Can An Android Tablet Really Replace A Laptop?

Right now, I’m writing this article on an Android tablet with a Targus Pro–Tek Universal Bluetooth Keyboard case. To be honest, I’d been trying to use the tablet for a while on the go. I would take it to coffee shops, the library, and even on airplanes – trying to use the on-screen keyboard. Which was a joke because that pop-up virtual keyboard takes up about 60 percent of the screen. So I finally ordered this $65 Bluetooth keyboard, to see what it had to offer and how it could improve my writing process.

Backing up here for a minute, my computer has been giving me fits lately. Needing to upgrade, I’ve dreamed about using an iPad and the Apple Magic Keyboard full time for writing – instead of buying a new laptop. I’ve watched countless hours of YouTube videos, in which people – I’ve deliberately sought out other writers who probably use the iPad exactly how I would – tried the same thing but ultimately determined a regular old computer was much more practical. Still, I had to see for myself. I don’t currently own an iPad, so I am therefore testing it all out with an 11-inch Android tablet I have lying around.

My first impression: The Targus keyboard works just fine, is super easy to set up, and ultra-convenient to tote around. I love how thin-yet-substantial it is, and that it connects super fast. But I can see where typing on the cramped keys can get old pretty quickly. It seems to be a more temporary solution. I’m actually very impressed with the accuracy of typing on this keyboard, though. And I love the feel of each key clicking – something you’ll never experience on an on-screen keyboard. The actual keyboard part of the case is physically independent, movable, and just magnetically sticks into place on the case flap wherever you want it, once the case is open. And I love the rubberized corner grips on the case that hold the tablet in place. Plus I can rotate the tablet into landscape or upright orientation, with ease. Gotta say it’s a pleasant surprise. Plus, you don’t need to use the case at all — you can just place the keyboard on your lap or a table, and type away.

It’s also nice folding up this keyboard case when I’m done using it, and tucking it away in a desk drawer. And I can rest the screen at pretty much any angle with the case, knowing it’s securely in place. In a pinch, or while I’m out of town for a week, this system will suffice just fine. I also like that the keyboard can work with my phone. As a writer, I can’t even begin to tell you how often on the go that I just dictate articles into my phone and then access it on my computer afterwards to clean it all up. Using this keyboard may eliminate most of that tidying-up process.

While the Targus keyboard itself is not new by any means, the process of using one is to a lot of people. And with the price of new computers quickly rising out of control due to supply shortages, it’s nice to know there are inexpensive products like this one that can essentially extend the usefulness of a tablet you might not have previously considered for work usage.

My verdict after a couple of weeks: This would definitely be a band-aid fix to my issue. Even with an iPad and Magic Keyboard, I think I’d miss using a laptop. So for me, a more permanent solution is going to be purchasing a new computer.