For years, people have regularly predicted that laptops were on their way out, bound to get replaced by increasingly smaller gadgets and inventions that do all the work in a smaller package. While laptops are excellent for some things, they're not always practical for browsing or gaming on-the-go, especially when you're hanging out in a coffee shop or traveling on vacation. Instead of relying on your laptop for everything, it's time to think about a smaller, faster, trendier alternative.
The Ultimate Ultrabook
Image via Flickr by Intel Brazil
The fact is, some people like laptops. They're more convenient than PCs, but they're still sturdy, pretty quick, and have lots of memory. However, for the most part, they're also heavy and cumbersome, especially when you're traveling or have to worry about being plugged in all the time due to a less-than-stellar battery. That's why some people prefer ultrabooks.
Ultrabooks are easier to transport, owing to a lighter, thinner design. However, they're surprisingly durable. You'll get an enviable battery life, plenty of RAM, and lots of versatility. After all, with many models, you can get rid of the keyboard and enjoy a touch screen. You essentially get two devices in one, both of which are extremely easy to use.
If you only need something for work, travel, or to generally mess around on the Internet, you can also think about trying a netbook. Though not necessarily as sturdy as ultrabooks, netbooks are compact and lightweight. If you just want a vacation computer or something on which to take notes, they make a solid choice.
The Temptation of Tablets
Image via Flickr by Bibliotheek Kortrijk
If you really want to stay on trend while getting an effective laptop experience without the laptop, then you should be purchasing the best tablet available now. They come in every size, shape, and color, tablets are lightweight, functional, and fun. They'll do everything, from playing music and taking pictures, to word processing and browsing the web.
Tablets are versatile and convenient any way you slice it. With apps for everything and the ability to download quickly, you can read books, play games, send and receive messages, indulge in social media — everything you can do with a laptop. However, they're featherweight and incredibly portable, so they go everywhere with you. Speeds are fast, you can choose the amount of memory you want, and some now allow SD cards and thumb drives.
Afraid you can't play the games you like? Not to worry, there are now gaming tablets that offer speed, usability, and connectivity. Some even have built-in controllers on the sides of the device. You can still easily fight all of the end bosses.
A Successful Smartphone
Image via Flickr by Jacob Bøtter
Tablet-sized smartphones are a popular choice for connectivity. Lightweight, cool-looking, versatile, and capable of many tasks, a smartphone is practically an essential.
Half the people in the United States own a smartphone. As a group, they use them all the time. They're extremely convenient, making it easy to Google a restaurant, use GPS to get directions, check in and update your status, Instagram your meal, and then rate the place. Smartphones are geniuses; they do everything, as well as opening you up to a wide array of games, entertainment apps, books, magazines, people, and places.
A Superhero Superphone
Image via Flickr by Intel Free Press
As impressive as smartphones are, you may choose to upgrade to a superphone. That's an entirely different choice, because it may actually surpass the laptop and become the sole device you use to get online. These devices offer such promises as:
- Mutli-core processors and graphics capabilities
- Full security
- Camera and video
- HDMI connectivity
- Flash and HTML v5 viewing
- Every office asset
A device like this is ideal for anyone who loves efficiency. If you have your phone, you can do practically anything, in addition to surfing the Internet at top speeds. Smartphones are more tablet-sized, have longer battery life, and instantly cut the number of gadgets you need to carry from place to place.
The Versatile Hybrid PC
Image via Flickr by Intel Brazil
Hybrid PCs are subtly different from tablets and superphones. They're specifically designed for their versatility. Because they transfer from a slim, compact ultrabook, to a fully functional tablet, they have the best assets of both. Keyboards are typically detachable, not folded, and the touch screen is more durable than most laptop screens. With proper protection, this could easily become your go-to mobile connection when you need something larger than a phone, but still lighter and smaller than a traditional laptop.
Based on the brand you choose, you can get a hybrid that looks like an ultrabook or a netbook, so they don't really resemble traditional laptops at all. The larger models usually rely on Intel processors, while the smaller versions use core chips. If you need a hefty hard drive, go with the larger size, which also generally offers more memory. For those handy travel devices or note-taking, the smaller option works well.
Google Glass A-Go-Go
Image via Flickr by Michael Praetorius
Although Google Glasses aren't necessarily a practical choice just yet, they'll certainly obliterate the need for a laptop. You'll never suffer through stumbling across something you want to Google, only to forget it by the time you get back to your computer — or pull out your phone, for that matter.
Imagine accessing a camera, a touchpad, a music player, and a website from anywhere, just with a few futuristic motions. Once they're reasonably available to the public, the Google Glass device will feature bluetooth connectivity, massive storage space, blazing fast Wi-Fi, and dozens of worthwhile applications and accessories. This is one device that will make you view the world and the Internet differently. You'll have to wait a while to get your shot, but wouldn't the convenience be worth it?
With so many excellent tech gadgets tempting you daily, going with a regular old laptop might not seem like such a great idea any longer. Have you thought about taking your computing needs to the next level with something entirely different? If so, what did you go with?
This guest article is contributed by DJ Miller, a graduate student at the University of Tampa. He's an avid gadget geek and spends most of his time reading or writing. He is a huge fantasy sports fan and even runs his own blog for fantasy help.
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