Tablet Shipments to Surpass Laptops by 2016: Which Is Better?

by thezilch Posted 2012/07/03 16:57:24

Related Topics: Tech, Tablet, notebook, Laptop

563 votes
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	Tablet	143 votes	25%
	Laptop	420 votes	75%

In the ever growing mobile world, tablets appear to be replacing the laptop in local coffee shops and bus stops. Just the other day, I witnessed a man playing Angry Birds on his iPad as he waited for the bus to arrive at his stop. I can't recall ever witnessing such a sight with a laptop at a bus stop. Are tablets poised to replace our laptops?

VENTUREBEAT.COM reports:
That tablet in your hand could soon become the most popular mobile device sold -- even the ubiquitous notebook PC, new research finds. Shipments of tablets -- exemplified by Apple's iPad -- will almost quadruple to 416 million units by 2016, up from the current 121 million units, the research firm NPD announced today.

ipad quadruple 416 units 2016 current 121 units research firm

+19

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Fef 2012/07/03 17:02:44

Laptop

+10
I have a SmartPhone (Droid) that can do most anything a tablet can.
I use a NetBook for more powerful computing, multi-tasking, etc...
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More polls by thezilch

Ana Henriques 2012/08/30 19:28:07

Laptop

I absolutely HATE tablet, and everything touchscreen it just get filthy in one day. A screen full of digital prints is just gross.

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me4ever 2012/07/07 12:27:30

Laptop

for me its laptops

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Dzeeng 2012/07/07 12:23:40

Tablet

more portable

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Eric S. 2012/07/07 06:39:02

Laptop

Tablet is only if you often use it when you are outside, on the bus, waiting for someone, etc. It is convenient for if you are in a hurry to check something on the internet. Or wasting your time to play games.

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Taxman 2012/07/06 20:50:20

Tablet

Hate my laptop, love my tablet. I use the desktop for major computing.

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Julian 2012/07/06 18:36:07

Laptop

+1
Laptops are more useful. It's nice to have a proper keyboard.

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Kathleen Green 2012/07/06 18:34:34

Laptop

+2
Until a tablet can have all the same functions/capabilities as a laptop. A laptop it is.

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shiva 2012/07/06 17:54:54

Laptop

+1
The laptop isn't going anywhere soon. That's because tablets are too much like smartphones as of now and are only different in screen size; making workflow easier when you're doing something creative (editing, music, art etc). That said, until tablets have the abilities (and hard drive space) laptops do, I'll always prefer the laptop. Don't get me wrong, I live the heck out of my iPad because of its convenience and the apps I have for making music. It's perfect for demoing something on the go and recalling it later on my Mac when the idea has to be refined

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Margaret Jacobson 2012/07/06 16:40:56

Tablet

I can take it EVERYWHERE !! next year I might get a "laptop for home use ?? Depends on the price and what what find on sale ??

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Resp 2012/07/06 14:36:00

Tablet

I think a tablet is simply a cell phone on Viagra.

But for content, tablets will replace books and newspapers.

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Dany 2012/07/06 12:41:16

Laptop

+2
I have both, and I prefer my lappy. The iPad is very useful indeed, but I don't think it's as impressive as Apple make it out to be.

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Syl 2012/07/06 11:51:05

Laptop

+1
For now they work better and I have the feeling they will always be easier to repair.

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ComeOnNow 2012/07/06 11:33:43 (edited)

Laptop

+1
I have to do a lot of spreadsheets and projects. My phone does basically everything a tablet does and a tablet is useless for projects and spreadsheets. I do thank tablet owners for bringing down the price of my laptop. I got an awesome one for $600

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Dub 2012/07/06 05:01:18

Laptop

+1
I can do more with my laptop and android phone than a tablet. Also the table only does about as much as my phone except actually being a phone. Tablets are the dumbest things ever made.

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Ian 2012/07/06 04:32:48

Laptop

+2
For me, currently, the combination of an Android phone and a laptop seems to be working out.

However, I will not be surprised to find one day soon that the distinctions will blur and disappear and there'll be a whole continuum of devices from cell-phone-sized to workstations.

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charles nelson 2012/07/06 03:39:44

Tablet

+1
eventually, tablets...or maybe tablet laptops.... smaller and more functions.

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edlie 2012/07/06 02:43:05

Tablet

+2
very portable!

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Andre 2012/07/06 02:14:37

Laptop

+2
Tablets are a passing fad and will eventually evolve in a smartphone on steroids. There is so little one can do with a tablet, surf, check mail and that's basically it. Try doing some real work on a tablet like post production processing of a picture or managing a database or spreadsheet or even writing a simple letter.

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MkB 2012/07/06 01:35:08

Laptop

+1
I still use a desktop. My laptop is 12 years old. I use tablets only when I need an anti-acid or an OTC medicine.

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cali 2012/07/06 01:19:00

Laptop

+3
I can't afford a effin' tablet.

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ShamshirMkII 2012/07/06 01:01:32

Laptop

+5
Tablets (at least the current generation) simply lack the punch a powerful laptop has.

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Cubatista92 2012/07/06 00:58:25

Laptop

+2
It depends what kind of user you are. People that work with technology will prefer laptops or even computers, those that only use email or check some websites and watch videos will be able to do away with tablets. However laptops will become more and more portable every year.

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CaseyWelch 2012/07/06 00:54:09

Laptop

+3
I like typing on a keyboard :]

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Kitsune Touhou 2012/07/06 00:45:42

Laptop

+3
definitely. laptops are by far easier to use, and that touch-screen keyboard can get annoying. laptop all the way.

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Greg 2012/07/06 00:05:21

Tablet

+1
More portable, easier to use, usually faster, can connect directly to cellular without a mobile hotspot device, and can do pretty much anything a laptop can do for the average user.

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claire.turner.927 2012/07/05 23:42:22

Tablet

I am currently using my ipad. When I had a laptop, the main attraction was larger storage space. I use my iPad a lot more than my pc purely at home, as it's closer to you, easier to angle and stuff

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YOMOMMA 2012/07/05 22:53:30

Laptop

+1
I want both! But it bothers me to touch screen all I can think of is getting snot on the screen. I guess we will always have both... Or we will get used to whatever happens.

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None of your business 2012/07/05 22:39:50
Splashstorm 2012/07/05 21:43:37

Laptop

+1
Typing stories are easier.

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~Adrien~ 2012/07/05 21:12:56

Laptop

+2
I'd rather have my laptop over a tablet. . .

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Gryffindor53 2012/07/05 20:18:21

Laptop

+2
I'm an aspiring novelist, video gamer, and enjoy toying with graphic design in my spare time. Unless I want to spend all my time playing Angry Birds and slowing my typing speed, a tablet isn't practical for any of those things.

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Meelk 2012/07/05 20:11:42

Tablet

The fact that I'm on my tablet now says it all, although I will admit that there are things that I either can't do on it or haven't figured out how to do on it like scanning documents or watching videos that need flash player.

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Donnie to Meelk 2012/07/05 22:35:46

+1
the fact that you need a laptop just to use flash says it all.

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Say_Wut_o_O 2012/07/05 19:32:51

Laptop

+1
I have an iPad 2 and a laptop. Laptop is far by better.

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Weronikus 2012/07/05 18:59:23

Laptop

+3
No competition. Laptop rulez.

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Tennessee3501 2012/07/05 18:57:24

Laptop

+1
I am just getting used to them. Don't change again. I remain technologically challenged!

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Mud 2012/07/05 18:51:54

Laptop

+1
Tablets, in their current configurations are just not practical for real work, as they become more powerful and more readibly useable with keyboard and mouse, they may become more useful. As it is I have a tablet and mostly use it as an alarm clock, my phone is much more portable for small tasks, and my laptop is so much faster for actual work.

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Rachel 2012/07/05 18:51:33

Laptop

+1
Laptops are more useful, imo, in general. However, I love my tablet. It goes where I go because it is more portable and gives me laptop-like capabilities. Plus, I have the benefit of apps and a touch screen. My laptop is my preferred tool, hands down, and is therefore "better" to me, but I can understand the draw to tablets.

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volodymyr sereda sereda 2012/07/05 18:48:12

Tablet

+1
Although laptops have certain advantages, such as a keyboard, so do tablets (touch screen), and then, a keyboard could be connected to a tablet.

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volodym... to volodym... 2012/07/05 18:49:09

I forgot to mention that I have assumed that that much processing power is not vital. If it its, then get a desktop.

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