Whats the point of an Ipad/tablet/etc?

[00slash00]

So when I got my new phone there was a deal going on where you got a free tablet, which is cool and all but...I can't think of anything I'd use it for. I got it over a month ago and after playing around with it for an hour or so, I haven't touched it since. It doesn't do anything my phone doesn't do and my laptop is much better for browsing the internet so....is the appeal of tablets 100% that they look kind of neat, or is there some advantage to having one that I'm missing?

 

[Colour Scientist]

My laptop broke about two years ago and I've never bothered replacing it because I just use my tablet, which I've had for three years now.

I use it for browsing, work, watching tv, listening to music and it's much lighter and more portable than a laptop, I can just shove it in my handbag. The battery lasts a fair bit longer than a phone's too so that's handy when you're travelling.

I only got a functioning smartphone this Christmas so for two years, my tablet pretty much doubled as a replacement for a laptop and a smartphone. It's never given me any trouble.

Not bad for 400 quid.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well if properly equipped with hardware and software it could do all the basic office stuff you need.
But because they come from a phone user origin it is usually stupidly difficult to get just the most basic shit to work, while they do all manner of calorie counting spam your friends and follow their GPS nonsense you don't need.

For now they are trapped in an odd state of novelty consumption stupid where shit gets developed for a laugh rather then use.

 

[00slash00]

Watching TV, e-reader, etc. esp. on public transport - less cumbersome than a laptop, bigger screen than a phone.

That's kind of what I assumed but with phones getting bigger and bigger, tablets seem to be growing less and less relevant. My LG G3 phone is plenty big enough. I actually wish it was a bit smaller. For watching videos/movies, playing games, or reading e-books, the G3 is plenty big enough to do the job. Even if I were to bring a backpack with me everywhere so I could pull out my tablet while I'm on the train, I just don't see why I would, when my phone can do all the same stuff, with a big enough screen, and is more conveniently located within my pocket. Maybe I'm just getting old and finally reaching the point in my life where new technology is confusing to me

 

[Fappy]

If I ever got one I'd probably just use it for reading. Seems to be the perfect device for virtual comic books.

 

[Queen Michael]

They're cool.

What? That's not enough? Okay. They're really frickin' cool.

When I was a kid I dreamt of this kind of thing being invented. They were like spaceships or holograms. Now that they're real you betcha I want one.

 

[00slash00]

If I ever got one I'd probably just use it for reading. Seems to be the perfect device for virtual comic books.

That's actually something I hadn't thought of. You don't need a huge screen to read a novel but you do if there are pictures involved

 

[erbkaiser]

I read e-books and online fiction on my tablet.

It's also come in handy to watch Youtube when I'm not near my PC or TV.

And with so many games having companion apps using the bigger screen really helps.

 

[Recusant]

t so....is the appeal of tablets 100% that they look kind of neat, or is there some advantage to having one that I'm missing?

Of course there's something you're missing: that they serve the needs and desires of a group of people that you're apparently not in. Remember that for many people, a computer is just an 'internet box'. If you don't need tremendous power, or complete portability, or a boatload of features, a tablet can be a great compromise. It's all a trade-off between power, size, electricity consumption/battery life, expense, and a whole bunch of other factors. You may not have any use for one; that's okay. It's just another option.

I was kind of baffled by them myself, until something occurred me. Consider: there are people who still- now, in 2015- use the original, unmodified Sholes keyboard layout from 1868. There are people who will vehemently insist they're homo sapien humans, yet willingly use monitors with an aspect ratio of 16:9, which only makes sense if they're actually lizard people, or possibly some kind of fish. The computer revolution attracts all kinds of people; should we complain if it accommodates them too?

 

[Lightspeaker]

With my family its convenience accompanied by simplicity.

We own two iPads. A general use one and my sister has her own. My sister also owns a laptop which she keeps in her bedroom and I have three desktops up in my room...but when we need to look something up on the internet or just want to browse something downstairs then its a hell of a lot easier to do so there and then with a tablet. Also since my mother is basically computer illiterate its a lot easier for her to work.

Check the news, weather? Tablet. Look up cinema listings to think about going out? Restaurant opening times? Tablet. On holiday check emails whilst down by the pool? Tablet. I have a falling apart iPhone 4S and my sister has the same (albeit hers is still in good condition) but we don't really use them for internet browsing because the tablet makes it way easier.

If you've got a HUGE phone or if your PC always right there for you then you probably won't find any use for one. But my family found it to be hugely useful to have. Your mileage may vary, as they say.

 

[-Dragmire-]

Personally, it's for watching youtube while cooking/baking. Bigger screen than a phone and I prefer not to have a laptop so close to things that could potentially damage it.

 

[Major_Tom]

Compared to laptops, they're much easier to use while on a toilet. Would never pay for one, though.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Remember that for many people, a computer is just an 'internet box'. If you don't need tremendous power, or complete portability, or a boatload of features, a tablet can be a great compromise. It's all a trade-off between power, size, electricity consumption/battery life, expense, and a whole bunch of other factors.

That's exactly the reason why I'm trying (and failing) to convince my parents to get one. Basically all they do is browse the internet and use Word, but they insist on getting a new, quite powerful, laptop.

When I ask them why instead they won't just buy a cheaper desktop PC they reply that a laptop is more convenient and portable (even though their old one hasn't left the desk in literally 3 years). And they just don't seem to trust a tablet being able to accommodate their meager internet needs. Ah well.

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

I got one last year with my phone contract and I have since used it no more than 5 times. My mum swore up and down that it'd be useful. Oh how wrong she was, well for me anyway.

 

[Adamantium93]

Once I got my new tower pc, I stopped using my laptop because everything it can do is done better by either the computer or the tablet. If you need to be mobile, a tablet can pretty much meet any of your needs and it's much more portable. If you're not concerned with movement, then a desktop pc would be better than a laptop anyway.

So, it basically makes the laptop obsolete.

 

[Creator002]

Watching YouTube, checking email and browsing the internet without having to go and turn my computer on. Unless I want good sound or to play a game, the tablet is much better, convenience wise.
Since I got my tablet, I don't turn my PC on everyday, though I still use it a lot.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Depending on the type of device they cab be tremendously useful.
As a cartoonist I've found my Surface Pro to be one of the best investments of my life.

On the other hand my Asus is pretty much a pure media machine that only gets used to stream netflix (Chromecast usually), read books and comics and play games.

I also use it to stream Spotify playlists when I'm cleaning, cooking or trying to sleep.

While it's true that my phone can do all the same things I tend to avoid bogging my phone down with too many apps just because I'm in the office or out on the town and don't need the potential battery drain.

 

[The_Waspman]

Every so often I come around to the idea that I should check tablets out, y'know, to get with the times grandad, and all that jazz. But I'll go and look at them, the hideous little things, and I realise that, for me, they would serve literally no purpose. I don't use social networking, I don't use my phone for the internet, I don't watch tv, and I have a netbook (an admittedly old one, which I should upgrade, but hey, look, you cant get netbooks anymore because they've been replaced by these futuristic tablet looking mother fuckers) for the internet, and for writing.

Which is the biggest downfall for me, because "virtual" keyboards don't have nearly the right amount of accuracy or pysical response for me.

As for reading, well, I still use these things called "books". marvellous things they are. They're made out of pulped wood, and contain one story each. Some of the bigger ones can even contain up to 20-25 short stories! Imagine that!

Don't worry, I'll head back to the 90s, where I belong...

 

[DeimosMasque]

I use mine to read comics or watch netflix when not at my computer. Also I keep pdf copies of all my RPG books and all my spreedsheets and character sheets for the game I'm running. Basically it's my entire libray at my finger tips.

The future is awesome