gdgt

Personally, I ask the questions backwards from the way you ask it... if you have a smart phone, why get a tablet? As much as I *want* a tablet every time I try a floor model out, I realize that I would just do the same things I am already doing on my EVO, except that I wouldn't want to carry it around everywhere I went. To each his own, though. Maybe tablets are better for people who don't get out and about a lot? I'm still trying to figure this out.

The tablet is the odd one out IMO. Why would you want to carry around an overgrown smartphone all the time unless a decent ultraportable is out of your reach (and therefore a tablet is a better proposition for low-impact on-move computing than a crappy netbook of similar prices)?

It depends on the user. My mom would not need a smart phone and probably would not use most of the features on one. She could use a tablet to read articles, documents, emails, or surfing the web from the couch/bed. She could even use it to show of her photos from her vacation.

If you are just reading blogs, articles or books, having the keyboard from your laptop can be annoying and get in the way. Even worst, being chained to your desk after sitting at a desk all day at work. I have a couple company tablets and besides using them for development, I find myself using them lately as a second monitor when I'm looking up documentation or using them to finally read all the articles/posts I marked "to read" in Delicious.

The thing I hear most from my friends and colleagues that have a tablet is that it's nice to use when reading and relaxing or to watch movies while on the train/plane/bus. You can do that from your phone but it's not the same. It's like saying a 13 inch TV is just as good as 42 inch tv while watch sports.

It is never ideal to give up one device. But I find I use the smart phone less. To the point where I am not sure I even need it. I can't be the only one. I would think that this is a market that isn't really being served.

I agree with Dave and ArmpitOfDeath. I think that the portability and functionality of a smart phone at its small size gives it a big advantage over the 2-device setup. I'm very interested in getting a tablet but I don't think I could ever get rid of my smartphone and I would definitely never carry both on me at all times.

I use my ipad and my iphone in separate instances. reeder and netflix are always in my recent apps on my ipad, while email, twitter, and some games occupy that spot on the phone. i would never carry my tablet anywhere that i knew i wasnt going to be able to get comfortable with it - it's too bulky to really be considered "mobile."

what the ipad has enabled me to do, however, is feel less tied to the iphone as my smartphone of choice. i used to never want to stray from my iphone because of my apps and how everything was just the way i liked it. well, now i have duplicate functionality on my ipad, so it's not as scary to think about getting an android device.

I don't own a tablet yet but I will use it just like my 11.6 inch laptop which is for use at school, on my couch and bringing to places where I know ill be able to use it and will be bored.

The phone is better for everything else. Im not bring a tablet with me when I go out with my friends BUT if I need its functionality the smartphone comes into play.

Also there are times when using a tablet is more inconvenient then using your phone.

Obv. it comes down to your personal preference. For me, though, I would rather have the smart phone's data plan and a wifi tablet that I can use with the mobile hotspot from my phone or something. Tablets, for me, aren't really on-the-go devices, they're just useful once you get where you're going, in which case there's probably wifi there anyway.

It's an ever more frequently asked question. For me, I am all about cost effectiveness so I tether my Evo 4G to my netbook if I need the bigger screen while on the run (which by the way is nothing short of awesome). That being said, my smart phone is used the most while on the run.

In essence, I can not justify the costs for a tablet at the moment relative to the return value wise--It would be a luxury in my case and right now GAS renders non-critical devices moot.

-Cheers

The grampa in our family loves his tablet but has no interest in a smartphone. I have a smartphone and will be getting a tablet this summer. I'm going to try ditching the netbook and go with a full size tablet. I have a smartphone as well, but sometimes that screen is just too small for reading. I've been using a 7" tablet for work and it's about the perfect size for dragging around the office, taking to meetings, etc. one observation at work is that tablets are acceptable, but taking notes on your phone make people think you are distracted or texting. I think my perfect solution is a medium sized smart-phone with a data plan to to use for a hotspot and a tablet. so I can use my phone when it's quick and easy, the nswitch to the tablet when I get somewhere.