The results are in – thousands of A-level students across the country are now looking to the future and the lure of university (we don’t need to say what they are but studying is obviously top). And the world of technology has never looked so good to the aspiring student, with tablets, laptops and smartphones aplenty, but whilst we now know how the future generation are getting on in the classroom – the jury is still out on which next generation gadget is best in class.
Well here at mobiles.co.uk we’re going to try and answer that question. Is it the time of the tablet PC or do laptops and their smaller cousins the netbook still reign supreme?
Lap up the Laptop
So let’s start with the traditional laptop as it’s still the most recognised mobile computer device on the market. They sport big screens (significantly more so than netbooks and tablets) and faster processors for better multi-tasking (and we don’t mean shooting Pool in one hand and drinking a beer in the other – that’s impossible). With the inclusion of a mobile broadband package or USB modem dongle, laptops also mean you can take the internet with you, which is great for studying or keeping in touch with friends.They also tend to hold a sizable chunk or memory both in terms of the Hard-Drive and RAM, supplying ample multimedia storage from music and games to photos and videos plus of course that hefty dissertation!
Where laptops fall short is, whilst still being all about portable computing, they’re pretty big (usually 15-16 inches screen width) and heavy (between 2-3kg’s) and because they do a lot, battery life is key and you’re often left wanting (most laptops peter out at around ten hours)
Netbook Next
If you want something cuter and more compact than a clunky laptop, then the netbook is a good place to start.When netbooks first arrived on the scene a few years ago, they filled a gap in the market by offering the basics of a laptop but at a much more compelling price. Netbooks do all the things you need on a daily basis from internet browsing, emailing, documentation and storing and editing files. Where they’re lacking is in the powerful hardware that lets you indulge in high octane gaming or lots of multi-tasking.
Netbooks are however much better for portability as they’re smaller and as a result of shedding all the heavy duty stuff, boast a much more healthy battery life meaning it won’t be giving up the ghost quite so regularly when you’re relaxing in the park, pub or coffee shop.
They may lack the punch in terms of processing speed but they’re stylish and affordable and therefore perfect for students, though perhaps as a useful addition to more meaty desktop PC or laptop.
Take your Tablets
Last but not least, the most recent entry into portable computing – the Tablet PC – and you must have been living in a cave to not have heard of these gems because they’re coming out left right and centre at the moment. But many of us are still scratching our heads as to what tablets actually offer that laptops and netbooks don’t.
In truth, not much except maybe the orgy of downloadable apps available catering for everything under the sun. Plus the tablet doesn’t need five minutes to boot into the action. They’re quick, convenient and well…cool.
You won’t be writing wordy documents on a tablet like you could on a netbook however. For a start there’s no keyboard – we’re talking full touchscreen technology here but that’s the norm these days if your new smartphone is anything to go by.
As always though, it comes down to what you’re looking for. Tablets are small enough to fit in a hand bag (from the 7 inches of the market leading iPad 2 to larger incarnations such as the Asus Transformer at over 10 inches) and are therefore the pinnacle of portability.
They also provide an enhanced web browsing experience thanks to high resolution screens, the latter of which also lends itself to gaming, reading e-books and watching movies. A strong battery life also contributes to the growing appeal.
But are they all play and no work? Well they’re compatible with Microsoft software such as Word and Excel and good for multi-tasking, fuelled by decent processors along the same lines of netbooks but maybe not as speedy as laptops.
Okay so maybe we haven’t been able to answer the question of which is best, but it really does depend on what you want to get from it and your personal lifestyle. Gaming and sheer convenience tends to lean toward the tablet, but a powerful portable computer for studying and keeping in touch is where the laptop comes into its own. Netbooks are small and easy to lug around and do the basics of both at a more affordable price.
Whatever you decide, don’t forget to check out our range of tablets and laptops here, all available free with pay monthly phone contracts. Or click here to browse our best student deals to keep you connected.
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