Tablets are convenient when you are traveling but don’t want to carry a heavy laptop around. Usually, tablets have limited capabilities due to smaller hard drives and RAM capacities (see Wikipedia for more information). But if you just want to browse the internet, listen to music, and play some light games (try Angry Birds Action), then a tablet is a great choice.
But Smartphones are smaller than Tablets
Smartphones are, of course, great devices with lots of features. However, reading articles on such a small display is not very pleasant. Especially when your eyes are as bad as mine, I can maybe take it for 5 minutes, but not more. And that’s with the biggest font size available on my smartphone. A tablet provides a much more pleasant experience for such an activity. I can set a big enough font size and still see enough of the text, so I don’t need to scroll down after every three to four lines. Using Google Maps to find a nice restaurant on the go becomes an easy task as well. You see more of the map, and it is easier to read street names and other information on the map.
How about Notebook Computers?
Using a Laptop to display a map as mentioned above is obviously not convenient. Laptops are too heavy and too big. A Notebook Computer would be a better choice. They are available with display sizes similar to tablets (e.g., 10″ to 12″). However, as foldable devices with a real keyboard, the size doubles when you open it. The keyboard is a plus because typing is easier. But the handling of the unfolded Notebook is uncomfortable. And most importantly, if it starts raining, the Notebook Computer is much more at risk of being damaged by water than a tablet with its virtual keyboard. In addition, the Notebook Computer is usually heavier than a tablet due to its more comprehensive hardware.
Conclusion
Tablets might have some disadvantages, but they are difficult to beat as a companion on the road. Because the display is bigger than that of a smartphone, it is much more comfortable to read an article or a map on a tablet. And playing games is more fun with a bigger screen as well. Also, less weight than a Notebook Computer and lower risk of water damage due to rain make it convenient to carry the tablet around.
