Tablet PCs are great. If you are a mobile person, and you have never
considered getting a tablet PC in the past, now is as good a time as any
to start checking them out - the technology is cutting-edge, the usability
is superb, and prices are starting to drop.
There are two main types of tablet PCs: convertible and slate.
Convertible tablets look a lot like normal laptops except the screen can
be rotated all the way around and laid down flat across the keyboard.
You then input information through the screen using a stylus. Slate
tablet PCs include only the screen interface - though they are fully
integratable with peripherals like keyboards and mouses, the computer
itself does not have them. Both types are viable options, depending on
your personal preferences and what you'll be using it for.
As
with any technology, tablet PCs have advantages and disadvantages.
Thanks to the last few years of development and enhancement, the
disadvantages are shrinking in number, and the perks are becoming more
and more enticing.
Advantages of Tablet PCs
Far and away, the best thing about tablet PCs is their
mobility. You can take and use them anywhere you go, the same way you
would take a notebook and pen. That means that when your boss bumps into
you in the hallway and gives you a number of assignments, you can write
them down. In meetings you don't have to hide your face behind the
monitor of your laptop because you can lay the tablet PC flat on the
table. For students, this mobility is great - you can study your notes
while you're waiting in lines or even in the car.
Tablet PCs let
you use digital ink to store handwritten notes, graphs, charts, and
pictures. You don't have to worry about taking your laptop and a notepad
and pen to meetings or classes. Using the stylus, tablet PCs record
your handwriting and drawings. They can convert your handwriting to text
if you need to turn in an assignment typewritten.
All of the
money you have been spending on pens, pencils, highlighters, notepads,
papers, binders, folders, staples, and paperclips stays in your pocket.
Because of the digital ink option on tablet PCs, much of the need for
paper supplies and writing utensils is eliminated. You can keep all your
notes on your computer.
Finally, one of the advantages of tablet
PCs over regular laptops is that you don't lose any functionality from
your computer. Tablets operate on similar platforms and run many of the
same programs. In fact, many programs integrate all of their normal
functions with digital ink, so you can add notes to documents and even
email your handwritten notes to someone.
Disadvantages of Tablet PCs
Despite my obvious zeal for tablet PCs, I recognize that there
are still some disadvantages. First is the price. The prices for tablet
PCs are coming down quite a bit from when they were first released, but
on average, you can expect to spend more for a tablet PC than for its
equivalent laptop. Depending on the bells and whistles you're looking
for, expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 on up.
The
handwriting-to-text conversion does not always work the way you wish it
would. Just like speech-to-text systems require a trained style of
speech to work properly, tablet PCs recognize a trained penmanship
easier than the way you may write naturally. A lot of the kinks in these
conversion systems have been worked out - but don't plan on handwriting
your next novel expecting to be able to convert into a print-ready copy
with no problems.
Finally, their smaller size is both an
advantage and disadvantage. They are much more mobile than their laptop
counterparts, but the viewing area is also smaller. Likewise, the
keyboard also shrinks down to accommodate the smaller size, so if you
feel like your fingers are already cramped on a laptop-sized keyboard,
you'll want to make sure you're going to be able to use the tablet PCs
before you buy one.
