iPad vs Laptop

The ultimate debate in the tech world is iPad vs laptop. Read this article to see how they compare against each other . Bridging the gap between a phone and a computer , Apple' s iPad is a "do anything and everything " kind of device. Laptop computers have become a necessity in today' s world , as a portable PC . So in one corner , we have the defending champion , the laptop, and in the other corner , the challenger , iPad . Without further ado , let the iPad vs laptop debate begin! Basic Features of an iPad The iPad is said to be a super gadget, combining an e- reader , gaming device, digital photo frame and iPod , into a single device. It ' s a tablet PC , with the size and weight roughly between smartphones and laptops. It uses the same OS as the Apple' s iPhone and the iPod Touch . Apple has small application programs designed for web browsing , videos , emails, maps, etc . , called Apps , and the iPad is equipped with many apps , plus you can install them using the App Store . The touch screen is easy to clean and Apple users will adapt easily to the iPad look and feel . The latest iPad model has a 1 Ghz Apple processor and Wi -Fi antenna with bluetooth connectivity . The "walled - garden" approach of the iPhone is extended in the iPad . To purchase and download movies and music , one has to use the iTunes store. To buy new software for the iPad , you need to use the App Store which allows only Apple accepted software . That was a quick glance at the iPad in the iPad vs laptop review . Now onto the laptop. Basic Features of a Laptop Trying to sum up what a laptop does is like trying to fit the Atlantic ocean into a glass . A laptop can be thought of as a tablet PC ancestor. Laptops combined the functionality of a desktop with the great portability of a mobile phone. I know you can ' t put the laptop into your pocket like a phone , but it beats trying to take a desktop everywhere. In business, entertainment, gaming , networking , name the sphere of use , there is a laptop for it . Laptops have Wi -Fi, bluetooth, USB connectivity , web cameras… every time there ' s a new technology, it ' s there in the laptop. Another great feature of a laptop is versatility and openness. Each manufacturer has something unique to offer, and you can install everything and anything onto a laptop. iPad vs Laptop So which is better - iPad or laptop ? There can be lots of factors to judge on in the iPad vs laptop debate, but here' s a few of the popular and most important ones . Size The iPad weighs 1. 5 pounds and the average laptop weighs around 6 to 8 pounds . For those who travel a lot , the iPad is easier to carry around and you get through security checks a lot faster . Plus a laptop needs to be opened up, plugged in, booted up to be used . With the iPad , quick booting and loading , no need to unpack and repack a bag . A word of caution , the iPad dimensions are equivalent to a book, but it' s made of glass. It ' s also more expensive than a book. Just because it ' s portable , that doesn ' t mean you should pack it in a bag without a protective case. Battery Life In the iPad vs laptop contest, the iPad wins hands down in terms of battery life . It has up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. That too , the charger fits easily in a purse or pocket. A laptop lasts at a maximum of 3 hours. Battery life decreases with applications like games or video . And some laptop chargers are heavier than the laptop! Productivity No flash, no web camera and scaled down Office applications … your iPad has a limit to its productivity. There are few iPad friendly video formats, so video watching is limited . The file - sharing and multi-tasking capacity of the iPad has been criticized . Light games like Solitaire can be played easily , but games like Counter- strike or Warcraft cannot be played on the iPad. The bottom line in the iPad vs laptop battle is that a laptop is infinitely more productive . Limited Hardware Connectivity One question: What can you NOT connect to a laptop? Unfortunately for the iPad , there ' s very little you can connect. It has a 30 pin connector used on iPods and iPhones. Translation : no USB connections , you can ' t transfer data onto a portable drive and you can' t insert memory cards. No Ethernet port either . You need to use a PC in the middle . Peripheral support is a major plus for laptops in the iPad vs laptop battle . Navigation In the iPad vs laptop debate, it is difficult to compare a touch screen with standard mouse and keyboard. They are two extremely different input devices . The iPad touch screen is responsive and more natural to use than a mouse . It boots up very quickly . You can quickly adjust size and scroll with the touch screen , and it ' s great to use in small spaces or if there is no flat surface to use the mouse . The keyboard is on -screen , so you have to look down on the screen to type. Also , you have to hold the iPad in one hand and type, unless you get a dock. This makes the iPad ill- suited for typing long documents. Miscellaneous Laptops can have any OS , even the MacBook Pro allows you to have Windows as a secondary OS . But with the iPad , you are stuck with the iPhone OS . You can only use apps from the App Store . There are ways to download and install other software on your iPad , but that voids your iPad ' s warranty . The built -in games and ones available from the App Store are pretty decent , especially for kids. Overall , the iPad is very kid friendly and is used in classrooms and homeschooling . Laptops are not kid friendly or rather, kids are not friendly to laptops . The iPad is a good e -reader . With the iBook app , users can buy , download and read books . The iPad wins the eBook round in the iPad vs laptop debate, because it ' s more comfortable and easier to use the iPad , when just reading . Thinking about the Kindle for e -reading , the read this article on Kindle vs iPad. The maximum hard disk capacity currently available in an iPad is 64 GB . Now that' s nothing in hard disk land. Laptops have an advantage over here, since the average laptop has at least 200 GB . The iPad has 3 storage versions , 16 GB for $ 499 , 32 GB for $ 599 and 64 GB for $699 . For a tablet PC, this pricing scheme is reasonable . But critics argue that due to limited productivity, the iPad is like an oversized , expensive iPod Touch , whereas a minimum performance laptop would cost between $ 500 - $800 . Keep in mind that the iPad is a new device and doesn ' t really have a niche , so its price will seem expensive at first. Remember how expensive the first mobiles were? Read which iPad to buy - 32 GB or 64 GB , to understand which one is better for you . Note : All prices mentioned are approximate and depend on various factors like location and offers available iPad vs Laptop : The Bottom Line Ultimately, choosing between a laptop and an iPad should be based on your usage and needs . Understand your likes and dislikes , and what functions do you expect from your device . If you are looking for a portable , efficient and smart device , then the iPad is for you. With handy apps and easy wireless connectivity, it ' s a great addition to any household . If you type a lot, are into heavy -duty gaming , and need software and hardware support , go for a laptop. Newer laptops models are lighter and more portable than their predecessors . iPads are little too delicate for an industrial environment and not that productive to use in an office. But as an e -reader , it ' s gained a fan following. The iPad is good for viewing photos and movies in cars and on the move. Confused about iPad vs laptop for college? The iPad ' s cheaper price is a definite plus but remember cheaper also means less. For students of science or where there ' s a lot of note making , the iPad' s keyboard makes typing difficult . Also , most college students are heavy duty gamers and the iPad' s just not built for hardcore gaming . For those who want bare necessities of browsing , eMails , watching movies and reading eBooks , the iPad is trendy and fills this need . The iPad is one of the most affordable tablet PCs around and is a popular device choice . It cannot , at this point , replace laptops or personal computers . But it is a major technological step for hand -held devices , much like the laptop was, for computing 20 years ago . For leisure and entertainment , the iPad is a good choice. But for more productivity and varied usage , a laptop is a must -have. The iPad vs laptop pros and cons is a never -ending debate. A new iPad version will soon be released, so for now , this round of iPad vs laptop debate must draw to a close .