Tablet or Laptop – Which gadget suits your travelling needs?

My laptop has been a loyal travel companion for many years until I recently invested in a tablet. To be honest, I was doing a lot of research before I bought my Lenovo Yoga 10 inch tablet. At the time I did not see the benefit of having a tablet and a laptop. However, I did see the potential benefit of travelling with a tablet as I don’t have a desktop and all my wok is stored on my laptop. Should I lose it, I could be in for a nasty surprise.

Travelling should be an enjoyable experience and the less you have to worry about the better. I took the plunge and bought my first tablet before I travelled to South Africa and Namibia in March this year. What a great decision!

Does the tablet replace my laptop? Oh no! But it does have a lot of advantages and now I am using it on a daily basis.

The first and most important factor to consider is your travel needs. Are you taking a short trip or maybe an adventurous trip that could last a couple of months? Are you a blogger or photographer? These are important questions to answer that could enhance your travel experience.

Laptops are handy and useful.

I have mentioned before that I travelled for many years with my laptop. A laptop came in handy especially when I needed to download photos and work in Photoshop. However, they are bulky and I never felt quite comfortable storing my laptop in the hotel or hostel, nor did I want to walk with it in the city. They also pose as security risks at airports and are subject to inspection. When I travelled recently I was never requested to take my tablet out of the bag.

Laptops are ideal for journalists, photographers and travel writers. They are much more powerful than a tablet. They have USB ports that come in very, very handy.

Advantages of travelling with a laptop:

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Most people have a laptop. If you are cash strapped and cannot afford to buy a tablet, then it is better to travel with a laptop.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Laptops are more durable. If a tablet falls and the screen is smashed, then that is also the end of the tablet.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Laptops take up space. Tablets on the other hand doesn’t.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] If you are a travel writer or blogger then it is easier to type with the keyboard on the laptop. Yes, you can buy an attachable keyboard for the tablet but that is extra money.

Advantages of travelling with tablets.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Tablets have a long battery life. Mine in particular has a battery life of 18 hours.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”]Tablets are small and light weight. That makes a huge difference in the life of a backpacker.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Most tablets come with e-readers. That means you can easily store your books on your reader and read them anywhere.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Tablets have custom travel application that is a breeze to access.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Access to social media has never been easier. Built in 3G and Wi-Fi makes it fast and easy to keep in touch with loved ones via social networks.

[v_icon color=”#1e73be” size=”18px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-checkbox”] Laptops take longer to boot. This is not the case with tablets.

Tablets versus laptops – the verdict.

Which is the better buy? Both has benefits and it all boils down to your travel needs and personal style. It is important to remember that there are significant differences between the two. As I discovered, there are numerous benefits when travelling with a tablet.