that detaches from a keyboard is a superb outcome to this argument. In the meantine I'd say that tablets are better for young kids (so long as you get the right apps, not addictive junk apps) as they're more intuitive.

I would also say that tablets are superb for design, but thats just me

And tablets are so dang light. Before i bought my (expensive as heck) laptop/tablet I had scaled back to a 10 inch screen because it was so much easier to carry about.

At the end of the day I'm still a desktop guy (a.... what?). Yep, desktop, where your money goes a long way

Mind you, a HD 40" screen can be plugged into any device for immediate happiness!! (except an iPad, but don't get me started!)

Johnmcl7

I'm disappointed the tablet market has gone towards more basic functionality rather than something that could bridge the market between phones and laptops - most tablets are simply mobile phones with larger screens and even then many of them are even more basic than smartphones particularly for storage. I find the 10in tablets far too big and heavy for their reduced capabilities and instead prefer a lightweight convertible Ultrabook which is a bit heavier but not much difference in practice as you still generally need two hands to use a 10in tablet and the Ultrabook is vastly more functional (onboard USB host, ethernet, VGA and HDMI, full size SD/MS all without adapters) and powerful as it can run standard desktop applications like Lightroom with ease. Initially I did like the smaller 7in tablets but once I bought a Note with a 5.3in screen, the tablet was completely redundant.

John

~Chameleon~

earthstorm wrote: »

Because a PAYG phone does not have a set data allowance unless you have a tariff that includes Data, but why use Data allowance at £30 a month on your smartphone when you are paying for Broadband and can use Wifi.
The £5 a month for BlackBerry services allows you to use BBM etc. and browse the internet using 3G at no further costs from your smartphone, so you dont use any inflated data charges.

Well obviously in a wi-fi area you wouldn't be using tethered data, so no different to using a tablet with wi-fi/3G, and no additional costs

DKLS

Blackjack2013 wrote: »

Mind you, a HD 40" screen can be plugged into any device for immediate happiness!! (except an iPad, but don't get me started!)

I plug My ipad into my plasma and to my projector, all done with a lead costing a £5.

Lagoon

I didn't purchase my iPad, and wouldn't have bought one if I'd had to pay as I thought the money could never be justified. However, since having it it's replaced both my laptop AND my smartphone. There's now no need for either, which saves me money overall.

albionrovers

kuepper wrote: »

If you've got a laptop and a smartphone why do ppl buy tablets?

Combination of portability and failing eyesight.