88 JULY2020|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE389
We’re not so sure,however. 2-in-1sare
appealing in their versatility,but not everyone
needs alaptop replacement: standalone
tablets can often be better forpersonal use,
such as watching videos and browsing the
web,rather than pumping out documents and
spreadsheets. They’re smaller,socan be more
easily gripped with asinglehand, and because
theydon’t need more powerful processors for
productivity,theycan be thinner and quieter.
E-readers, too, are incredibly specialised,
but are simply better than smartphones at
their keytaskofdisplaying ebooks. Their
E-Ink displays make foramore natural,
comfortable reading experience than you’d get
fromstaring at text on aglossy phone screen,
FLAT N OTES
Tabletsande-readers
Newerformfactorshaveputtabletsanddedicated
e-readersatrisk,but botharestillseeingnew
modelsthatare–ondesign,performanceand
featuresalike–betterthanever
CONTENTREVIEWS
Page90
APPLEiPad10.2in
Page91
APPLEiPadMini(2019)
Page92
SAMSUNGGalaxyTabS6
Page93
VANKYOMatrixPadZ4
Page94
AMAZONKindle(2019)
Page95
AMAZONKindleKidsEdition
Page96
AMAZONKindleOasis(2019)
Page97
KOBOClaraHD
TABLETSANDE-READERShave not been
having the easiest time.For many,buying a
device solely forreading ebooks might seem
unnecessary when theycan be read on their
existing smartphone,and conventional iOS
and Androidtablets are being squeezed on two
sides. On one,there arelaptop-aping 2-in-1s:
tablets running desktop softwarethat are
designed specifically foruse with akeyboard;
while on the other,ever-enlarging ‘phablet’
phones provide asimilar combination of
portability and displaysizetotablets.
This could sound as if tablets and e-readers
have simply run their course,their demise at
the hands of newer,more flexible kinds of
devices more of an inevitability than atragedy.
