Tablets are quickly becoming one of the most popular gadgets around and for good reason, they’re highly portable, offer most of the apps of a mobile phone, and can often connect to both 3G and WiFi, meaning that they can be used anywhere. Because they also cost a great deal less than the average laptop, a great deal of people are now trading in their laptops for cash, and buying a tablet instead.
If you think this is something you want to do, we’ll talk about the process and get you on your way to a brand new tablet.
Is a Tablet Right for You?
The only real thing that you have to consider before making the swap is if you will be happy with a tablet. Consider going to a store, trying one out, and making sure that you know which operating systems do what. If you frequently play a lot of games on your PC, then you probably won’t be very happy with a tablet. On the other hand, if you just surf the web, shop, and go on your social networks, then a tablet may be easier to use. It’s almost always best to try a tablet out before you automatically make the switch.
It’s also important to try out different models and make sure you’ve found an operating system that you like. Operating systems like iOS, Android, and Windows 8 each offer completely different functions, so go for a test drive. Comparing laptops and tablets before making the decision is important if you want to be happy with the decision.
[Read more: 5 Tips for First-Time Tablet Owners]
Check Your Old Laptop
Once you’ve decided that you really do want to make the swap, your first step is to take a look at your old laptop.
Evaluate it thoroughly and check to make sure that it still has the original charging cable and battery, and that it’s in reasonably good condition. Check the hard drive, the RAM, and then charge it to make sure that it’s in good working condition. You should consider writing down the make, model, and if you know it, the specifications on the computer.
The better the condition of your laptop, the more you can get for it. However, the age and original price of the model also factor into the price. A 2004 Acer laptop is going to sell for considerably less than a 2013 Apple MacBook.
Keep in mind that certain brands do retail for a great deal more because there is a larger aftermarket demand for higher-end laptops than for budget ones.
Trade Your Laptop In
When you’re ready to sell your used laptop, all you have to do is offer it to a company, see what they offer, and if you like the price, send it in. Prices are based on the brand, original value market demand for the second-hand computer, and the condition of the computer.
An initial value offer will be given when you first submit the laptop and then your laptop will be inspected when it arrives, so make sure you list any issues honestly.
Any good company will offer you a free post envelope with tracking and insurance, so that you won’t have to worry about anything happening. Once you drop the laptop in the mail, all you have to do is wait for it to arrive.
Is it Worth It?
One of the first things you may notice about aftermarket buyers is that they offer considerably less for electronics than you paid for them. This is for two reasons.
The first is that they are taking the risk that this may not be a sellable product. If you don’t have a very major brand then there quite simply might not be enough demand for it in used condition, so they might not actually sell it.
The second is that they are handling any refurbishing, photographing, listing online, and selling, and then dealing with customers. Selling a computer for its actual Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) can take months, and this all cuts into profits.
If you have months to wait, then you can consider selling it yourself, but for the most part, the time and effort you put into making a sale on your own often costs as much or more than the difference in hours.
Most of the time you can trade in an old laptop for enough to pay for a considerable chunk of your new tablet, so once you get your money, all you have to do is go shopping. If you have a newer laptop, then it may even cover the entire tablet, depending on the brand and model you choose to buy.
[Read also: Is This The End of The Desktop and Laptop?]
[ Smiles ] I would prefer to keep my laptop and buy a tablet. It is good to have an extra device and I could always upgrade the memory and the OS on my laptop.
Hi Peter.
I use my laptop for a lot more than working, so switching for a tablet probably wouldn’t do me much good. But having a laptop and a tablet would, especially with the 3G that most tablets get. And you can add a keyboard to at least Apple tablets, I don’t know about the others though. Thanks for sharing this. It may be very useful to somebody who only works on their laptop.
Spencer
If you have the cash to spend on those then yes, why not? 🙂
I admit the usefulness of a Tablet PC , a tablet PC is easy to carry and a little bit cheaper than a laptop . But there is another big advantage of having a tablet PC . A tablet PC uses less electricity than a laptop/desktop this’s why I am a big lover of my Tablet PC . Petter Lee thanks for writing such a great article .
I absolutely need my laptop. Tablets are good too but I cannot get by without my laptop.
My wife loves using a tablet for general browsing but for the most part I still use a laptop. I think it really depends what you are using it for – I do a lot of typing on forums/blogs/etc, and to me the on screen keypads are just not fast enough to type on.
I could not imagine not having my laptop with me. Not sure if I would ever trade my laptop for a tablet. Not unless there was a very good reason to do so.
I’ve struggled with the decision to buy a tablet. More often than not, I’m mixing work and play and find myself switching between the two while on my laptop. Being able to access my files would be an important factor for me. Like a few of your other readers, I think I’d opt to keep the laptop and buy a tablet too.
I do have a question about selling a laptop. What is the best way to be sure personal information cannot be recovered from a laptop when selling it? I know there are programs that claim to be able to clean out your information, but are they really reliable?
If you intend to use a program to help you do it, search for reviews of other users first. But I’d say a one-time factory reset does the job!
I own an iPad mini and I really love the productivity apps and the apps for kids that I use with my toddler. However, I still use MS Office a lot so getting a laptop is an option. But I want something that is as portable as an iPad so now I’m considering to buy a tablet-laptop.
My laptop stays, tablets are less of a concern for me. Maybe one day that will change however.
I always use my laptop. I have an iPad myself that stays in the drawer accumulating dust. I can’t even recall when was the last time I used it.
I think as more tablets surpass the abilities of laptops, we will see more people using them than ever. Many of the newer tablets have keyboards that click right in and can be used in many different modes making them much easier to handle and use than a laptop. I use both on a routine basis and for power and comfort, still turn to my laptop.