Tablets are all the rage right now and for many users have completely replaced desktops and notebooks, as they can be used anywhere and now boast enough power to launch even the heaviest applications. Even if a tablet is never an indispensable object at home and even if it can never replace a computer, it can be used in different ways, even original ones, better than what can be done with a laptop, be it an iPad, a tablet. Android or a Windows 10 tablet such as the Microsoft Surface.In this guide we will show you the real reasons why a tablet is better than a laptop for 10 types of uses; if we find ourselves in one of the proposed scenarios, probably spending on a tablet is much wiser than buying a good laptop (which in general always costs more than the tablet, especially the high-end models).READ ALSO: Guide to buying a new tablet
Guide to using the tablet
As mentioned in the introduction, there are various scenarios in which a tablet can become a very valid replacement for the notebook. Before buying anything, it is, therefore, advisable to take a look at the chapters present below, so you can decide whether to buy a tablet or a notebook.
Second screen for the PC
If you work a lot on the computer, we can put our tablet next to the monitor to use it as a second screen. By working a lot on the computer, it is possible to extend the screen to the tablet via the app, so that you can monitor your emails on the tablet and work quietly on the computer screen, without having to open new virtual desktops.
In another article, we showed you how to use iPad as a second computer screen while if we use an Android tablet the right choice is Unified Remote, downloadable for free and easy to integrate into the PC, as seen in the dedicated guide.
Use the computer remotely from the tablet
A tablet can become the screen to use your PC thanks to some remote control applications so that we can work on the computer even when we are standing and need to move from one location to another. In this regard, we can read our guides on:
- come remotely control a computer with an iPad.
- How to use a Windows 10 PC from an Android tablet or iPad.
- The best apps to access PC or Mac from Android and iPhone, via the internet.
By following the guides shown above we will be able to remotely control any computer used an iPad or any tablet with an Android operating system.
Read ebooks or simply newspapers even on the train or plane
Reading books from the tablet is a classic use, but thanks to some apps available for iPad and Android you can get a multifunctional device for every type of reading.
You can read manga and comics with Perfect Viewer on Android and with Comic Flow on iPad, Kindle Reader for eBooks, Pocket for reading after interesting articles, and Google News to read newspapers online.
Typewriter for notes
Using a tablet at school or university is really useful for taking notes with flexible and synchronized online apps like Evernote, Google Keep, and Microsoft OneNote.
On tablets, it works very well too Microsoft Office per Android e iPad, which is offered free of charge and therefore allows you to change any document on the fly.
Tablet as a creative tool
Tablets are modern tools for creating music and for making art in general which can then be easily shared, stored, and easily modified at any time. It is no coincidence that one of the most downloaded apps for iPad is Edjing Mix. This is just an example and you can find so many applications, in the various Stores, to draw, make music and whatever you want.
On the same topic, we can read our guides Best App to play the piano and learn the piano e Best App to tune string instruments.
Portable TV for streaming movies
With an iPad or an Android tablet of 10 inches or more we can watch movies and TV series streaming in any place, all we have to do is download the most famous apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney +.
We can learn more about this topic by reading our guides Watch videos and movies on iPad e App to watch TV on mobile (Android and iPad).
All-round device for the family
A tablet does not have to be personal but can also become an object of the house, always placed on the dining table, ready for use by those who take it in hand, to do various types of operations such as looking for a road, checking the weather, check your mail, send a message, listen to some music. It is faster and easier to use a tablet than to turn on your laptop or desktop PC and lock yourself in a chair with no ability to move.
To set up parental controls on tablets, we can read our guide How to limit the use of smartphones and tablets to minors.
portable console to play
Tablets like the iPad or the new Samsung tablets are excellent devices for playing mobile video games, which now have levels of graphics and playability almost comparable to those of consoles and desktop gaming PCs.
If we don’t know which games to use on tablets, we can read our insights Best HD games for iPad and Android tablets to play for free on big screen e The 25 Most Played and Beautiful Android Games.
A device for working without distractions
On tablets, it is not possible to open more than one application at the same time so when you open the app to work in full screen, there are not many possibilities to get distracted to do anything else unless you switch apps. This makes it great for distraction-free writing and reading and also turns it into an amazing productivity tool.
If we write a lot on the tablet we can always connect a keyboard or also transform and use your tablet as a portable PC.
Make video calls and video conferences
To make video calls with friends and relatives or to open the Zoom conference it may be a good idea to focus on a tablet since it looks much better than the smartphone and it is possible to manage the panes of several people together.
To learn more we can read the guide to video calling app that works better on tablets than on PCs.
Which tablet to buy
All these indications are useful, but in the end which tablet should you buy? To save money but still have a good tablet to do everything we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Tablet, available on Amazon for less than € 200.
On this tablet, we find a 10.4 inch HD display, 32GB of internal memory expandable up to 1TB, 3GB RAM, 7,040 mAh battery, Dual Band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 8 MP rear camera, support LTE networks, 2MP front camera, and Android 10 operating system.
If, on the other hand, we want to focus on the top of the range, we should immediately examineApple iPad, available on Amazon for less than 400 €.
On this tablet, we find the A12 bionic chip with Neural Engine, 10.2-inch Retina display, support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, 8 MP rear camera, 1.2 MP FaceTime HD front camera, stereo speakers, and iPadOS operating system.
To discover other tablets valid for the intended uses we can read our guide Tablet for school: which one to choose.
Conclusions
With a tablet, we can then surf the internet or do everything written above, lying on the bed or on the sofa: just thinking about it is a nice comfort, which in fact often makes the purchase of a new computer or a new TV in the bedroom or bedroom unnecessary. A portable PC certainly cannot be kept on the lap for long and is still heavy and unwieldy; a tablet, on the other hand, can also be held in one hand and can be used lying down, sitting, with your legs up, or even when you go to the bathroom, without any difficulty.
To learn more we can also read our guides to Best iPad Applications e Best free apps for Android tablets.