Tablet or Laptop
 

Hello All,

I recently have come across a plethora of problems with my laptop. I have had it for over 3 years, and it has begun to break down. I replaced the hard drive and OS, but now the backlight is having issues.

I am debating whether I should just scrap it and get a new laptop/tablet.

Here is where I am at:
I am a senior in college. I don't know how many papers I have left to write (main need of computer), and outside of papers I only use the internet/send emails. When I graduate, I will not be going to grad school, and already have some job prospects...so no future papers.

If I were to get a tablet, my thoughts are that I can utilize my resources at school to write any papers that need to get done. Once I graduate, how much will I need a laptop? From what I have heard from tablet users, it basically replaces the need for a laptop.

Thoughts? Advice?

Also, recommendations of brand/products would be welcome too.

Thanks fellers.

My computer teacher always said 3-5 years is the lifespan of a laptop.

I would go with a laptop. They can do everything a tablet does plus more. The tablet has size over laptops but that's not a huge deal tbh. A 11" to 12" laptop is pretty good if size worries you.

You can also do something like me where I got my big 15.6" laptop at home and lug around my netbook at school or wherever I have to go. Its tiny and gets the job done.

I don't hate tablets as much as I used to and even want a kindle fire but I don't think they can replace a laptop.

Edit: I'll second everything Forenci said. My big laptop is a Lenovo and that sucker is a tank. Has gone through hell and back and still kicks like a champ. The battery is starting to crap out but for the time I've had it its not so bad. My netbook is an Acer and its solid too.

What laptop did you have? I personally have had no luck with Dell's and think they're horse ****. I don't like Apple either. I've had my Toshiba laptop for a quite some time and the battery life on it is godlike.

And unlike many batteries, it isn't designed to die and need to be replaced after a year and a half.

Personally I'm just a laptop fan. I find them to be better priced for what you're actually getting. Plus a lot of the keyboards you can attach to a tablet are pretty crappy/flimsy. I'm an English grad student so I write an asinine amount of papers on my computer so a laptop is the way to go for me.

Really it's up to you though. As a college student, I find there's no replacement for a laptop though. A tablet just won't cut it for me.

I have an HP. I have loved it, and put a decent amount of money into trying to keep it alive. Around $170 and running if I decide to continue prolonging it. Battery life is shot. Backlight issues. I'm just not sure if putting any more money into it would be worth it.

If this helps, my main uses for my laptop at this point/going forward:
-emails
-social media
-video
-news/internet browsing

Honestly I wouldn't drop too much coin on a dying laptop. Just save some cash for a new one. They can be had pretty cheap.

I would say a tablet is better suited for entertainment purposes.

If you're going to get a tablet I suggest waiting for the Microsoft Surface tablet to come out.

Not sure I dig that commercial

I'd pick a Laptop. Tablets are fine for casual activity like websites and random apps and whatever, but if you're gonna need to do actual typing, I'd probably go for a Laptop.

Maybe you should just spend $300 or so on a Netbook? Or be like me and win an iPad on one of those Stacker games.

Like R4L said I would get a laptop. Tablets are great as a computer supplement not a replacement for a laptop unless you only surf the internet and use it as a multimedia device.

Forenci is 100% right. Stay away from Dell, Acer and HP is even going down hill. Right now if you want a great laptop go Asus #1a, Toshiba #1b, Lenovo #2. Asus and Toshiba have the lowest fail rates of the major laptop brands with the other three (Dell, Acer and HP having the highest).

I used to work at Best Buy for 3 years pretty much everywhere but mainly as a Computer Specialist and then later a Computer Supervisor. I can tell you now that it wasn't until I started working there that I fell in love with ASUS and now its pretty much the only brand I will buy.

Currently my custom built gaming rig has an Asus mother board, my Tablet is an Asus, my Girlfriends computer is an Asus, Her fathers tablet (that we got him for xmas) is an Asus, I had to order computers for my new job so we now have 5 computers with Asus boards and I convinced a guy here to get the N7 tablet.

As for surface... its a good idea but to get comparable technology you are going to have to pay an arm and a leg. They announced last week that the surface tablets are starting at $600.

I didn't wanna start a new thread so I'll piggyback off of this one :P

My Lenovo(tank!!!!) is starting to get on its final leg and my netbook isn't capable of handling the full load of my Lenovo, I tried.

I just want to know what are the specs I should look for in a multimedia laptop? I used my Lenovo for a lot of video watching, youtube, netflix, watchseries, firstrowsports, etc etc and I need a computer that can play in HD without breaking a sweat.

Not sure what my budget will be but I'm guessing somewhere around $500 give or take. I'd consider a desktop but I like to move around so I need mobility.

$500? Maybe you should consider just a really good tablet.

I'll go a little higher if need be.

Been contemplating getting a Kindle Fire HD but idk...if I could I think I'd rather have a laptop. I've never messed with a tablet so idk how limited they might be browser wise. Like would I be able to stream games and tv shows from sites like first row or watch series?

I'm mostly a desktop guy. I have a kindle fire and a netbook also though. For me a tablet just doesn't do enough for me like a full laptop can. I just like the entire package of a laptop with the full keyboard and full windows set up. I have a $350 asus eee pc I got a while back that I used though college that covered my needs. I could easily do papers on it and generally web surfing. Not every site I like to use actually works proper on tablets.

My kindle fire was only $200 and is generally limited compared to other more robust/expensive tablets, but I only use it for reading and as a couch device. I kinda want to give it to my dad and buy the new HD one, mostly because of the HDMI & Bluetooth additions. Other tablets have more stuff but the kindle fit my price and needs perfectly. It also isn't that big, which I actually like, its a good hand size.

Just make sure you really identify what your specific needs are. A tablet just doesn't cover what I laptop can do for me. What can you not live with out. Screen size, keyboard size, battery life, & connectivity/ports are all factors I really consider. Go find a Best Buy or something and go check it out in person to get a better feel for the product, and then find it online at a better price probably.

I'm not a super shopper for laptops but I see some good deals on slickdeals.net occasionally. I like to read through the comments also to get more information and perspective. This 14" laptop is a recent deal that seems decent.

All i need it to do is stream stuff no problem. I stream shows and games all the time.

Idk if a fire hd can do that

Get a nexus 7 for that R4L.

Bleh...only reason I wanted a Kindle HD was because I'm an Amazon Prime member. But if the Nexus 7 can stream tv shows, football games, and mma fights....I'll gladly take that over whatever my Prime Membership can give me lol

Hmm, i'm not a kindle user so i couldn't tell you what you can/ can't do with it. I'm pretty sure it runs android as well, but i think there are only apps with it. Not sure if you can go out to the internet and just go to websites.

I'd go lap top because, even though you may not be writing papers anymore, you can still find yourself doing a lot of typing online anyway. I post on various message boards and write a lot just for fun...I couldn't make it with just a tablet.

I've personally had fantastic success with HP lap tops. My last one went 4 years problem free until the sound on it started getting glitchy. (I plug speakers into it when it's stationary) That, plus just the general slow down an old computer experiences, finally got me to to buy this current one, another HP, and I love it.

I just wouldn't count on a tablet if you really want to stream games. A normal laptop is much more adaptable to the random streaming sites.

Get a Nexus 7 for free when you get Google Fiber :D

I've had my laptop for almost 3 years now and barely use it except on Sunday's to stream games. Honestly, smart phones have made the laptop obsolete in my opinion. I can do EVERYTHING with my phone that I can do with my laptop. I edited my resume and sent it to my printer to print from my phone. I watch Netflix on my phone. Maybe it's because I can't type worth **** but I don't really have a need for a laptop or tablet. And I'm just not a tablet fan. Don't really see the need for them other then to say 'look, I've got a tablet'. A good smartphone does the job for me.