Tablets and Keyboards: Why They Shouldn't Be Included - Geeks Weigh In

The Shifting Landscape of Personal Computing

For many years, laptops were the preferred computing device for tech enthusiasts. However, they are now facing increasing competition from tablets, which boast impressive portability and extended battery life.

The rise of tablets appears to have coincided with a slowdown in laptop sales, ending a long period of growth for the traditional notebook computer.

Tablets Mimicking Laptops: A Question of Purpose

Despite being the newer technology, some tablet manufacturers are incorporating features traditionally associated with laptops, such as physical keyboards.

This attempt to emulate laptops raises a key question: is this a beneficial adaptation, or are tablets attempting to extend their functionality beyond their core strengths?

The integration of keyboards prompts consideration of whether tablets are overstepping their intended design and user experience.

Evaluating the Hybrid Approach

The decision to add a physical keyboard to a tablet represents a significant design choice.

It suggests a desire to appeal to users who require the typing experience of a laptop, while still benefiting from the portability of a tablet.

Potential Benefits and Drawbacks

Here's a breakdown of the considerations:

• Benefits: Enhanced productivity for tasks requiring extensive typing.
• Drawbacks: Potential compromise of the tablet's lightweight and streamlined form factor.

Ultimately, the success of this hybrid approach will depend on how well manufacturers balance the features of both device types.

The future will reveal whether tablets can successfully integrate laptop-like functionality without sacrificing the qualities that initially made them appealing.

Addressing the Input Challenge with Tablets

Large, vibrant touchscreen displays excel at displaying content and are suitable for specific applications. However, they often fall short when it comes to content creation tasks.

This limitation is especially noticeable when writing. Typing even a moderate amount of text on a tablet can prove to be cumbersome and inefficient.

Although not everyone is a professional writer, a significant number of individuals require typing capabilities for both work and personal use. This necessity can potentially hinder the appeal of tablets.

The integration of a physical keyboard represents the primary solution to overcome this obstacle.

Keyboard Options for Tablets

A wide array of accessories enables tablets to function similarly to laptops. For instance, Apple’s iPad and iPad 2 are compatible with cases that incorporate a compact physical keyboard.

Similarly, certain Android tablets can be enhanced with comparable case-based keyboard solutions.

Keyboard docks provide another avenue for improved typing experiences.

Some tablets are specifically engineered to work seamlessly with these docks.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer serves as a prime example, and numerous other manufacturers are developing tablets with integrated docks or keyboards that slide directly from the device.

• Physical keyboards significantly improve the usability of tablets for content creation.
• Various options are available, including cases with integrated keyboards and dedicated keyboard docks.

The Significance of Dimensions

The assumption that simply attaching a keyboard to a tablet will resolve interface challenges, mirroring the functionality of a laptop, is a misconception.

Laptops, characterized by their larger form factor, typically feature displays ranging from 12 to 18 inches. Consequently, tablets, with their smaller dimensions, cannot directly compete with this standard. Devices with screens approximately 10 inches in size are generally categorized as netbooks.