Laptop or Tablet for 6th former?

busiscoming2

Thinking of buying one of the above for DS2 (16) for Xmas.

He has an old laptop (has got very slow). He borrows my laptop on the occasions he needs to do homework on it; writing essays or looking for info. He currently uses his PSP for his social media etc mainly when he is in bed but also accesses the net via his Xbox.

I would like people's opinions on whether a laptop or a tablet would be best. Can essays be written fairly easily on a tablet and store? I know he tends to send them by email to the appropriate teacher.

I wasn't sure whether to post here or the Student forum, so please move if necessary. Thanks.

NiftyDigits

Some details of the old laptop? Brand name and full model number.

penrhyn

Personally I would have thought that having a keyboard and mouse are a better way of entering data, than using a touch screen, but then I'm very old.

sillygoose

A laptop, or even a Netbook as a good compromise... or better still see if you can sort out or upgrade the current laptop. If its got slow then it can be made to go fast again.

A tablet even with a wireless keyboard is still a long way behind a laptop for doing any real work.

paddyrg

Tablets are toys, laptops are for work. Typing an essay on a tablet is no joke. If you get an external keyboard...well you've bought an expensive laptop in 2 parts!

busiscoming2

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Some details of the old laptop? Brand name and full model number.

It's an Acer 5050

busiscoming2

paddyrg wrote: »

Tablets are toys, laptops are for work. Typing an essay on a tablet is no joke. If you get an external keyboard...well you've bought an expensive laptop in 2 parts!

This is what I wasn't sure about. My instinct tells me laptop but then I am a long way behind in technology.

j0nathon2

paddyrg wrote: »

Tablets are toys, laptops are for work. Typing an essay on a tablet is no joke. If you get an external keyboard...well you've bought an expensive laptop in 2 parts!

Exactly.

An ipad with an official keyboard will set you back about twice the price of a basic laptop, and something like a Samsung Note 10.1 with an official keyboard will be around the same price as the laptop. The reason I say "official" and not the £15 ebay keyboards, is that you'll find some of the latter are not suitable for fast, touch typing or have US layouts.

To write essays, and produce content, it has to be a Windows laptop.

NiftyDigits

busiscoming2 wrote: »

It's an Acer 5050

Let's try again with the full model number..

Tyler_Du

paddyrg wrote: »

Tablets are toys

I agree that a laptop is better in this case, but what makes you say tablets are toys, my industry uses them for business use.

NiftyDigits

Anyway, on the surface the Aspire 5050 is cheaply and easily upgradeable.

1GB DDR2-800 notebook memory x 2 for £9.98

Update and a clean install and you are up and running faster than ever.

I have a similar model. It's around six years old.