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Laptops vs. Tablets

There is a war happening on construction sites; a bitter battle for power between two factions—laptops and tablets. The construction industry is one of familiarity and for many project teams, there can only be one device in the trailer. While people debate if tablets will replace laptops, the truth is that both devices work best together.

The Old Guard

The laptop, the cornerstone of productivity for the past twenty years, was the replacement for pen and paper and has since dethroned the desktop as the primary hardware choice for construction companies. Laptops are also the first choice for companies who wish to create a more mobile workforce. And because laptops run Microsoft Windows, you can rest easy knowing they will run any popular construction software on the market. For many people however, laptops represent the “old way” of doing things.

Tablets, The New Generation

Tablets represent a new way of working on a construction site. A project manager can walk around the job site with access to the latest specs, drawings, and emails. Compared to laptops, many people find tablets easier to use and feel that they have less problems. If you combine a tablet’s portability with the App Marketplace, you have a device with the ability to transform from a mini laptop into a blueprint reader, project scheduler, and more. This ability to adapt to any situation with the click of an app is what gives companies the illusion that tablets can replace laptops. However, what you will find is that both have their advantages and disadvantages. When I personally tried to replace my laptop with an iPad, I ran into these three problems.

1) File Structure

Unlike laptops that come installed with operating systems that allow you to organize and manage files, tablets are “save and find”. You can’t create a folder with files on the homescreen like you could with a laptop and there isn’t a native method of checking a tablet’s file structure. There may be apps like Google Drive or iCloud, but the transition from downloading to saving is more tedious than it should be.

2) Not All Apps Are Created Equal

This issue normally flies under the radar. If you’re going to purchase a tablet for a specific group of apps, make sure you understand those apps’ functionalities and limitations. For example, let’s say Company A uses ABC project management software for their projects and the company behind ABC has just released the iPad version. Eager to gain an advantage over their competitors, Company A replaces the project team’s laptops with tablets equipped with the new ABC software. Everyone is excited until the team realizes they cannot complete their assigned tasks because the app is missing some key components that will not be available until the next update.

3) Usability

When it comes to mobility, a tablet wins every time. Tablets are incredibly convenient and can accompany a project manager in the field without being a hindrance. They are great devices when you’re on the move, but when it’s time to sit down and work, a laptop is still better for productivity. A touch screen cannot compete with a mouse and keyboard when it comes to entering data or typing a document that’s longer than a few sentences. Laptops also come with larger screens and higher resolutions which make them easier to view for those sitting in front of the computer for long periods of time.

Finding Balance The key to a successful tablet integration is understanding the roles each device will play in a company’s workflow. For example, you could equip tablets with blueprint reading software so project managers (PMs) can walk a job site and compare notes with subcontractors. The PM can add notes to the drawings on the iPad and then use his laptop for the “heavy lifting” back in the office. As we move into a new technological age, success on the job site will not happen with one device alone, but with the pairing of both laptops and tablets that best fit with a project’s needs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alisa Snyder .