Laptop or tablet?

[wendy]

We need your help.
With the latest funding we have received for Chill, we will be able to assist carers who live in Norwich to get on the internet.
When you first started do you think you could have coped with a tablet?
If we got tablets, I doubt they would join Chill or indeed any forum, they would use it for emails and facebook and twitter.
Laptops cost more than an android tablet.
Any ideas on this are gladly received.
We have always shared things on Chill

[wendy]

Pros of a Laptop

The following are the advantages that a laptop can offer over a tablet:
Performance and Multitasking

Due to the fact that they contain better hardware in terms of processing, laptops far outperform tablets when the user needs to multitask. It’s so much easier to use different applications at once on a laptop than it is on a tablet. Not only that, laptops are more suited for heavy Internet use than tablets, since a majority of Internet sites use a lot of data that is processed much more slowly on a tablet. The user should also keep in mind that when it comes to data storage, laptops definitely offer more.
Display

Laptops have a larger display than tablets, making viewing much more comfortable and enjoyable. It doesn’t matter if the buyer is looking at photos, watching movies, or playing games; the experience is still better on a laptop than on a tablet.
Usage Comfort

Since laptops have a bigger screen and a full keyboard, using a laptop is much more comfortable than using a tablet. While it’s true that tablets have an impressive touch input, this kind of input can get troublesome especially when the user needs to key in a lot of data. In this case, it’s clear to see why laptops win when it comes to comfort. Healthwise, laptops are also better ergonomically, since they have a surface for the user to rest his or her wrist and arms on.
Durability

Laptops don’t incorporate a touch display, which means they are less sensitive to the way they are handled compared to tablets. They also have a more sturdy build overall. This means the user can afford to be slightly more rough with a laptop then he or she can be with a tablet.
Cons of a Laptop

On the other hand, laptops also have several disadvantages when compared to tablets, including:
Lack of Portability

While in years past laptops were the most mobile of devices, in the current age they lose to tablets in the mobility department. They are heavier and bigger than tablets, making them quite difficult to carry around for long periods of time.
Short Battery life

Laptops may be better at performance, but since they perform so well they also use a lot of battery power. While a really good laptop battery may hold power for about two hours or slightly more with moderate activity, tablets easily outlast them since users tend not to do as much on them and processing is limited.
Specific Input Difficulty

It is much more difficult to "paint" an image or edit pictures on laptops than it is using touch on a tablet computer. Also, certain software such as games and music-oriented programs are not as easily manipulated on a laptop since they would work better with a tablet’s touch input. It is important to note that this applies to a majority of laptops but not all; some laptops do incorporate touch screens just like tablets.
Tablet Pros and Cons as Compared to Laptops

Tablets are the newer devices that are slowly improving, but they generally still have a lot to catch up with in terms of performance. However, for the user who uses computers for simple things like checking email, playing games, going on social networks, and so on that don’t require the computer to process heavily, then tablets just may be the answer.
Pros of a Tablet Computer

These are the benefits that tablets can offer which laptops can’t:
Lightweight Mobility

Tablets are smaller in size compared to even the smallest types of laptops, and this travel-sized gadget definitely appeals to those who don’t want to lug the heavier laptop around but still want to bring along a computer. They are also lighter than laptops, putting less stress on the user’s body and can be handled easily with one hand, unlike laptops.
Longer Battery Life

The best models of tablets can hold power for up to 8 hours or more of typical use, which is significantly longer than any laptop. They can even be on standby for days.
Specific Touch Input

Some users actually enjoy using the touch input as opposed to a keyboard input, and touch input is especially useful for drawing digital images, playing certain games, or manipulating certain programs.
Cons of a Tablet Computer

As new as tablet computers are, they still cannot beat laptops because of the following disadvantages:
Lower Performance Ability

Tablets do not have the same processing power as laptops, and can easily become overloaded if a lot is done on them. They are only suitable for simple computer usage that doesn’t involve heavy multitasking.
Uncomfortable Usage

Most users still prefer the comfort of using a keyboard to type in data, as using a touch input is much more time consuming and can result in many errors if the user isn’t accustomed to that kind of input. Using a tablet and its touch input can also be stressful to the wrists and arms of the user since there is no place for the user to rest his or her wrists, and he or she has to use the arms to hold up and use the tablet as long as needed. However, some tablets do come with full keyboards as an add-on accessory.
Higher Fragility

The touch-sensitive display of tablets are also a weakness, as this renders them fragile and in need of proper care. Otherwise, the screen can easily be damaged, and once the screen is damaged, the tablet is unusable. This also means higher costs to maintain the tablet because the user will have to purchase protective covers and screen protectors.
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Should-I-Buy-a- ... 060/g.html

[debzsanderson]

A laptop was better to begin with but I must admit I love my iPad. The downside is iPads don't support java so I can't get into the chat room on it. I would go for a laptop as preference  for a carer new to the internet.

[Rosalind]

I am lucky I have a laptop and a kindle, but cannot use the kindle  to go into the chat room. I agree a laptop is better for carers who want to join chill.

[annie]

I have both & appreciate them both for different reasons. If I could only have one, I would definitely chose the laptop

[wendy]

thank you ever so much, I hope we will get more thoughts.

Our chatroom does not use java, you need Adobe Flash, but even with that, the chatroom does not look as good as it does from a laptop or PC.  All you can do is chat on the tablet but it isnt half as good as with the laptop.
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

[JaneJ]

I can't use shout box if I'm on lee's tablet. Also they are so flipping sensitive to your finger that you end up highlighting the wrong bit then it changes what I'm trying to say!!!

I am not pro tablet!!  452

[wendy]

it looks to me as if it will be laptops we will buy, but we wont be able to get many carers as we would like to on the internet.
I have contacted PC world to see if they would do a cheap deal for us.

[JaneJ]

what about those notebook laptops? They are smaller so would they be cheaper?

They have keyboards and like mini laptops. Sam had one and it was very easy to use (read as: I could turn it on and use it!!!)

[Misspears]

I have both like it been said you can't get into chat on the I Pad

I bought my granddaughter a note book laptop so she could take it into lectures at college, I don't think they would be suitable.

The notebooks are not cheap Rebecca's was £300

Ann x