The pros and cons of hybrid laptops
Figures suggest that tablets are steadily rising in popularity. In response, manufacturers have been producing what are called laptop, tablet hybrids in which a tablet feature is incorporated into a traditional laptop model in an innovative way. See one of the recent blog features here: “The marriage of tablet and tradition” for a few examples of these innovative designs. But, would you want a touch screen incorporated into your computer. Are there disadvantages to such a system? We weigh up the pros and cons.
Hybrid laptops
The pros
1.) Using a touch screen could be more efficient, quicker and perhaps more fun than using a conventional keyboard.
2.) If your touch screen is compatible (or comes complete with) a stylus, you may find it easier to draw on your screen when compared with using a traditional mouspad and the drawing software available on traditional models. Similarly, the pen input panel on both Windows 8 and Windows 7 is remarkably adept at turning your written, onscreen handwriting into text. So, if you prefer handwriting rather than typing, a machine with touch screen capabilities may be preferable.
3.) Similarly, Microsoft’s new Windows 8 software, when compared with previous software packages, has created a very touch friendly user interface, making it easy to navigate between full screen apps.
The cons
1.) Using a touch screen normally leads to more stains and finger marks on the screen, thus requiring more cleaning than a traditional, non-touch model.
2.) Touch screens require a greater amount of power so, the overall battery life of hybrid machines which incorporate them is usually shorter when compared with traditional, non-touch models.
3.) There is a significant difference in cost between the new touch screen/laptop hybrids and their traditional counterparts.
Whether you are a fan of the new hybrid touch screen/laptop models or not though, it seems such innovations are the way of the future.
