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

Donnie to volodym... 2012/07/05 22:38:18

there are turnstiles basically a laptop/tablet in one and they can use the same app because its the same device.

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princessDGAF 2012/07/05 18:29:50

Tablet

Would greatly depend on cost and functionality.

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leadhead09 2012/07/05 18:23:58

Laptop

+1
Seriously, people have a home computer, IPOD, smart phone, Tablet and even a laptop. All I need is a home computer and an ipod. Don't need all the other junk. If you have lots of money to waste and don't mind a high monthly bill, by all means, go ahead.

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jgh57 2012/07/05 17:27:33

Tablet

I just got a Nook Tablet and it is the best thing since ice cream. I really do not want a portable work station like a lap top. When I'm off I need to be off. I can do email, surf the net, play games and oh yeah read all I want on my tablet.

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Donnie to jgh57 2012/07/05 22:39:36

+1
the games i play would require a laptop minimum.

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jgh57 to Donnie 2012/07/05 23:56:46

Lol you sound like my son. He soups up computers like I used to soup up cars.

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Tom Camfield 2012/07/05 17:26:35

Laptop

Laptop's just the closest I can choose here, as I'll always be fondest of my reliable desktop iMac. Of course, I never cared to carry devices with me everywhere I went--including a cell phone. When I want to get away I get away.

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Myopinionmatters 2012/07/05 17:22:38

Laptop

Only if a tablet becomes more useable and versitile than a laptop. Until then laptops all the way.

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wpsegura 2012/07/05 17:04:54

Laptop

+1
I love my iPad but it is to limited.

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skevich 2012/07/05 16:57:09

Laptop

Will alway have more gaming power potential.

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Jayfeather 2012/07/05 16:51:49

Tablet

I received a Samsung Slate PC as part of my college's mobile computing program. It can do the same things as a normal computer, and wayyy more.

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Mike 2012/07/05 16:42:40

Laptop

+1
Honestly...I'm sure the tablet is fun to some...but for me...it's a nuisance....in my work my boss gave all the top sellers tablets.....well I got one...but I have a VERY hard time typing on the screen....it's just really hard...hopping it will get easier....but we'll see..

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Chad 2012/07/05 16:39:06

Laptop

Tablet is ok for basic tasks, over the years they'll get more powerful and may eventually replace laptops in 10-20 years perhaps, but right now they are like big iPods.

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☆FritzW☆ 2012/07/05 16:35:59

Tablet

+1
Tablets are already taking over the laptop and just as parts miniaturized from the PC to the laptop to make them more powerful, the same will occur for the tablets. I love tablets and never embraced laptops.

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PeeDonkeyPit 2012/07/05 16:30:47

Laptop

+1
For most purposes, a tablet cannot replace the traditional PC or laptop (or at least hasn't yet...) - especially not the iPad, which was intentionally handicapped by Steve Jobs' (RIP) ego (no java, no flash, limited filetypes allowed for video, audio, prisoner of the App Store - pheh - I have one, and I use it regularly, so don't accuse me of being an "Apple hater". Mr. Jobs was going to render all the missing technologies obsolete - he didn't. It's a hi-tech toy, for the most part). The upcoming Microsoft "Surface" or whatever they're calling it, with its built-in keyboard rather than that frustrating pop-up video keyboard and the infuriating magnifying glass cursor/editing control... Maybe - we shall see.

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mikeyavelli 2012/07/05 16:21:19

Tablet

+1
but the smartphone device will replace them all.

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Kingarthurup 2012/07/05 16:17:34

Laptop

+1
More memory, better typing.

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moviebuff 2012/07/05 16:05:53

Laptop

tablet is a nice complimentary item but I don't think it can replace a laptop all together. But I guess it depends on the person's needs

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swp 2012/07/05 15:53:18

Tablet

Depends entirely on what you want to do, but for most people an iPad is best. (no other tablets compare yet in terms of the whole picture hardware + software, sorry)

But if you are doing software development, like I am, you can't do it on a tablet. At least not yet. For some applications you may even need to install other hardware (expansion cards, DVD burners etc.)

So it really depends on what you want to do.

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lorraine 2012/07/05 15:46:19

Laptop

I feel Laptops are more better have more power, plus you can read them, lol these Tablets I don't care for them, so I know I will never buy one!

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nate 2012/07/05 15:01:47

Laptop

Tablets are awesome for certain things, but if you need to run a business or need to do things like photoshop or professional video editing, you need a laptop.

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Tony Cicarella 2012/07/05 14:39:53

Tablet

I have a laptop, nook, an a iPad, ok I'm a technology freak. Nothing beats te convince of a tablet. But for serious work I will still need my laptop. I pretty much take my iPad with me everywhere I go now.

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koolkat 2012/07/05 14:37:25

Tablet

I don't have one but they seem to be like a huge iPhone and laptops can't have the apps like tht put on them as far I know...

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Donnie to koolkat 2012/07/05 22:51:55

as a rule of thumb any app made for a tablet; there are 30 more variants for laptop and desktops. it may require a tiny bit more effort to find.

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PAUL F 2012/07/05 14:32:15

Laptop

10 INCH TABLES ARE A FADE! i STILL NEED A KEY BOARD!

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Tony Ci... to PAUL F 2012/07/05 14:42:50

I bought a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad. Found I don't really use it that much. I've gotten pretty good at the on screen keyboard with time,
I think both technologies ave their pros and cons and more and more folks will be like me and have both.

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PAUL F to Tony Ci... 2012/07/05 14:54:29

I think there needs to be something in the middle. The Samsung Note can be a phone and a tablet.

I do not want to carry a phone,tablet and a laptop! by the time you buy all of this stuff you have spent $2000.00!

I think if you have a tablet that can be a phone and a laptop that is pushing it for most people!

The tablet is not ready to replace the laptop and if it gets any bigger it will be a laptop!

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Tony Ci... to PAUL F 2012/07/05 17:51:38

True, I'm a computing professional and love gadgets. So for me having a smartphone, tablet (iPad & Nook)' laptop, and desktop at home is fun. My conclusion is there is no one size fits all. There r so many choices out there it's probably pretty mind boggling to the average person. Eventually someone will come out with the next big thing and they will all be obsolete. But for now we must each make choices based on our needs and of course budgets.

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PAUL F to Tony Ci... 2012/07/06 20:30:59

+1
I agree!

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leadhead09 to PAUL F 2012/07/05 18:25:58

Exactly!

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whipnet 2012/07/05 14:29:05

Laptop

+1
Tablets are for coffee shops, laptops are for actual business.

*

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Tony Ci... to whipnet 2012/07/05 14:48:49

Sorry to disagree but there r many business uses for tablets that r easier than carrying a bulky laptop around. I just got my wife a iPad for her real estate business. She can show and search listings to prospective clients almost anywhere. And the built I camera allows her to take great photos for properties she is listing as well as easy access to her email witha much nicer touch screen keyboard than her smart phone

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whipnet to Tony Ci... 2012/07/25 14:35:16 (edited)

Sorry, but I must disagree. I own an I.T company and sees what the industry wants and uses in the real world. Not some magazine article or your wife.

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Tony Ci... to whipnet 2012/07/26 23:45:34 (edited)

I guess I'm supposed to be impressed by ur credentials. Well I'm not. Just because I didn't feel I had to be pompous enough to lay out mine to qualify myself here. But since u bring it up. I'm an IT manager for the 3rd largest aero-defense company in the country for the last 15 years and prior to that I was a IT specialist in the Air Force for twenty years. I have seen computer technology come and go and am just as qualified as u to if not more so. So I could careless if u disagree. If u werent so arrogant in ur reply to me I would have considered a intelligent debate. But u have already rubbed me the wrong way so please just get lost.

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CoolRanch 2012/07/05 14:27:10

Laptop

I like my laptop better, I mess with my sisters tablet sometimes but thats it. I'm not the biggest fan of trying to type on it.

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chellypoo 2012/07/05 14:22:12

Laptop

I am buying both. But I do need my laptop. For school and for gaming. You can't use PC games on a tablet. And if I couldn't afford both I'd just get a laptop.

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tobe 2012/07/05 14:05:38

Laptop

i don't like touch screens

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Beat Magnum True Hero 2012/07/05 13:50:54

Laptop

Tablets are wonderful devices. I have dreams of an iPad, but try typing out a 30 page thesis on a touchscreen. I'll do my best not to laugh.

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Tanor Zeta Faux 2012/07/05 12:11:46

Laptop

Laptops are much better, and more useful to me. Unless it's a drawing tablet for digital drawing and stuff. I plan on getting either an Acer or another good Laptop sometime. As long as it lets me have XP and not have Windows 8. I already don't like it.

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Skye 2012/07/05 10:06:01

Laptop

+1
Laptop lol.

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