QOTW: Is a big tablet a viable alternative to a laptop?

[HEXUS]

With iPad Pro, big tablets are suddenly a thing, but would you consider such a device over a laptop?

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[shaithis]

Seems a rather silly question as the answer is obviously "if it does what you want".

There is no yes/no right answer.

[Saracen]

So let's ask the question: would you consider a big-screen 'Pro' tablet over a laptop? ....

With today's tech, no, I wouldn't. I hesitate to say never, but for me, tablets and laptops are for different uses. Tablets for for portability, and informal use. Laptops are for more serious, sat at a desk, use. Neither laptop nor tablet suit the other purpose, which is why I have both.

For me, a big tablet (over 10") is bigger than I want from a tablet, but 10" is not big enough for what I want from a laptop. So .... no.

[DanceswithUnix]

Well my 11.6" laptop is as big as I want to go. That was the ideal portable form factor for me, smaller I will usually just use my phone, bigger I will use a desktop or for media consumption watch it on TV

I think that is a no

I do have a tablet, a Hudl bought with tesco vouchers, and I don't use it as much as I expected to.

What I want is a new 15W APU 11.6" lappy, my old E350 based one is very dated but I struggle to find anything like it.

[[DW]Cougho]

Not for me, I'm no fan of using tablets for anything other than entertainment and I don't own one anymore as I never even used it for that.

My order of preference is to use a desktop PC, then if that isn't an option use a laptop and finally if that isn't an option use my phone.

[Flibb]

For me yes it is. I currently use a Linx10, and might upgrade a bit later in the year. I mainly use it for various hobbies, including camera control, astronomy mount control, and being windows its easy to get RS232 stuff to work with it.

[aidanjt]

Nope. Big tablets are far too unwieldy. Having the bulk under the keyboard and the light display adjustable to whatever you want is much less of a hassle and far less fatiguing.

[DemonHighwayman]

If they had big handles on the sides like in Stargate Atlantis then i'd consider it but even my old 10" tablet I wouldn't consider portable enough for what its designed for. My current 8" nvidia tablets are a good size for portability but aren't very productive unless you like to draw with a stylus.

To directly answer the question: NO, reason: laptops are just way more functional than tablets and a lot of that is down to the software however the hardware is of course guilty too.

[brunoeiti]

I have already replaced my laptop, I've been using iPad much more. I do still have a laptop, but barely use it. My trio is, smartphone, tablet and Desktop

[Chuzz]

Laptop Work, Note 10.1 Reading listening in fact anything you do at home (Except Gaming ) ... I do like like my Note but can be heavy with Cover / Stand

[azrael-]

First, why is everything "the next big thing(tm)" just because Apple suddenly "invents" it (i.e. brings out its own version)?

Second, in my opinion tablets aren't really suited for proper work, more for faffing around. An oversized specimen won't change that. But then again, I don't even consider notebooks suitable for real work. It's a bit like comparing a Walkman (anyone remember those?) with a high-end stereo system. Both are capable of playing music, but that's about it.

[LSG501]

For my personal usage scenario (design) yes a surface pro could replace a laptop, it would arguably better than a laptop due to the stylus. The reason I'm saying a surface pro is because I wouldn't be able to replace a laptop with a full os and full programs with a 'consumption' focused operating system like iOS/Android and it's 'apps'.

[GuidoLS]

Of course it is, as long as you're among the latest swarm of iLemmings... otherwise, no. If I'm going to carry something that large, I may as well have a full-sized laptop that runs actual programs, instead of apps... programs of my choosing, and not what a specific iManufacturer dictates I can use.

[cheesemp]

Not yet. Power isn't quite there yet but give it a few more years miniaturisation and it could be?

[peterb]

Certain application perhaps, stock checking, POS terminals. Fuji did a tablet form factor about 10 years ago, essentially a laptop in a no clam shell case. It didn't catch on then, possibly because of the price and weight.

But it won't be a replacement, more complementary (IMHO)

[edzieba]

A couple of years ago, the choice between a Thinkpad Yoga and the Surface Pro 2 was down only to the Thinkpad being more stable in your lap on a train than the Surface's kickstand.