Tablets vs. Two-in-One Laptops: Which One is Better for You?
Written by Alex Fisher
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash
In the modern classroom, digital note-taking is becoming more and more popular. It saves students from having to carry around a bunch of notebooks, saving them energy and reducing waste. It is also highly convenient, being able to look things up while taking notes in class, or uploading said notes to an online cloud service such as OneDrive or Dropbox in order to back them up.
While some students will prefer to type their notes rather than physically write them out, some courses are simply not conducive to typed notes. Those taking courses heavy in symbols and diagrams, especially those in the sciences, may find that trying to take digital notes is quite challenging for this reason. However, this does not mean that digital notes for these types of courses aren’t feasible. Many devices with touch screens have support for notes apps, which can allow students to write out their notes and save them to their devices just as they would with a physical notebook. While this can be highly inconvenient with a normal laptop, trying to write on a vertical surface without any support behind it, there are two types of devices which are perfectly suited to this method of notetaking: two-in-one laptops and tablets.
Two-in-one laptops are simply laptops that can function both normally as a traditional laptop, or they can also be folded in half, with the keyboard behind the screen, to operate as a large tablet. Tablets, on the other hand, are often more purpose-built for digital note-taking, but are also more limited in their capabilities. A student in need of a new device, or looking to switch to digital notes, might encounter some difficulty in figuring out which one is right for them. In this article, I will highlight some of the major differences and advantages of each device in order for you to come to a conclusion on which would suit you more.
Two-in-one laptops come in a variety of sizes, ranging from thin and tablet-sized such as the Microsoft Surface line of computers, to more bulky options the size of a typical laptop, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex and Yoga series of devices. Two-in-ones tend to be much more expensive than tablets, or even comparable traditional laptops. They start at around four to five hundred dollars and easily go up to thousands of dollars. However, they are more powerful than their tablet counterparts. As these devices are fully-fledged computers, two-in-ones tend to have the latest in AMD or Intel processors, higher storage capacity, more RAM, and often have much greater repairability and upgradeability– that is, the ability for a savvy user to upgrade specific components or repair the device themselves.
Further drawbacks come in the form of increased size and weight. Two-in-ones have larger, heavier batteries to provide energy for their more powerful components and larger screens, as well as more complex cooling systems to deal with the increased heat put out by these components. Few such laptops come with any accessories, either. They are often a separate purchase, adding to the already higher cost. With most two-in-ones running on proper operating systems though, only the lowest-end ones using the rather limited ChromeOS, these devices are more flexible and allow a user to get the most out of their machine.
All in all, two-in-one laptops are an excellent choice for a student looking to get the most out of their purchase. Students taking courses which require running simulations or some form of programming may find them particularly useful due to their greater power and versatility–though one must be careful to find a suitably appropriate laptop at the right price. Should this sound like an appealing option for you, but you may not know much about computers, we have you covered there, too. See our article Why You Should Understand What’s Inside Your Computer for some tips and advice on where to get started in your search.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
While tablets such as the various Samsung Galaxy lineups do come in a range of sizes, they are almost always smaller and thinner than two-in-one laptops. There is also less variability between them, with most tablets having similar sizes and physical layouts. Though these devices can also cost well above a thousand dollars, decent mid-range tablets can cost anywhere between two hundred and five hundred dollars– with used or low-range devices being even cheaper. Furthermore, while tablets have weaker processors and smaller batteries, they can still keep up with the battery life of two-in-one laptops, often even surpassing them in hours per charge due to their more optimized builds. The downside of this is the decreased power and flexibility when compared to laptops. Even a high-end tablet is simply not going to be able to compete with a properly equipped laptop.
Smaller and lighter, tablets are also easier for students to use purely for taking notes. They can often come in bundles with touchscreen pens and sometimes even cases included, meaning your money goes even further with a single purchase. While some may be put off by the lack of having a keyboard, this can also be rectified by buying a cover which includes a keyboard that wirelessly connects to the tablet–though such keyboards can be quite limited, especially for their often-high costs, lacking number pads and having a poor typing experience when compared to that of a proper laptop.
Overall, tablets are an excellent choice for students who are always on the move and need something small and light for digital notetaking. They can be a great supplemental tool, not replacing a laptop but being used alongside it. Those who prefer writing their digital notes to typing them, or those in math- or science-heavy degrees, may find these particular devices especially useful for their university experience.
The answer to the question of which of these two electronics you should buy comes down to which one would work best for you. Two-in-one laptops are bulkier and more expensive but offer greater freedom and more power for those who might need it. They are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a device which can do everything you might need for your classes and assignments. Tablets, on the other hand, are lighter and cheaper, often coming in bundles with pens or cases, and will generally have a better experience for strictly note-taking. However, their power and flexibility is limited. If you’re a student looking to supplement a more powerful laptop, or only need the convenience of a tablet and none of the power of a laptop, this would likely be the better choice for you. Either way, there is no doubt that both of these devices make excellent choices for digital note-taking.